Manufacturing Morale: Why I Built a Dopamine Menu During Cancer
johndabell I recently went to the theatre to see Othello. The acting was quite superb and was it was brilliant to watch. Live theatre always gives me a buzz and a…
cancer
There Is Nothing Normal About the “New Normal”
After a major health scare or a life-altering diagnosis, you will often hear medical professionals talk about finding your “new normal.” It is a phrase I find infuriating because there…
200 Reasons Why I’m Here
I’m not here to…… I’m not here to complain, I’m here to contribute I’m not here to wait for optimism, I’m here to create it I’m not here to hide…
10 Ways Cancer Improves Your CV
Let’s be clear from the start: no one wants cancer. And it certainly doesn’t belong on your CV next to “Teacher” or “BA (Hons) First Class.” Cancer is the ultimate…
When You Hit a Purple Patch on the Cancer Journey
The cancer journey has no shortage of grey days but other colours are available. Some you have to mix yourself. But grey days tend to dominate. These are the ones…
Nil By Mouth? Nil Desperandum
What is it like to be permanently nil per os (nothing by mouth)? I’ll tell you. Being nil by mouth is horrible. If you were someone who enjoyed food, cooked,…
10 Truths About Cancer And Happiness
They said “incurable.” They meant the cancer. But too many people hear that word and think it applies to joy, laughter, hope, love, purpose – it doesn’t. You can still…
The Purple Patch Mindset: Thriving in the Bright Moments
In sport, a ‘purple patch’ describes a run of form – a streak where everything seems to click, and you can do no wrong. It’s a beautiful phrase, evoking colour…
My 300 Cancer Non-Negotiables
There are certain things I will not compromise on when it comes to cancer. These are the non-negotiables. The things that I won’t dilute. Or take short-cuts with. Why? If…
When Cancer Feels Like a Criminal Record
In many ways, cancer can feel like having a criminal record and it’s something that’s always on your CV. It’s a sense of being marked, changed and branded. It follows…