Chris's Cancer Community

It’s Still Take, Take, Take, From Many Charities!

Chris On July 29, 2018 / cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment / 30 Comments

In the last few weeks I have found myself facing several charities with strange ideas of what collaboration means. They seem to believe it means they tell me about campaigns and I share them through my social media channels! Many of those have vast marketing teams paid very well to do that. From most, I receive little or no sharing at all and only hear from them when they want something. It is quite sad that nothing seems to have changed since I wrote the below post eighteen months ago!! “We are so far only one month in to 2017, and I can say that in terms of my cancer work it has been an incredible start. I have frequently talked and written about the frustrating lack of collaboration in

Work And Breast Cancer, The Uncomfortable Truth!

Chris On July 22, 2018 / cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment / 17 Comments

Unfortunately, the future of our cancer care lies with very flaky politicians, fully employed in fighting Brexit. Alongside them are giant healthcare organisations that choose the path of least resistance, attempting to find favour with the individuals in office at the time. Millions gets spent every year by charities to lobby Government for whatever is their campaign at the time. Even today, we are still asking politicians to scrap hospital parking costs! A subject that was being discussed eleven years ago when I was first diagnosed. The reality of the urgent problems is being lost, maybe this is intentional? When I was approached by Dr Dianne Dowling to share her fully researched evidence I was delighted to have the difficult facts to share. This is just a small part of the

The Rapidly Changing Cancer World!

Chris On July 10, 2018 / cancer awareness, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment / Leave a comment

I became ill in 2007 when I had just started to use the computer and mobile Internet was something that was more frustrating than useful! During my transplant, I spent six weeks locked away with only a lot of buffering to keep me company. How times have changed, and for the better I believe. The Internet has enabled me to do the work I do, and become a well known name in the global cancer sector. It has enabled me to connect with many clinicians, patients and charities to help share innovation and best practice. One of the most exciting things I have been able to do recently is take up an offer to visit Palestine and Jerusalem. They wanted me to talk about my work and particularly collaboration. They

Travel Insurance From A Cancer Patient Perspective

Chris On June 25, 2018 / cancer, Cancer Support, cancer survival / 12 Comments

As a long term cancer patient myself, I have found so much discrimination against me. From banks to employers and insurance, particularly travel insurance! I used to travel for a living and it was something I wanted to continue, when I was well enough.Like everything connected with cancer, finding travel insurance is not at all straight forward. So I would like to talk about some of the things I have learned, which may help you to find clarity in this particular minefield. How do you choose your policy? Is it based on price, through a comparison website or recommendation? Do you wish to include your cancer or remove all pre-existing conditions? What a drama you might think, and I agree totally! Many of us are completely priced out of travelling

How Much Should A Patient Be Told?

Chris On June 10, 2018 / cancer awareness, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment / 15 Comments

We are very much a global community now, and the Internet has made the world a much smaller place. There are very few secrets these days, and if you really want some information, the chances are that you will be able to find it. Most advice from medical professionals is still “don’t look on the Internet.” I understand of course why that is said, as you can soon be part of ‘the worried well’ if you took to your computer every time you felt under the weather. But I am concerned what is happening now, regarding cancer treatment for complex cases in the UK. Of course, you can only offer treatment that is at your disposal, and this is where I believe we need to change drastically, for many cancer

This Is A Cancer Scandal Happening Daily, Why?

Chris On May 27, 2018 / cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment / 11 Comments

This week I wanted to share this story written by Rohan Silva in the Evening Standard. It echoes exactly my own experiences with NHS AND giant cancer charities. There are so many people out there with incredibly innovative ideas that cost little to implement but the doors are shut in our face. Why is that when we all know how poor cancer services are in the UK. My experience is that this is much worse than what is portrayed in this article and is a scandal in the making!! “It’s always great to come across a man — or a woman — on a mission. Michael Seres is one of those people. When he was 12 he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, an incurable bowel condition, and his health sadly

Why It’s Time To Pout For A Purpose!

Chris On May 24, 2018 / cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment / Leave a comment

It is a great honour for me to host the below blog. It is exclusively written by the wonderful Athena Lamnisos CEO of the Eve Appeal who do such incredible work. I am always happy to get involved with these guys as they are a small but very impactful charity. Collaboration means a lot to us both, and I have been involved throughout the month with their #GetLippy campaign. In this piece Athena tells us more. “The history of the instantly recognisable pink ribbon is an interesting one. The idea came from a grassroots campaign led by a breast cancer activist, who wanted a symbol to highlight the issue that a mere 5% of the United States’ National Cancer Institute budget (of $1.8 billion) was dedicated to cancer prevention. That

We Are Stuck On The Cancer Care Roundabout!

Chris On May 20, 2018 / cancer awareness, cancer charities, Cancer Support, cancer survival, cancer treatment / 5 Comments

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