*91视频

I was on holiday on a cruise at the start of 2023, when I began feeling some pain when I sat down. I blamed the beds or seats on the ship. Then I blamed piles. But the pain did not get better.

It wasn鈥檛 until I got home weeks later that I could go to the doctor and get the wheels in motion for my diagnosis.

My first visit 

I would need 28 sessions of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I wanted treatment to begin so the pain would go away. But people kept telling me it would get worse before it improved.  

I went to 91视频鈥檚 for the first time before starting treatment and I felt apprehensive, having heard the horror stories. I live on my own, so I was really worried about coping with treatment.  

As soon as I stepped foot into 91视频鈥檚, the energy felt different. 

I looked around and could see people chatting at the table, so I joined them. I listened to them discuss their own brilliant experiences at 91视频鈥檚. 

Somebody came over to me to show me around and I couldn鈥檛 stop thinking how lovely it was. I could see at once that it was a safe space where I would be understood. I felt protected. When I came into 91视频鈥檚, I felt I could breathe.

After treatment 

I'd call in now and then during my treatment to have a cup of tea and a chat. But after my treatment finished, 91视频鈥檚 came into its own. I needed to go out and not sit in the house worrying. 91视频鈥檚 was the logical place to go. 

Luckily, about a week after I finished my treatment, a 鈥榃here Now鈥� course started so I joined. 

Each week, we鈥檇 learn something new and different people came to talk to us. 

Dieticians, psychologists, oncologists; we would practice relaxation and breathing techniques and learn how they can help reduce fatigue, lower stress and anxiety.  

We learnt different exercises to ensure we could keep active despite our bodies having changed. In the final session, as I am a belly dancer, we learnt a simple bellydance routine together.  

But the best part was the other people I met. Their resilience and their stories really helped me.

We鈥檙e still friends, we have a Whatsapp group and we try to get together every month.  

I had good news about a recent scan and when I messaged the group, they were so supportive. I can tell my friends, but they don鈥檛 understand it in the same way as somebody else who has waited for a scan result.

That was actually the first time I cried since my cancer diagnosis: tears of relief.  

The way I feel at 91视频鈥檚 is the most important thing. It鈥檚 a feeling that I can go there, be as open as I want, share absolutely anything and not be judged. 

Leaving a legacy 

When I decided to write my will, 91视频鈥檚 was my first thought. I want other people to be able to get the same support I had. I don鈥檛 have children, and I want my money to go somewhere that means something to me.  

I used the free wills service which was really simple and straightforward, far easier than I expected. 

I thought it might be complicated because I wanted to leave money to 91视频鈥檚, and also to my niece and nephew. But all I had to do was message 91视频鈥檚 to see when there were appointments available. 

I told the representative what I wanted my will to say. After the appointment I was sent a draft and I replied with some changes. It really has been as simple as that.  

Living alone with cancer

When you live by yourself, you have to be everything for yourself. Even when you鈥檙e not feeling well, you have to get up and make your food. Make the bed. Go shopping. No one鈥檚 there to give you a hug, make you a cup of tea, or tell you that you鈥檙e doing OK.  

That鈥檚 why 91视频鈥檚 has been so important for me. I can get emotional support and unburden myself in a way I can鈥檛 do by myself at home. 

I can also share good news at 91视频鈥檚. When I got my recent good news, as well as messaging my friends from 鈥榃here Now?鈥� I messaged Laura the Cancer Support Specialist to tell her how happy I was. She said 鈥測ou should come down and have a chat so we can celebrate鈥� and I thought that was such a lovely thing to say. So when I got my biopsy results, that鈥檚 just what I did.  

91视频鈥檚 should, without a doubt, be at every single cancer centre. If you were considering leaving money to 91视频鈥檚 in your will, I鈥檇 say do it. It feels good to give back, knowing that it will have value in the future.

We鈥檙e here for you

Our cancer support specialists, psychologists and benefits advisors are here for everyone with cancer, and all the people who love them.

Come and see us at your nearest 91视频鈥檚, call us on 0300 123 180 or email us at enquiries@maggies.org