Can I Give You Some Advice?

If you’ve come here on some search for as much information on your Cancer as possible following a new diagnosis then I fully understand the need to know as much as possible about what’s happening and what is going to happen.

But if I can offer just ONE piece of advice it’s this. Ignore Google. Do not search for you cancer, or prognosis or symptoms, or any other information on Google. Most of it is terrifying, a LOT of is is outdated. Even data and information from as recent as 2017 is massively out of date due to the rate to research and development into Cancer.

My first few weeks following diagnosis were horrifying and I was convinced at my diagnosis in Sept 2020 that I would not see that Christmas based purely on old and dated info on Google.

What you must do instead is reach out to medical professionals, charities (in the UK Cancer Research UK and MacMillan are fantastic, there are loads of others) also look out for support groups, there are lots on Facebook including ones for specific Cancer, eg for me there’s the Kidney Cancer UK Support Group but there are hundreds of others.

The support groups are great as they are full of people right now going through or have gone through what you are now facing and they will help you put your mind at ease with realistic information, support and help.

Surround yourself with a support network because it is scary when you’re first diagnosed but take it one day at a time and deal with the here and now.