‘Having cancer makes my work even more meaningful’ – Emma’s story

Good to read your story; I’ve now fought off an aggressive breast cancer three times in 3 years, and know it won’t stay away. Like you, my family gives me good reason to keep on fighting. I hope you remain cancer free!

My name is Nan not Man. Poor typing & wrong specs!!!
Nan xxx

Brave lady. All the very best in your future..
From an other cancer survivor.
Man xxx

I cannot imagine how difficult it has been to face cancer 4 times. I am so pleased you are a survivor and can share precious times with your family and work to research treatments to help other sufferers.
Due to people like yourself I have been cancer free for several years and cannot ever express how grateful I am to be able to live a life after several other family members have not been so lucky. All the best Emma. X

your story is so like my mums her fight started in 1983 she endured many years of surgery to her mouth and face, some of the operations she had had never been done before. I would like to think that what she went through has helped people today through research and education of doctors. All the best to you Emma

You’re an inspiration and a reminder to all of to enjoy the simple things in life x

Hi Emma,so young but so positive,stay strong….I’m now 61 & had both boobies removed & reconstructed 4 years ago,??

Hi Emma, thank you for sharing your very emotional story……I lost my husband of 40 years to cancer 9 years ago…..Keep healthy and happy, enjoy life to the full with you family.

I’m a university student studying cancer biology and microbiology, stories like this help to inspire me in my course

Great to know how important research is. Keep fund raising folks.

an excellent thought provoking story. i am currently being treated for thyroid cancer and stories such as this give me great hope!

Hi Emma

Thank you for sharing your story and well done. I wish you all the best in everything you do. Live long and be happy.

Congratulations to you Emma. You deserve success. I lost a loving wife to cancer in 2010. I find it difficult to live without her. Also I find it difficult to live alone, even as a pensioner. You are providing a service to many persons. All the best to you, and I trust that you have a long and happy life.

Hi Emma
Thank you so much for sharing your blog you have been through so much for someone so young. Its people like yourself that I admire so much. I am sure one day we will find a cure for this dreadful disease. Love to you and your family xx

Emma you are an incredible lady, thank you for,sharing your story, you bring hope to everyone through your determination. Enjoy every day you deserve it. I have many friends who have survived cancer and unfortunately some who have not, but through research we are beating this disease.

This story is a big inspiration to those with oral cancer. I was diagnosed oral cancer 4 years ago and I had big surgery done in Bloomfield hospital with skin graft in my tongue and mandible replacement. I have to learn to speak as well. Now I feel more better and cancer free. Hope it does not come back again. Thanks to my doctors and medical team who made my surgery successful. Thanks to God.

What an amazing lady! I am totally moved by her determination and strength to go through that. I can’t imagine that I would be so strong.

What an amazing account. I’m so pleased for you that you are well again and back with your family once more.

I can only echo all the warmth and loving comments which have been sent to Emma. She is a tremendous encouragement to all who have heard her story. Her courage is an example to everyone.

Well done Emma , thanks for sharing your story!!! I am glad that u have made it through….

i am heartened by and admire Emma and am so delighted that she has received the necessary treatments. How I wish that the same treatments and care applied across Scotland for other cancers. I am Northern Patient Representative for the OcuMel UK eye cancer charity and until recently, in the absence of any volunteers, I covered Scotland too. I became aware that there is no coverage within the Scottish NHS for the assessment or treatment of eye cancer sufferers who succumb to mets. Mets arising from Ocular Melanoma are incurable and 52% of sufferers will die within 5yrs of diagnosis. It is particularly concerning that the only treatment centre at Gartnavel refuses to refer its patients for essential, potentially life extending MRI scans yet one of the doctors offered to scan one patient at his private clinic. The incidence of Ocular Melanoma worldwide is 6 persons per million, Scotland has too few patients for its doctors to have the necessary experience and due to low patient numbers does not attract highly qualified and specialised doctors. Separation of the Scottish NHS from England has left it unable/unwilling to fund treatment outside the country. Consequently, sufferers of OM are simply left to die an untimely death.

What a brave lady. Our families are so important to our survival. I will certainly do as much as I can to help researchers find the way to beat cancer.

i started to donate after i lost my lovely sister,Maria,She had an operation and it became infected ,turned to Cancer which took her from us at the age of 43 yrs.i have donated money for over 15 yrs ,hopeing that one day it would help to beat this awful thing,im sorry to emotional to carry on conversation,but i would rather starve than stop giving to this charity,Wish you better Emma and soon ,

Amazing story. Well done. I can relate to the simple natural things in life like blue sky too and I am 27yrs down the line but a different case scenario. I was unable to walk for cancer research this year but will be next year.

I can understand how you were motivated to beat cancer for the sake of your beautiful children – they are blessed to have such a courageous and inspirational mum! And my heart goes out to your amazing husband! I pray you’ll all have many, many happy years ahead together with all your fantastic family. God bless.

Oh Emma that’s got me welling up. It’s so similar to my mum’s history with cance. I’m so glad that you’ve made it through and can spend time with your kids! Power to you Sweetheart xx

Wow Emma u are truly inspirational , and pray to God to continue to give u d strength to carry on doing d good work. Am so happy for u n ur lovely family, hopefully we will beat cancer soon. Thank u for not ever giving up. Best of luck with more research .

Thank you for sharing this story. I have supported Cancer Research since my darling husband was diagnosed 4 years ago with oral cancer. He too ad part of his tongue removed. Sadly he has been diagnosed again. This time the floor of mouth and has had an op to remove tumour, reconstruction, breathing tube and PEG. He s ack in hospital now with post op infection and radiotherapy starts soon. It’s so important this research goes on. Such a dreadful disease. My hubby is staying positive. You are an inspiration and I will share your story with him. Your children shoud be so proud of you and the work you are doing. You have my grateful thanks.

