Stories from people affected by cancer

Andy’s story, told by his mother, shares Andy’s journey through life, facing diagnosis of cancer with determination and positivity.

Wobbles are real after a cancer diagnosis, but no one likes to talk about them. I would like to share some of the things that I and other women with a diagnosis have found helps us and I hope they can help you x

How Macmillan Move More helped my cancer journey.

Learning to embrace the girl on the other side.

After treatment for breast cancer, I had no idea what type of exercise was best (or even safe) for me until I met the Move More Coordinator. Equally important, the group I joined has been a vital source of comradeship and shared understanding.

It is not what happens to us but the things we choose to do with whatever happens to us that defines us in my view.

Me and my 2.5

Cancer - Going from the depths of darkness to finding the light

My sister faced a brain tumour with courage, faith and humour. Now that I face cancer and Parkinson’s I am choosing both how I wish to live, encouraging others every day, and the legacy of hope I will pass on through my painting and my smile.

In looking at a health profession through the eyes of patients as people. It has strengthened my resolve to not look away from honest pragmatism. I shall not be disheartened, the tenderness within can be found.

With my mastectomy I lost my breast tissue, but gained some fear and courage. I learned to embrace the most simplistic pleasures in life which gave me back my body confidence.

My piece creatively explores the physical sensations and emotional impact of my treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia, which coincided with the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. I created it to 'bear witness' to my own experience; by describing one of the darkest, most difficult moments, and the fragile threads of hope that seemed to emerge from this lowest ebb.

Outstanding care given by the staff at the Macmillan Palliative Care Unit in Antrim Area Hospital.

Helen describes one way she uses to cope when living with cancer.

A small fish lives a happy life in the ocean until one day something no one expected happened. This is a story about challenges related to cancer but also love and support as a tool for recovery.

A tough return to work in the aftermath of cancer made me see that the ability to just pick work back up again on the way that you used to is not a good measure against which to judge your progress

My employer did not understand, they would not listen and they did not wait until I was ready to come back to work. The stress and anxiety this caused me was harder to deal with than the cancer. This is my story, my identity has been concealed, the hurt and the pain is gone. I hope no one has to go through a similar situation.

If a safe return to work is to be achievable on the cancer journey, then there needs to be greater understanding of the mental and physical impact of cancer on us, as individuals and realistic guidelines and policies created which reflect this.

I underestimated how much effort was required to return to work, as did my employers. I would urge people to take their time, and not be pressured into being the person they were.

The Cancer Experience Panel ensures that lived experience is at the heart of decisions about cancer services and support in Northern Ireland. Find out how we’re helping to amplify the voices of people affected by cancer in this video.

Celebration of family relationships between Grandpa and Grandson.

For my friends, family and NHS Heroes who supported me, cried with me, loved me and laughed with me and made sure I never walked alone on this journey.

Are mammograms reliable for diagnosing everybody? Tumours may be missed in dense breast tissue and when cancers begin far back in the breast.

This is about how an ordinary jacket triggered the diagnoses of lung cancer to hit home and changing identities.

You can find out about Chatterbox, the online support group I’m part of, here: https://chatterboxcancergroup.co.uk/

A story about stress, love, and happiness, all rolled in together. Centred around a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 28!

This is a story about what a cancer patient has found herself learning from dancing with sunflowers.

My story will focus on my innermost thoughts, feelings and reflections as I progressed through the final few months of my father-in-law’s life. I place particular emphasis on the strategies I employed, as I travelled this personal and emotional journey.

My cancer treatment during COVID brought exhaustion and isolation. With the help of my Move More friends, I finally began to feel understood and ready to be myself again.

The impact of having a misdiagnosis and how I deal with that mentally.

From a nurse’s point of view.

This is the story, so far, of my being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, my treatment and surgery.

Diagnosis of myeloma (bone marrow cancer) in June 2020 was a shock - and coping with it complicated by the pandemic. But treatment was at hand - initial oral chemotherapy followed by inpatient care for a stem cell transplant in July 2021. I hope others approaching stem cell treatment find my story helpful – and you can find out about Chatterbox, the online support group I’m part of, here: https://chatterboxcancergroup.co.uk/

My story about remembering that we are the experts of our own bodies and that we have the power to direct our own care alongside the clinicians.

I am a Macmillan Nurse navigating life as a thirty-year-old 21st Century woman. This is my story.

My story From Rage to Sage tells of the different feelings and emotions I had going through my cancer treatment. I hope it reassures someone just starting treatment that no matter what feelings they have that it’s OK, natural and by naming mine I have come to terms with over time.

Acknowledging the fear that exists for us all, but seeing the positive in each new day and finding ways to keep living our best life.

The story of how my Dad helped others find their voice in the hope that this brings connection and compassion, allowing others to find their voice too.

I am the product of nature, nurture and my life experiences and through my cancer diagnosis I have dug deep to find the light

How sex and intimacy helped me fight cancer.

