Breast cancer Archives

26 Oct 2023

2 Comments

Every Day is World Neuroendocrine Cancer Day!

Awareness, Patient AdvocacyBowel cancer, Breast cancer, NET Cancer Day, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC)

Opinion: In 2014, I experienced (so called) NET Cancer Day (10 Nov) on a major scale for the first time since its inception. Prior to that, it didn't really do that much for me. Spookily, I even woke up on 10 Nov 2010 after a major 9-hour surgery. Read about this here - I even woke up on November 10th after major surgery. You'll note the title of this post is "World Neuroendocrine Cancer Day" and that is because (so called) "NET Cancer Day" is not good awareness (ignore the grammar too). It's a terrible joining of cancer words and…

18 Jul 2023

By Ronny Allan

1 Comment

A person with Cancer fell into a hole and couldn’t get out……….

Awareness, Patient Advocacy, SurvivorshipBowel cancer, Brain tumour, Breast cancer, Cancer, Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer

A person with Cancer fell into a hole and couldn’t get out. As a colleague walked by, the person called out for help, but the colleague yelled back, "Suck it up, dig deep and get on with it" then threw the person a shovel. The person accepted that advice and dug that hole deeper. A manager went by, and the person called out for help again. The manager shouted down "Use the tools your colleague has given you", but then threw down a bucket adding to the tools available. The person used the tools to dig the hole deeper still…

20 Feb 2017

By Ronny Allan

0 Comments

25 Life Lessons From a Two-Time Cancer Survivor

Inspiration, SurvivorshipBreast cancer, Cancer survivor, Hodgkin lymphoma, Survivorship

Sometimes, a blog post comes along and it just resonates! I got chatting with the author who has given me permission to post it here. Shari Berman is a two-time cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at age 25, days after returning from her honeymoon and a second time with breast cancer 8 years later. I posted her full CV below.Her post "25 Life Lessons From a Two-Time Cancer Survivor" is a fantastic summary of a positive approach to life, despite a cancer diagnosis (or in Shari's case, two). I've seen some similar quotes before but Shari has collated…

13 Jun 2016

By Ronny Allan

4 Comments

Intra-Operative RadioTheraphy (IORT) for Neuroendocrine Cancer – new landmark treatment launch

Awareness, TreatmentAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, Brain tumour, Breast cancer, Colon cancer, Colorectal cancer, ENETS, Head and Neck Cancer, Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), Lung Cancer, NET Centre of Excellence, Pancreatic cancer, PRRT, Surgery

New treatments seem to be appearing every month and that is good news for patients. I have a personal connection to this one though. In 2014, Chris and I walked along Hadrian's Wall, a 2,000-year-old World Heritage structure in Northern England. This was part therapy for me but also part fund-raising to help pay for this new treatment which launches today in Southampton General Hospital (UK) which was recently awarded the coveted title of European NET Centre of Excellence (along with Bournemouth and Portsmouth Hospitals). It is the first ever deployment of this type of treatment in UK and Chris and I were…

15 Oct 2015

By Ronny Allan

17 Comments

Not all Cancer is simple

GeneralBreast cancer, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Quality of LIfe (QoL), Surgery

So Victoria Derbyshire has breast cancer and has used her 'workplace' as a platform to let people know she is a determined survivor. Nothing wrong with that, it's great cancer awareness for some and inspiration for others (including me). However, reading through various newspaper follow-up articles, blogs and social media comments, I can see criticism by many for producing an over simplified message (see picture below). Although many of us will be wishing it was so, not all cancer is simple! Take Neuroendocrine Cancer for example. For some, this 'silent' cancer can take years to be finally diagnosed whilst the patient is misdiagnosed with…

07 May 2015

By Ronny Allan

4 Comments

The C Word

GeneralBreast cancer, Neuroendocrine cancer, Quality of LIfe (QoL)

'The C Word' or 'The Big C' - the subject which must not be discussed. Or is this now an out of date phrase? I read a useful article a month ago where the author debated where we might be if, 50 years ago, we were as open about cancer as we are now (there, I said the word). Nowadays you cannot turn a page in a newspaper without seeing a story of sadness, inspiration or medical science progress. Certainly the latter has played a huge part in reducing cancer mortality rates and sending more people into remission. We now have much…

Tag: Breast cancer