Allie Morgan – Writer & Cancer Survivor

While you’re in hospital, the same four walls can be very, very boring.

Sometimes, it’s nice to make future plans & give yourself something to look forward to – they don’t have to be big or extravagant, just organising a get-together with friends can give you a focus. Or if you’re too tired, ask someone else if they can help you.

I was lucky with my family & friends – they made sure that there was always something on the horizon to look forward to! But having cancer definitely puts things into perspective & with a lot of time to think, your mind will probably turn to the future.

It can look daunting; cancer treatment can usually leave you with long term effects to deal with but don’t fear – making the most of today will more than likely be your priority.

I found that the following things helped me with making plans for the future:

• Reading different books helped me to escape my own life & situation – I could be in a different place instantly. It motivated me to experience more of life once I was better.
• On top of that, I used to collect travel brochures & make notes of the places I really wanted to see – I’ve still got a bucket list of things I wanna do!
• Think of ways in which you can make your life healthier & more fulfilling to keep up your strength – things like taking a daily walk or having time to yourself can make a big difference.
• If your fertility might have been affected by treatment – seek advice on what options may be available for you. If it’s important to you that you have children – make sure you know where you stand & the roads you can take.
• Don’t let cancer rule you – remember it’s only one part of your life!

In my personal experience:

• In terms of long term effects, the treatment that I had has weakened my heart, affected my hearing, given me slight mobility issues & may have affected my fertility.
• On a day to day basis, I’m not affected majorly by any of these things & I haven’t been classed as disabled for about 10 years now.
• I sometimes suffer from palpitations, I only struggle to hear in crowded rooms & my mobility is pretty good since I tried my damn hardest with my physio sessions.
• In fact, from the outside, most people can’t even tell I had cancer at all unless they see my scars.

Don’t let the future overwhelm you – use your time in hospital or at home to create exciting plans instead.

Allie x