Cancerversary

1st April 2023

What a year.

A ‘Cancerversary’ is a funny thing. A celebration of a day that your life gets turned upside down.

One year ago today we pulled up to the hospital on Aprils fools as it was snowing outside to be given a diagnosis that would shape the rest of my life.

At the age of 29, Breast Cancer.

Feeling so many mixed emotions whilst making this reel, looking back on it all it still feels pretty surreal.

From biopsies, scans, x-rays, mammograms, surgeries, freezing embryos, chemotherapy, radiotherapy to hormone therapy that still continues.

You get on the conveyor belt and go into survival mode as you learn to navigate through the never ending hospital appointments.

It’s a reminder for me to be kinder to myself. To stop beating myself up that I don’t feel or look the same as ‘before’. To accept that things take time to heal and the one I struggle with the most, to prioritise self care more.

And although it’s been the toughest year of my life, it’s also made me feel incredibly grateful.

Grateful for finding my lump early and for the amazing NHS. For giving me a new found strength and resilience. For a new appreciation of how much my mind and body can endure. For having the most amazingly supportive people around me and for all of the brave and inspiring women I’ve met along the way. 🖤🙏🏻

So today I will be celebrating making it through all of the chaos and for being Cancer free.

To sticking my finger up and raising a glass to f*ck you cancer! 🖕🏻

Taken all of my hair, eyelashes and broken my nails. But given me back so much more strength, determination and resilience. A new appreciation of how much my body and mind can endure. And shown me there’s so much more to life than sweating about the small stuff.

I couldn’t have got through it without the amazing nurses at Ceilia Blakey, they are real heroes and without the love & support from all of the incredible people around me. Especially @r.buchanan.art for stabbing my stomach daily, putting his barbering skills to good use and being my rock from day one.

🖤

As there’s not long before my month of Radiotherapy starts, I’m now going to enjoy every moment of this 12 day break!