I wouldn’t be writing this blog without her. Sharing my diagnosis and journey, bringing cancer out of the dark into a place to be discussed openly and without shame.
Seeing her deal with bowel cancer with dignity and flare made me realise I didn’t have to suffer in silence. That sharing helps people learn, enables support and removes stigma.
I listened to the You, Me and the Big C podcast every week, I listened to old episodes and realised that what I was going through was normal and others were in the same boat.
I wasn’t existing with cancer, I was able to LIVE with cancer.
I had some thoughts and concerns and she responded to some of my messages with help and guidance. She was a normal person dealing with cancer and showing everyone, warts and all, what it was like.
Some of her last broadcasts were difficult to listen to, that someone had to go through that much to just trying and see another morning was hard to comprehend so when she announced in May she was receiving end of life care I wasn’t surprised, but was still sad.
When it was announced last week she had finally died there was a very public display of sadness from the world but I was quiet and reflective. I was sad, I shed some tears watching the BBC documentary. But I was grateful for her and the podcast she was part of.
I hope the team find the strength to continue the podcast and keep the discussions of cancer going as they help so many people.
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