This year’s show is supporting three very special charities with causes that few of us have failed to be touched by
in one way or another. Whether we have a personal experience of cancer or know a relative or friend that has been
affected, it’s almost a given, that cancer (sometimes known as the ‘C’ word by some who fear the very mention of
the word) will affect every one of us to some degree as we travel through life. Here we feature two touching stories
by two very special people who’ve been helped by the show’s nominated charities. We hope they inspire you to lend
your support, whether in the form of volunteering or through financial support.
Louise’s
Story
I was diagnosed with early breast cancer in May 2012
at 40. I remained upbeat throughout my treatment but
as my treatment drew to a close, the realisation of what
had happened just kicked in. I started to almost dread my
radiotherapy finishing. How could I just return to work
and normal life as if nothing had happened? It was about
this time that my new breast care nurse stopped and
asked: “and how are you?”
That was it. I broke down and couldn’t stop. The nurse
was utterly wonderful and suggested that I visit The Haven
for some support. I went straight there and managed to
compose myself enough to tell my story. I was quickly
booked onto an initial and I left feeling so much better, like
I wasn’t alone anymore.
I returned the following week to attend a group meeting and
although I was still a bit emotional, it was lovely to meet
other ladies who were going through a similar experience.
It was nice to get all my feelings out in the open and talk
about things I felt I couldn’t discuss with my friends.
The whole setup was very supportive but in particular the
younger women’s support group, and more recently, an
assertiveness workshop have both incredibly helpful.
Trish’s
Story
Trish, 54, a life drawing tutor from Bournemouth shares
her experience of breast cancer. When I was diagnosed
the shock hit me hard and for the first week I couldn’t
eat or sleep, terrified of how I would cope with side
effects. I was surprised how much support there was and
coped better than I expected.
I appreciated using Breast Cancer Care’s Headstrong
service and found them very encouraging and helpful.
We tend to think of chemo as something that makes you
sick, not something that gives you unbelievable tiredness
and diminishes your concentration. At one stage I had
a horrible spell of really weird things such as painful
fingernails.
When the regular appointments finally stopped, I felt
suddenly on my own - that’s when I found Breast Cancer
Care’s support invaluable. I attended their Moving Forward
course and I belatedly discovered the charity’s chat forums
where I could discuss worries like hair and fatigue. This
made me feel like I wasn’t alone during what is actually
quite a difficult part of the process. I have gained a lot of
strength through Breast Cancer Care and I recommend
using their services throughout.
Both Breast Cancer Care and The Haven will have a stand at the upcoming Life Begins 50+ Show so please come
and speak to us if you would like to find out more about our free services and support.
The Life Begins Show are also supporting
PLANETS is a charity based at University Hospital Southampton dedicated to defeating Pancreatic, Liver and
Neuroendocrine Tumours. These cancers affect men and women all over the UK but remain underfunded.
PLANETS are raising money to provide world-class care for patients and supporting the hospital’s pioneering
work in treatment, research and education of these complex cancers. www.planetscharity.org
22 Life Begins 2014 Show Guide
www.lifebeginsshow.com