Anyone Remember Cancer?

Oh my goodness, what another unbelievable year we have just had! It was completed by Mrs L contracting omicron on Christmas eve. Thus enforcing changes to all our festive arrangements, thus for the second year, not seeing our family on the 25th. Throw in another couple of random events that also happened, personally, I was not disappointed to see the back of 2021.

Last year was an incredible challenge. To try and raise the cause of CANCER above all the other noise was virtually impossible. I never thought that I would be living in a world where this dreadful disease was rarely even mentioned by ANYONE in healthcare leadership. Even now after two years, covid is dominating our world. Despite record waiting lists, cancer and other long term killers, are being totally ignored yet again. Many people will continue to die due to lack of a timely diagnosis or treatment.

I have now had some time to clear all the unnecessary noise from my mind. Many side issues I had let myself get involved in will all be gone. This year I will be totally selfish with my time and goals. There is my book to complete, and my own work to promote. It is clear to see that the ‘new health landscape,’ is entirely different. Being a large organisation is now a hindrance, and ‘flying solo’ enables me to be more effective. Whilst also playing to my strengths.

Politics, Brexit, and vaccinations are all massive distractions from my real focus, of cancer and healthcare. I will also be shining more light on KINDNESS, something we are also too short of in this world. There is so much toxicity wherever I look. History shows us that this will achieve nothing positive in the longer run. Of course much needs to change but shouting louder than others, is not always the way.

I too am frustrated where we now find ourselves. It seemed that we were finally getting somewhere, prior to covid. But now, the reality is that we have regressed at least ten years. Unfortunately, many of us won’t have to worry about waiting lists, as we will be dead before we reach our slot. Cancer waits for nobody, especially the NHS. They have finally woken up to the fact that the Government not only have been ignoring patients, but also their organisation. Helping to create the collapse it so often tells us it wants to avoid.

So where do we go from here? I have my own ideas, but this really feels like deliberate sabotage of our health service. Is it truly their aim to privatise things? The truth is something we haven’t heard for a long time. Whilst the ‘tug of war’ continues people are dying and staff are on their knees. This cycle MUST be broken, and soon! I will be doing all I can to improve the lot of people affected by cancer. Attempting to give the silent a voice and hope.

We must continue to speak out and highlight the discrimination we are experiencing. Make life as uncomfortable as we can for the leadership of this country. Somehow, the subject of cancer must be moved towards the top of the list. None of us want to ‘fight,’ when we are at our most vulnerable. But currently it seems we have to. Taking responsibility for our own care is vital! We know the system is creaking. But chase for answers, blood tests and scans. Don’t just wait in hope, and keep pushing. Of course we may not have done this before but we are in incredible times.

In recent days, the possible collapse of the NHS is being mentioned more frequently. With seemingly no plans to improve things in the near future. We are now reaching this inevitable position, since we started ignoring all other health problems to focus on covid. Record waiting lists and a much poorer quality of life for many, awaiting routine surgeries. Staff leaving in record numbers, and those that are left working in incredibly stressful circumstances.

I fail to understand how our health service has been left to rot for so many years under successive Governments. It’s not all about the quantity of money spent but how it is used. Poor governance and politics can be blamed here. With no real thought of the ultimate goal, improving our quality of life. Of course things have improved over time, but this progress has not even kept up with the tech explosion. With national health care being far too slow and cautious to embrace change.

So where will we go from here? I’m struggling to see anything positive for many years. The entire system is fractured. Many of us will struggle to receive the treatment and care we require. My focus will always be on people affected by cancer but of course this will also depend on what is happening in the entire healthcare sector. Another extremely challenging year ahead I feel!

As always these are my personal views and opinions. Please feel free to share your own below.