If you would like this piece read to you, just click above Like everything else, healthcare is so intertwined in politics, which in my opinion is the main reason things are going backwards rapidly! Being a danger to everyone, not just in this country but around the globe. Most major countries are struggling now to provide the level of service they were even 5 years ago. In this piece I discuss some of the big issues and obstacles to necessary progress. Chaos in politics, breeds discord, leaving us divided. Outdated systems fail, to address modern challenges. Healthcare woes, overshadowed by ce ..read more

If you would like this piece read to you, just click above There is nothing more selfish in this world than cancer. It stops at nothing, to fulfill it’s terrible devastation, respecting nothing or anybody, in it’s path. Selfishness has never been in my nature. But I felt I had to cut off ALL outside noise, and focus purely on myself, once I was diagnosed. That was one of the most difficult things that cancer forced on me. Many people outside this experience, might struggle to understand what that feels like! Coming Face-to-Face with Mortality When the doctor uttered those fateful words – “You ..read more

If you would like this piece read to you, just click above So recently a report was published by Breast Cancer Now, quoting this as the cost of breast cancer in this country. “Our report, published in partnership with Demos, reveals that this year breast cancer is estimated to cost the UK economy as much as £2.6-£2.8 billion in 2024. This annual cost could rise by almost 40% to £3.6 billion by 2034.It also predicts a staggering £17.5 billion in wellbeing costs for people with breast cancer and their loved ones to support their reduced quality of life.” I have always believed, that Governm ..read more

If you would like this piece read to you, just click above This is my first post of 2024. I have now had a few weeks off the ‘front line,’ and time to think. My anger grew throughout 2023, as the subject of cancer became less important, across UK society and the globe. As the deaths keep coming, my resolve is even stronger to disrupt the cosy leadership and organisations, responsible for the lethargy in this sector. There will be no rest as far as I am concerned. We all deserve better, but sitting in acceptance mode as most are, will not help us. In this piece I look at some opinions and obser ..read more

If you would like this piece read to you, just click above Christmas has always been an emotional time for me, to reflect on the year. But since 2007, it holds special meaning as the anniversary of my life-saving stem cell transplant. At age 51, I was battling stage 4 lymphoma. My only hope was a transplant, which took place on December 19th – donated by a selfless 22-year-old stranger. I spent that Christmas in an isolation unit, away from family and festivities, as my immune system was destroyed then rebuilt. The incredible medical staff became my holiday companions. Though facing their own ..read more

If you would like this piece read to you, just click above Once covid had really started, and we received our daily dose of Boris Johnson and his clowns, pretending to know what to do, I think we all realised we were in trouble! These people have proved before, and since, how absolutely inept they are at ANYTHING, other than lining their own pockets. My real anger, has always been the medical and scientific experts. Any idiot could see, that if you left almost every other medical condition alone, to totally focus on covid, we would be heading into even bigger trouble. Hence we now have record ..read more

If you would like this piece read to you, just click above Many of you might be thinking that we don’t hear much about cancer these days. Indeed that is true. Is it now under control? Unfortunately not, it is still doing it’s worst, and sadly this week we lost our great cancer community friend Della. The only noise I can hear is more charities trying to convince you to leave money to them in your will!! Doing nothing, is no longer an option as it is draining the future of our country. Cancer is one of the biggest killers in the United Kingdom, with over 165,000 cancer deaths every year, cuttin ..read more

If you would like this piece read to you, just click above I’m struggling to see the subject of cancer raised anywhere in mainstream news these days. However that doesn’t mean that the issues have disappeared. Quite the reverse of course. The situation for all of us is worsening by the day, but that doesn’t stop us from trying to improve things for our children and grandchildren. In my work I get to speak to so many wonderful people doing just that, and one of these is Lynette. She is looking for help to solve on of the biggest current inequalities in cancer within the UK “My name is Lynette a ..read more

If you would like this piece read to you, just click above As things get more and more desperate in the cancer world the advertising for private treatment and test etc is being ramped up. Naturally, rather than sitting on a never ending waiting list, many people are tempted to take the private route, if they have the funds. In my opinion this is ok for many of the more basic procedures and tests. However cancer is a lot more complex than that, and can throw up situations that nobody could foresee. Back in 2007 when I was first diagnosed, I did have private healthcare cover, but chose to stay o ..read more

If you would like this piece read to you, just click above There are now many more days, where I feel like giving up on fighting the cancer culture in this country. SimPal is incredibly busy and I can feel the change we are making daily. In my early days I could see some wins for people affected by cancer. But not now! Politicians, totally disinterested. NHS England fighting with it’s own people. Individuals, inside or out of the service, with next to no chance of making a difference on their own now. I’m totally bored with most large charities, bringing up the same issues, I’ve seen more than ..read more