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Real Experience

Authentic stories from people living with cancer. Browse the advice columns, watch a video, or read the blog. And, when you’re ready, share your own story.

Advice

Tips and tricks from people who’ve been there

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Money Getting Help

Some hospitals in England offer free car parking for cancer patients – I’d recommend asking to see whether you qualify, as costs can quickly add up.

Anonymous

Getting Help

"I tried to avoid Google – I’d ask my Team, or the Macmillan forum, and it got me better advice and I was less overwhelmed."

Anonymous

Getting Help Money

"I was able to get the Red Cross to take me to hospital – you might be able to too via the Red Cross’s Home Care Services."

Anonymous

Mental Health

“I'm forever grateful to cancer for jolting me into living in the now rather than always worrying. There can be positives.”

Anonymous

Mental Health

"Just take each day as it comes. Surrendering, dealing with the cards that you're dealt with, you just don't know what's around the corner."

Christeen | Breast Cancer Patient

Getting Help

"There was a lot of information to take in and so I made sure I took someone with me to write stuff down so I could recall the information later."

David | Oesophageal Cancer Patient

Getting Help Treatment

"I truly believe that understanding as much as I could about my cancer helped me get through the treatment and alleviate some of my fears, it also helped me have a more active role in my journey – I would encourage everyone to do this."

David | Oesophageal Cancer Patient

Mental Health Relationships

"I found keeping a pain diary very helpful. I used ‘notes’ app on my phone and shared it with my family and girlfriend, who could see my latest symptoms so I didn’t have to talk to them every day. It meant I didn't have to keep saying the same things, and some days I just had to be alone as I was in so much pain."

Max | Hodgkin's Lymphoma Patient

“Losing my hair was one of the most challenging parts of my treatment plan. I didn’t recognise myself when I looked in the mirror. I lost my sense of identity, femininity and sexuality…. And then the lights went out. When my husband and I went to bed and turned the lights out, the darkness brought a sense of freedom. We could forget about everything and just be in the moment… we could both imagine who we once were before the cancer. We could be young, beautiful, relaxed, stress-free, sexy. My husband could be my protector again, and not my carer. I could be a sexy, vibrant and sensual woman again – and not a cancer patient.“

Issy | London

Videos

People’s reflections on their own cancer experience.

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Carlie's Three Top Tips

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Mental Health Side Effects

Christeen's Story: Jazzzz Hands

My story is about acceptance and how I tried to stay as positive as possible and find my jazzzz hands again through my cancer journey whilst praying cancer doesn’t rear its ugly head again.

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Work Side Effects

Elvina's Story: You Look Well

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

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Mental Health Side Effects

Georgina's Story: Perspective

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

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Relationships Side Effects Mental Health

Issy's Story: When the Lights Went Out

How sex and intimacy helped me fight cancer.

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Getting Help Other health conditions Relationships

Jennifer's Story: Take a Moment

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.

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Side Effects Mental Health Getting Help

Mark's Story: The Road Home

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

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“In my mind I had to quickly accept the fact that I would be bald. Accept the fact that this is what you’re going to be like for the next few months – “it won’t be forever, it’ll come back”. So eventually, I did shave my hair off in front of a couple of hundred people in a bar. And that was my way of saying “right, this is me now, let’s rock this bald look!”

Christeen | Breast Cancer Patient