lifeaftercancer

As the year draws to a close, it’s natural to find ourselves reflecting on the journey we’ve taken. The highs and lows, the lessons learned, and the moments that shaped us all deserve a thoughtful pause. So many people I am speaking to have hard a very challenging year, and are eager to put 2024 behind them. 

Reflective journaling is a powerful way to review your past year and set a clear, intentional path for the year ahead.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how reflective journaling can help …

The holiday season is often painted as a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. But for many cancer survivors, it can also bring a wave of complex emotions—grief, sadness, loneliness, or even guilt for not feeling the holiday cheer. If this resonates with you, know that you’re not alone. It’s okay to feel what you feel, and it’s possible to navigate this season with compassion and care for yourself.

Why the Holidays Can Be Difficult for Cancer Survivors

The holiday season can amplify emot…

Personal care products are a daily essential for many, including items like shampoo, lotion, makeup, and deodorant. These products seamlessly integrate into our routines, often without consideration for their ingredients. However, for cancer survivors, being aware of these components is crucial. Toxins present in personal care items can present significant health risks, interfere with hormonal equilibrium, and may lead to persistent health problems. It is vital for cancer survivors to be cauti…

Setting boundaries at work is crucial to protecting your mental health, reducing stress, and preventing burnout. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stretched thin, this guide will provide practical steps to regain balance and take control of your work life.

Reflecting on my career in corporate life, if I could give my younger self one piece of advice it would be to get comfortable with setting boundaries. I was too young, too insecure and too ambitious to believe that simply performing to a high st…

When treatment ends many people expect to feel triumphant and ready to get back to their old lives as soon as possible. The problem is when the ‘old life’ is what made them sick. Stress, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, dehydration, sedentary lifestyle can all contribute to health problems.

I believe that all my life I had put everybody else first. I was a wife, mother, leader and employee amongst other roles, and always thought that meant that I had to sacrifice my own needs to be a good person. M…

In my work as a Cancer Recovery Coach one of the biggest challenges many survivors face is returning to the workplace and often the negative effects on physical and mental health. Sadly my experience in large organisations was not the best.

Many people I work with I find the lack of support from employers can be a further cause of distress after the shock of the diagnosis, the brutality of treatment and the associated grieving for the survivors old life.

The Working With Cancer Report, published …

We all experience moments when life feels overwhelming. Stress, anxiety, or emotional distress can creep in, leaving us feeling tense, exhausted, or just plain stuck. For women navigating life after significant experiences like cancer recovery or other major life events, finding ways to soothe and nurture yourself is not just helpful—it’s essential. With the changing of the seasons sometimes leaving us feeling out of sorts, here are some practical strategies for finding comfort, calm, and clarit…

This week Catherine, Princess of Wales, issued a statement saying she has completed her chemotherapy.

A highly professional film of Catherine and her husband and children was published – you can see that here.

Catherine told others with the disease: 'To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. 

'Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.' 

Whatever your thoughts on the Royal Family, my heart goes out to her, as her i…

This week the Australian model, businesswoman, television host, and actress, Elle Macpherson has been in the news headlines in the UK. She has shared her experience of breast cancer, diagnosed 7 years ago, she says she consulted a number of doctors, and made the decision to reject ‘conventional treatment’ elected to have ‘alternative treatment’ and today she is happy and healthy.

It is reported that doctors advised Elle to undergo a mastectomy with radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and the…

I’m still basking in the sheer joy of a wonderful night out in Liverpool with some of my girlfriends.

We went to celebrate Carol’s 65th birthday, she is a rock chick, loves her metal and rock music, so I was surprised and delighted when she chose a night out with ‘Disco for Grown Ups’, 70s, 80s and 90s dance music, with a DJ and dancers on stage. I have seen more and more of these events advertised online, Love Train is a favourite of mine too.

My kind of music! I love Nile Rogers and Chic, Siste…