My breast cancer nurse
As part of the team who managed
my first cancer, Triple Negative Breast Cancer, I was supported by a wonderful
nurse who answered all my questions and responded quickly to any concerns or
questions I had (and I had loads).
My neurosurgeon
A brilliant and highly skilled surgeon to whom I owe so much. I
trusted this woman with my most valuable asset, my brain. She conducted
not one, but two, life saving surgeries on my large malignant tumours. Her team are amazing too.
My radiotherapy advanced nurse practitioner
During my second burst of radiotherapy (Whole Brain Radiotherapy),
I was so battered by this horrific treatment that I was literally brought to my
knees. The head of the radiology team was a smart cookie and identified that my
response to treatment was cause for concern. She got me straight into a bed in
the Cancer Centre where I suffered two seizures. If this had been at home,
there may have been a different outcome.
My GP
Another intelligent and intuitive woman, my GP was proactive and
responsive in referring me for treatment when needed.
My palliative care practitioner
After my prognosis of 'months not years' in October 2015, I was
assigned a brilliant woman to help me to navigate the various challenges of
being terminally ill; sign-posting me to legal, financial and emotional support
(and providing another wonderful woman who gave me weekly foot massages!)
My Mum
My enormously clever and caring Mum, who despite the horror of
losing one daughter to Meningitis and two brothers to cancer, held it together
and loved me throughout. It is heart-breaking to think that she never got to
know that I would be in remission and still going strong (by the Grace of God).
My incredible friends
The precious and invaluable support from my friends was second to
none. From my lovely church friend, an elderly former theatre nurse, to my
indefatigable friends who rallied me round, bought thoughtful gifts, travelled
across the country and from around the world to be there for me, supported
causes that were meaningful to me and all those who provided kind messages of
support on social media. I will never, ever forget that support.
My fellow cancer sufferers
It's sometimes (understandably) difficult
for those without cancer to understand its rapacious impact on sufferers'
lives. My fellow sufferers, many of whom have died and none of whom
have escaped without physical and emotional scars, were, and continue to be, an
amazing and relentless source of support and comfort.
So, today, as I celebrate the enormous sacrifices that women
have made to gain us the vote, I also honour those women who have stood
shoulder to shoulder with me, or brought their expertise to help in my personal
struggle. Thank you all.
Amanda
