Life with the Big C and some smaller ones too
First off, some hard facts: I was found to have a brain tumour in 2023. There’s more about that in the about page if you want to read it, so I’ll spare you the details here.
However, since then I’ve been through some ‘new experiences : brain surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and the many oter things that cancer does to family, friends and others. Cancer can become all-consuming, and the ‘Big C’ can affect so many parts of life.
The shock of a cancer diagnosis can be a major punctuation mark in whichever chapter of life you are living. It’s highly personal. There have been so many times that I’ve thought ‘hey, I’ve found a way of dealing with this, I wonder if there’s a way I can share it’. Genuinely. I started a blog shortly after being diagnosed, but I lost the blogging mojo and in the meantime I have been storing up thought and cancer hacks that I’d like to share, since then.
Why I’ve chosen Substack:
I went on a hunt to find a suitable platform (thanks ChatGPT for all your help!). And I kept hearing about various people using Substack. I learned that it was set up by a team that included a journalist, who was keen to enable people with lived experiences to write. I was interested. I was impressed that every post draft is in a serif font… I thought that was a great start. I’ve spent the last fortnight understanding how Substack works, and learning its many configurations to get the feel of ‘my stack’ right. Here’s hoping I’ve selected the right options!
I’m not here to make money:
Some people write for an income, some want to, some need to. I have enjoyed dipping my toe into the writing world for a decade or so. Minor stuff, lots of reliance on my English teacher wife to critique before I hit the ‘publish’ button. I write for pleasure.
There is no money involved with my Substack. I’m not seeking to monetise my writing nor my cancer care. I just want to share it in case it is helpful to someone. And I’d like to share some of my own ‘other Cs’, partly to develop my writing, and also to reflect on some of the things I can still do. If ever I end up receiving money, by accident or future design, I’ll donate it to charity, most likely Maggie’s, whose centre in Edinburgh has been a key part of me ‘surviving’ cancer so far.
What are my other Cs? I’ve used them to structure my writing and this site. I hope you find one or more of these interesting or inspiring.
Cancer: My cancer journey, and what I have learned on the way. Everything from seizures, scanxiety, things I wish I’d known, and more. I’ve become interested in the topic of ‘survivorship’ which I think is relatively new. I’ll share some of the understanding I’ve been gaining here.
Career: Reflections on my career, and what I have been able to continue of it. I’m a GP, though I haven’t been able to work since diagnosis. I’ve kept some roles going though, on a voluntary and flexible basis. I might have the occasional ‘lookback’ to share a photo, a video clip or a moment - mainly with the aim of inspiring others. I feel deeply privileged to have had the career I have had, and to some extent some of my career is still going, I’m just not able to work.
Coaching: I have experienced mentoring and being mentored throughout my life. I’m hoping that I can offer some useful tips and tricks from what I have learned over the years.
Is there a difference between coaching and mentoring? I’ll cover that - the short answer is not always.
Curiosity: this is a catch-all category for anything else I want to write about or share, which is usually driven by curiosity.
What’s all this about subscribing?
It’s similar to following on social media. Some sites charge money to get access to all posts, or archives. Remember what I said that I’m not seeking to make money from my Substack? I’m not charging anything for subscribing. If anything, I take it as a compliment that you’re wanting to see what else I write, but no pressure!
Importantly - you don’t have to open your inbox to everything I write. You can subscribe to a particular section - one of the 'C’s above. I hope that makes sense. This video explains it all a bit better. Hey, maybe you’ll decide to start your own Substack too, though I know I probably have a bit more time on my hands.
You can subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives. Subscribing involves using your email address to register for updates - you can receive new articles and posts direct to your inbox, or simply log in with Substack and take a look for new articles there. It’s your choice, I really don’t mind what works for you. If you like coming back occasionally to take a look, that’s great. Even better if you drop me an email with any feedback or suggestions!
To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com .