Who Am I? update July 2022

Hello it’s now July 2022 and I thought I best do a brief update about me so you don’t have to trawl through all the previous posts. (However, I recommend you do as it hopefully gives you an insight into my journey and if there’s any details I’ve not quite got right then you can correct me 😉! I’m still Rachel I have not changed my name by deed poll and I’m now 42 !! (shit I’m old). I started this blog back in January 2018 when I had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma and spent some time in hospital in 2017. It wasn’t the most pleasant of experiences but through some miracle I’m still here typing away.

I’m still very much an average Joe, unfortunately I did not gain any super powers through receiving Immunotherapy although one of my friends has suggested that if I do decide to venture into the Super Hero business my name should be Supertit (not because I am one but because one of the current side effects I am suffering from are similar to the side effects of tinnitus, well that’s what she told me anyway. (Having wrote this down I’m wondering if this is actually the reason why).

I am still by another miracle married to Ste partner of 19 years and fortunate enough to have two beautiful children Daisy and Archie (whom are now teenagers and come with a whole new manual, this manual is generally for adults only as contains a lot of coarse words). We live Darwen and love it. I have family and friends close by and I’m generally pretty happy where we live. I still have the same group of people backing my corner and generally looking after and supporting me. That in itself is worth it’s weight in gold.

I am a Commercial Manager within the construction industry something I have done now for 24 years. Although I have been unable to work for the past 10 months due to my illness. My work have thankfully been so supportive which I am forever grateful for. This has and will hopefully help with my recovery.

I still have the same interests in hobbies although some of the physical ones (such as boxing and weights) I can unfortunately no longer do to the extent that I did but like most things I will adapt and work my way round to find new things that I can do. I still love crafts and upcycling and obviously writing these are things that give me a purpose on the really tough days. That or when people buy my crafts or comment on my blogs not one goes un-noticed. (thank-you)

So the main reason I felt I had to update my about me page is because unfortunately early September 2021 having spent the best part of 3 years cancer free it was confirmed that my Melanoma had returned this time in the form of brain tumours. This was a complete shock and the side effects and treatment I have gone through have been totally different to the first time round. It has been an extremely challenging time not just for me but for my family, and it’s them that I owe it to, to not give up.  

Although I am certainly not the same person I was this time last year (put it this way I reckon if I was a cat I’d probably have about 25 lives by now). But I’m still little Rach with the same determination and hope to beat this shitty disease, albeit with a few more pounds (weight certainly not money), definitely a few more scars both emotional and physical, a little weaker (hopefully not for long). I would like to say wiser but then I’d be lying.

So, I suppose in a nut shell that’s pretty much me in 2022. Am I perfect no, am I exciting no, but hopefully my words and experiences of an ‘average Joe’ who has been diagnosed with cancer for the second time (Metastatic Melanoma) are something which other ‘average Joe’s’ can relate to. My objectives still remain the same in that I want to help other people, I hope to spread awareness about cancer, hopefully in light hearted way which people can relate to. So whether you are reading my blog for the first time or 20^th time THANK YOU. Please continue to do so, please share and hopefully you can help achieve some PURPOSE in all of this.

Love and HOPE always

Rachel

X x x