Claire’s Blog – post #1

Hello out there…

Where do I start this blog?

So much has happened to me in the last 15 months that it will take a while to put it all down here.  I really don’t want to go on about the f*cking awfulness of my situation as it is a total downer for everyone including me. Rather I’d like to focus on the positive and very amazing things that are happening around me on this “journey” through hell and back.

NOTE FOR THE FUTURE – Apologies if you are reading this in the future and I’ve not made it back. This is quite a likely outcome but don’t be dejected, the cancer revolution is coming.

A few brief facts about me first and a mission statement.

I am a 40 year old mother of 3 and I live in Glasgow.

Indy is 2, Christy is 5 and Mora is 8 and I recently married their dad, love of my life and long suffering partner Liam.

Last June I was diagnosed with bowel cancer that turned out to be stage 4 (this is the worst stage).

After a sigmoidectomy, 9 months of chemotherapy and five lung tumours being removed I am now told by my doctors it is “probably incurable”; but I refuse to believe this. Mainly because even though I have a lively imagination I just simply cannot imagine the world without me in it. My head shuts down like a faulty computer. Like trying to imagine an endless universe. Inconceivable.

NOTE FOR THE FUTURE – well I’m sorry if it does all come true but still I stand by my belief that doctors do not always know best

We are living in a golden age for cancer research. I am actually incredibly lucky to be living with cancer right now in this time. I, like so many people, am living with cancer but living, not dying due to the incredible advances in medical research.

My mission is to scour the planet for my cure. I really believe it is out there and I’m going to enjoy looking for it.  

Before my current crisis, before cancer, before children, before all that I was a researcher and investigative journalist for the BBC. And so I’m good at finding things out. I have all the skills and tools to document my journey and I hope I might be able to pass on some nuggets of information to anyone who follows my path.

So I’ve run out of time today  to tell you about my great white hope; TIL therapy. I’ve got 18 minutes to get to the nursery to pick up Indy but that will be my next post.

NOTE TO FUTURE SELF – Try not to be late for everything!!