Archive for the cancer charities Category

We Are Stuck On The Cancer Care Roundabout!

On May 20, 2018   /   cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment   /   5 Comments
We Are Stuck On The Cancer Care Roundabout!

When I ask my friends how their work is going the most popular response is “same s..t different day!” Working in the area of cancer support, I now experience that. The people are wonderful, so no problems there but when talking to those who are well paid to find solutions in the sector, I am hit by a terrible feeling of deja vu. Professional conferences that cost a lot of money, all take a very similar format. Guest speakers, PowerPoint slides showing that things will be better in the future. There are generally very few patients invited to attend, who are then made to feel grateful for what they receive, from whichever organisation is running it. Every year we are promised things will be better. The analogy I can use

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Does The Cancer World NEED The ‘Fear Factor’ For Income?

On May 13, 2018   /   cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment   /   10 Comments
Does The Cancer World NEED The 'Fear Factor' For Income?

During my visit to Palestine, the one very shocking thing that I quickly became aware of, was that everyone I met thought their cancer was a death sentence. This is something that has followed down the generations and will take a long time to change. But the facts are quite different from that. Naturally there are many issues there that make things difficult, but so many more of us are living with cancer, than dying of it. Obviously the earlier the disease is detected the better chance of survival we have.  I have come from the generation where cancer (The Big C) as it was known was certainly not discussed openly in my family. My Dad died of bowel cancer and my Mum had breast cancer and survived for more

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Sharing Cancer Experiences In Jerusalem And Palestine

On April 29, 2018   /   cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment   /   4 Comments
Sharing Cancer Experiences In Jerusalem And Palestine

Cancer has taken so much from me, and on many occasions I couldn’t see what the ‘new me’ could give to the world. Lacking so many of the ‘ingredients’ that made up the ‘old me,’ I struggled to find any enthusiasm to carry on. But now I find myself at the centre of the incredible changes that are happening in the cancer world. Patients are finding their voice and finally healthcare is listening. This is not just in the UK but across the world. Innovation is happening quickly and it seems like the clunky corporates are being replaced with caring community organisations, as it is finally seen that a large one size fits all approach is no longer appropriate. I have just returned from a trip to Palestine and Jerusalem,

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Are The Giant Charity Brands Exhausting Their Trust?

On March 11, 2018   /   cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment   /   4 Comments
Are The Giant Charity Brands Exhausting Their Trust?

As most of you are well aware, I am concerned about the way many of our giant cancer charities behave towards the people they purport to help. Working in a dictatorial manner backed up by aggressive advertising, funded by many trusting donors. Much of my work involves charities and my own experience shows me clearly two types. The ones that work very closely with others and those that don’t, who are now beginning to be isolated and out of touch despite their current income! The most dangerous thing that I see, is that these are the largest ones, and I believe that their loud voices, backed by a never ending stream of all channel advertising, are strangling innovation. They believe they know best and they will give you only their

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The Gift Of Growing Up

On February 4, 2018   /   cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment, social media and cancer support   /   Leave a comment
The Gift Of Growing Up

I can’t believe that I am approaching the age of sixty two. Not just because of my illness, but in general how quickly my life has gone. Since the incredible gift of my grandchildren, I am reliving my youth for the third time, having lived it on my own initially, then with my own sons afterwards. My parents lived through the war, and saw life totally different to the way I am now. We had to struggle for every penny and were one of the last in the street to have a television, phone and car. Difficult to remember that I have seen those times. When I went to school I saw the opportunity of breaking away from the cycle of poverty that my parents had lived. I rebelled against

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Where Does Your Cancer Cash Go?

On January 7, 2018   /   cancer, cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment   /   25 Comments
Where Does Your Cancer Cash Go?

This year I am focusing on collaboration amongst patient supported work, and how we can affect the current poor outcomes for people affected by cancer. Despite the enormous amount of work and money that goes into it, our survival rates are still some of the worst in Europe. I call this a disaster and like most man made problems, this hasn’t just happened. It is the result of lazy healthcare organisations and a constant stream of politicians from all parties spouting no end of jargon, being massaged by millions of pounds and eager charities looking to further their own influence. Nobody within that cycle wanting to step out of line and lose a cosy career. We all know the increasing cancer figures yet still we can’t improve. Of course this

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I See Opportunity Not Obstacles in 2018

On January 1, 2018   /   cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment   /   Leave a comment
I See Opportunity Not Obstacles in 2018

2017 has been my busiest year yet. Thankfully my health has remained consistent, and I have been able to push forward our work with simPal, and develop my own speaking and writing work. During the last couple of months of the year I have seen big signs to show me that the world of cancer support is finally beginning to understand what must happen if we are going to be able to provide the correct resources going forward, to help the increasing numbers of people affected by cancer. We have been aware for many years that there are far too many cancer charities to be sustainable and that politicians are slowing the progress of healthcare support. But most importantly I have seen a massive ‘ground swell’ by people affected by

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Chris Lewis Against Cancer!

On December 17, 2017   /   cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment   /   12 Comments
Chris Lewis Against Cancer!

There was a select audience for the Britain Against Cancer conference held in London on the 5th of December. Now that is a big statement name, and I hadn’t even been invited! I immediately wanted to know more. So I went onto the website and found that you could BUY a ticket for £100+, but it also told me that if I was a person affected by cancer I could apply for a FREE ticket on a first come first served basis. I duly did and received one which allowed me to go. Also attending were politicians, NHS, pharmaceutical companies, many charities and some more patients. Not surprisingly as always the patients were in a very small minority. Quite strange really as all the things that were being discussed were

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