On 14th March 2017 I was diagnosed with stage 3 papillary thyroid carcinoma and on the 22nd April 2017 I had a 7 hour operation to remove my thyroid and 30 lymph nodes from my neck. June brought 8 days of isolation after radioactive iodine treatment. A treatment I am still waiting to see if it has eradicated my cancer completely. The day after my operation I lay in my hospital bed and watched 40,000 people take part in the London marathon and I made a promise to myself that I would get myself back on my feet and run 26.2miles. I write this 6 months since my operation but the marathon will mark 1 year since my operation and I so desperately want to be on that start line having survived.

What I have learnt since my diagnosis is that cancer stays with you, it consumes you, you might survive but it never goes away and you just learn to live with it. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about it, about friends who have lost loved ones, families who have lost fathers, mothers, children and how utterly tragic it can be. I have had conversations with my kids about cancer, about my cancer, had questions from them that I didn't think I would ever have to answer and watched while their faces digest the information I give them and with my parental urge to protect them from harm, I hope the cancer reality doesn't upset them and that somehow I can show them bravery and to stay strong. 

"Stay strong" have been words I have heard a lot over the last 6 months but I have also learnt that not being strong on some days is ok, its normal, I am allowed to breakdown and this recognition has been the biggest relief. I only came to these conclusions after my initial chat with MacMillan. I had heard of the charity but had no idea what they did or how they helped. I took a phone call from Celia from MacMillan in March after my diagnosis and after 1.5hours on the phone I felt I had found a friend. Celia has always been at the end of the phone for every question I had (and trust me I had a lot of questions). Medical questions and knowledge are almost a given but emotional support and cancer parenting tips were something I hadn't realised how much I needed. Celia, I have never met but her constant support of every step of my journey (over the phone) has been amazing. Hands down this lady has helped me live with cancer and carry on life through simple communication. This training she received through fundraising.

MacMillan aren't just there for the patient but support for the family and if you or a member of your family have been affected by cancer then you may have come across them. They are incredibly compassionate people with endless advice and good listening ears. I need to raise a minimum of £2500 for this wonderful charity and for this I will run 26.2miles.  

Thankfully I am not doing this marathon alone. My best friend Emma is running with me. I have been surrounded by the most fantastic support, my cancer army, and this girl has been at the forefront of this support. Helpfully for me she is a consultant for the NHS and she has taken a fair few calls from me in tears after trawling the internet for answers. Ive pretty much tested our friendship to the brink but this amazing woman has climbed mountains alongside me and now is running a marathon with me. Emma - I love you, thank you!

To those that are still battling cancer....in particular to my dad who has bowel cancer. You continue to inspire me with your positivity and strength. Dad has vowed to cycle alongside me in my training.

Please donate what you can. I won't be doing a marathon again, I have no aspirations to run in any time, I just want to be on that start line with a smile on my face and give back to a charity who has given so much to me. xxx

#lifewithcancer #surviving #checkyourneck #teammacmillan