My story is about being failed as a woman with gynaecological cancer by the hushed voices and red faces that surround our body intimacy and pleasure.

My story is about how secondary cancer means your life can't stop during treatment, this is your life now. I learned that you have to find a way to come to terms with the physical and emotional impact of dying while still trying to live life to the full.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer - before my first operation - I was so busy coping with what was about to happen, that I was unaware and gave little thought as to what some of the ordinary, rather personal, and completely unexpected consequences of my treatment would be

It’s important to be able to help – my story of becoming a Lead Volunteer with Macmillan Cancer Support.

Everyone has a breaking point and it is different for each of us.

This is the story of mine and my journey through it - to a good place.

Despite many hardships we face, just appreciate every day and everyone around you, especially your family.

As I struggled not to let anyone down, I finally recognised the importance of putting my own needs first.

Ordinary is more precious, more extraordinary than anything else in your life but only realised when you envisage it gone.

Cancer experience led me to find my purpose, combining my faith in Christ and support for others, through The Secret Place, a faith-based non-profit organisation.

When cancer has it’s hold, our strength will be drawn from the smallest of gestures, by the people who love us the most.

A story about finding my voice and strength and choosing a life enriched with positivity and the things that really matter.

In the Deafening Silence is my story of growth and reflection on a time when life turned upside down and nothing fit into place like I thought it should.

My story is about the importance of having a strong support system and finding my own coping mechanisms to bring me moments of calm and peace throughout my cancer journey.

It's during the worst times of your life that you will see the true colours of the people who say they care about you...

A story looking at the need for Change in employment for employees treated unfairly in the workplace.

Highlighting the importance of bowel cancer screening. How it saved my life, and how a support group can help anyone touched by cancer through those scary times.

Every cancer is different, everyone is an individual and in a world of “one size fits all” tick boxes the challenge is to just keep going…

Walking in Nature helped me to recognise that I had choice; to reclaim my identity; and to re-gain control of my life.

How I felt unheard and not understood as an autistic person throughout my cancer treatment. Through resilience and courage, I have overcome my experience to advocate and encourage understanding of Autism.

When you reach the end of your cancer treatment and ring that bell, you enter another chapter that no-one seems to talk about and remains quite hidden. Recovering from cancer can continue long after the bell stops ringing

How I found ways of coping not only with a cancer diagnosis but going through the treatments alone during the first lockdown of the pandemic.

A story of losing our daughter and creating a legacy to help others in her memory.

My personal journey through 4th stage cancer diagnosis and treatment and its impact on my identity and family relationships.

My story relates to communication and availability of support - it is there, but you sometimes, you just have to ask! We are faced with many challenges, through the Covid and Lockdown periods, but together, and with support. we will get there

My name is Katy Megahey and this is the story of my beautiful mum Marilyn Megahey who was full of life. She lived her life to the full and loved her family very much.

I realised we were going to lose my dad before the adults told me. I was sixteen but somehow I managed to make and store memories that I would gain strength from for the rest of my life.

Collecting Sunflowers is about the incredible health and care professionals people that supported me on my cancer journey, and my personal journey towards learning to live and think differently and advocating for my care.

The importance of human connections: From feeling lost and unheard in my cancer experience to using my voice to support people affected by cancer.

A story of challenge, belief and hope in a bid to be normal and the realisation, through cancer, that we are all normal, normal for us.

The highs and lows of having hair.

My story explores my relationship with papa and how a shift in mindset has helped me find acceptance and given me the ability to focus on him living with cancer, not dying from it.

For my friends, family and NHS Heroes who supported me, cried with me, loved me and laughed with me and made sure I never walked alone on this journey.

Not a digital story, but a webinar about the What Matters to You storytelling project. We gathered from across the UK, bringing people together, to have a conversation about what matters in personalised healthcare. This is the story of our evening.

How volunteering brought me comfort.

Siobhan’s story raises awareness of cancer and mental illness.

Following the death of her Mum, Linda shares her story of hope and how she was inspired to start the charity No-one Dies Alone Ayrshire.

The importance of human connections: From feeling lost and unheard in my cancer experience to using my voice to support people affected by cancer.

My cancer journey story tells of how important it is if you feel anything is not right to keep asking questions.

As I struggled not to let anyone down, I finally recognised the importance of putting my own needs first.

When life gets turned upside down, love, family and friends will see you through. (Along with a sprinkling of prosecco!)

It’s not selfish to look after yourself.

When life gets turned upside down, love, family and friends will see you through. (Along with a sprinkling of prosecco!)

A story of challenge, belief and hope in a bid to be normal and the realisation, through cancer, that we are all normal, normal for us.

Cancer was only a part of my story. It was not the beginning and could not be the end, even if it had led to physical death.

It’s not selfish to look after yourself.

Musical moments in time.

Blood transfusions were the best treatment option for my grandad, allowing him to live well right up to his final weeks.