Working with Cancer

Aim

My aim is to continue to offer free NLP coaching for anyone who is experiencing a cancer diagnosis. Patients, carers & loved ones.

I love broccoli, keeping active and I'm a trained yoga teacher. 

At the age of 44 years old, I did not expect to receive a terminal bowel cancer diagnosis.  I thought I was fit and healthy.  I avoid processed foods and beer isn't my favourite drink.

After ignoring blood in my stools for a number of months for fear of having an uncomfortable conversation with my GP, I eventually plucked up the courage to talk about it. 

I mentioned that my mum has ulcerative colitis, which prompted a colonoscopy.

I remember seeing the tumour on the screen.  The atmosphere in the room plummeted, along with my feel-good natural positive thoughts of "It's nothing, I'll be fine". 

A couple of weeks later I received the news that the cancer had spread to my liver and lungs.  And the only thing they would be able to offer me was palliative care.  

I planned my funeral and shared the news with our loved ones.

Two weeks later I received more news.  The lung nodules were too small to categorise and my liver showed blood vessel activity, not cancer as originally diagnosed. 

This meant that I could have an operation (a resection). Lymph nodes were removed.  It was a very clear moment to me that I decided that I had created the cancer...and therefore I could un-create it.  (I don't believe I caused it now btw)! 

This mind shift gave me the opportunity to be part of my recovery.  No crazy juice diets or pills, just a lot of research, rest and changing my language.  I didn't want to beat cancer.  I told myself I was working with cancer. After all, it was my body and I didn't want to fight with it.  I needed everything to be working together. 

Another set-back - the cancer had travelled and stood at stage 3, meaning that chemotherapy was on the cards.  Wow - no-one can ever prepare you for that! 

I carried on working after the 6 week recovery for the operation.

In August 2017 (6 months after diagnosis) I received the all-clear. 

But that's when I fell apart. The oncologist said, "well done, go and live your normal life". 

That was a bit tricky, bearing in mind that I thought I was fit and healthy and 6 months ago he told me I was going to die.

I asked for help...a lot of help.  I invested in acupuncture to feel better after chemo.  I invested in reflexology to balance my body and mind. I talked through my anxiety with an end-of-life counsellor.

Since then, I have retrained as a Neuro Linguistic Programming Master Practitioner.  It helped build me back up again from the inside out.  One of the techniques helped me stop crying about scanxiety and appointments.  

I now volunteer with the local Macmillan centre on occasions.  I offer complimentary sessions for anyone affected by cancer, as I know that around 70% of patients will at some time experience depression. 

I would like to continue to offer my services free of charge and create a community that supports each other. 

I'd love to hire a venue for regular relaxed meet-ups for local people to engage with each other.  The funds will help me build the online and face-to-face community.  

Speaking to people who've gone through a similar life-changing journey is powerful, as sometimes you don't want to say the same words to loved ones who just don't understand. 

Human connection is priority here.

I'm also working on a project with the Association of NLP to encourage every GP surgery to offer the services of an NLP coach to their staff and patients.  See 'The Gardening Effect' article in Rapport Magazine for more information.  https://issuu.com/rapportmag/docs/rapport_lite_71_summer_2021

I enjoy writing articles for Bowel Cancer UK and I'd like to share my story via keynote talks for patients and medical professionals. 

At the moment I'm donating my time and skills for free. 

More about NLP and my work can be found here -  Let's Make Time - NLP for health 

This project closed unsuccessfully on 7th December 2021