Emma, thank you for sharing your personal experience of cancer and working hard for us all at CRUK to find new cures. Your experience shows the importance of having regular dental checkups with a dentist who is fully aware of the signs and symptoms of oral cancer.

Emma you are an inspiration to us all. Congratulations on beating this nasty disease and good luck for the future.

Emma you are truly inspirational and supposed to be here. I do hope that you will stay free of the horrid disease for the rest of your life so that you and your team can find a breakthrough in helping others.

What a dreadful time you must have had so young and the impact physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Good check ups I hope will ensure your health from now on and innovative treatments hopefully on their way

Wow Emma – a truly inspiring story – thank you for sharing it with us and for all the invaluable work you do

Dear Emma – you are meant to survive, inspire and find a cure! Keep on being brilliant. From a fellow survivor – we will beat it.

Such an inspirational story – and so humbling. Thank you for telling it – and thank you for the vital work you do. May you keep well for the years ahead!!

Hi Emma. How brave you are! You hear the word cancer anywhere and your world collapses, my dad only lived until the age of 66 then he sadly lost his fight with cancer. You’re an inspiration to many people, I think you deserve every happiness, good luck with your life and I hope this disease never blights you again!

Very interesting and moving, Emma. I wish you and your family long, happy lives in which to continue with your wonderful work. Thanks again!

I think Emma is a very brave and positive lady and an example to all

Emma you are an amazing person and I wish you all the very best for the future.you give hope to all of us battling cancer. Thank you .

Well done Emma
I use to work as a research cancer nurse in head and neck cancer for Professor Dishe and Professor Saunders in London so well done I realise it is not easy for patients. I have suffered brain injury and have lost most of my memory but I still remember working for them many years ago. Even though I cannot remember stuff like getting married and having my daughter. But that work I can remember slightly, probably as it was something I did every day without fail. Be positive that is the way to deal with cancer.

Hi Digby,
Thanks for your comment. You can find the best way to contact us about your monthly donation here: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/contact-us
If it’s a direct debit, you can also contact us via this number 0300 123 1861.
Best wishes,
Nick, Cancer Research UK

God you are a brave lady, I just had breast cancer and had a tumour removed and now I complain because I’ve got lymphodema and my arm is a bit swollen, just makes you realise to stop moaning and get on with life, you are an inspiration and its thanks to people like you who will one day find a cure for this dreadful disease. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and keep on trying to find a cure and being a truly fantastic, brave person that you are, your children are very lucky to have a mother like you!

Hi Emma
Your testimony had challenged me you are such a strong person i had ever heard. Anyway my goal on my last Race for Life on the 28/06/15 was Everyone to be free from Cancer by 2020. Thank you for publishing your story, it gives hope and future to others

Hello Emma first and foremost I was delighted to hear that you have beaten this dreadful disease, not once but four times! Your bravery and forbearance should be a credit to all. I have had a run in with this terrifying disease also but like you managed to beat it and that was 27 years ago so research has come on in leaps and bounds since then. I am sure you cherish every moment of your life with your adorable children and husband. Stay well Emma

UPLIFTED.

Well done Emma. You are a true inspiration of never giving up – not only for your own sake but also for your family. As a cancer survivor, thanks to my taking part in a cancer trial, I fully empathise. Cancer Research in its many forms is an amazing – as are you.

Hi Emma. My Mam is going throught the same at the moment. she has just had the cancer removed this week for the fourth time. she is still bubbly and never complains even though I know it is so painful for her when she eats. Keep up the good work and good luck for the future. Lets hope it doesnt come back for either of you. Four times is more than enough

How brave you are and what an inspiration to others. Through research, funding, and everyone’s hard work, etc, one day cancer will be dead and buried. Having had the disease twice, I understand what you mean by making the most of life and recognizing the beauty that surrounds us. God bless you and your family.

Hello, my I was really full of compassion and sympathy for you Emma, what courage to go through all that and share your story, so important to be aware of changes anywhere in the body. I wish you health and happiness. Cancer touches most of us at some point within the family or friends Cancer research does a fantastic job and more developments happen to give more sufferers hope of surviving.

How can I increase my monthly donation?
Love to you all,
Digby Fairweather

What a moving account. It will put a whole lot more meaning to my sponsored walk for Cancer Research UK in October. I shall be walking across all the inhabited islands of the Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean. Good luck to you, Emma.

Oh my goodness what a brave lady you are Emma. What an inspiration you are to everyone affected by this hideous disease. Good luck in all you do especially your research work. As you say its the simple things in life that we take for granted so enjoy every day with your family. God Bless and wishing you good health long long into the future.

What an amazing person you are to have survived! An inspiration to us all.

Wow – what an amazing and inspirational story. Research rules.

What an inspirational story, Emma. You reinforce why we “Relay for Life” every year. Thinking about you and your family with great admiration.

What an inspirational woman . My husband also had a tumor removed from his tongue in 2001 . It was benign but he has over 40 lymph nodes removed from his neck to check for secondary cancer . He had speech therapy and after 6 months was back at work . He is grateful for every day and lives life to the full . God bless you Emma.

thank you for sharing Emma and thank you for the wonderful work you do to try to save lives of others whilst you went through this four times yourself our beautiful daughter Laura @paperdollybird was looked after by the wonderful folks at the Beatson sadly diagnosed stage IV & too late to be saved. Laura was only 31 years old, I thank you and all the staff at Beatson from the bottom of my heart for all you strive to do.

I can totally empathise with Emma’s story. I was diagnosed 20 months ago (at 42 years old and a non smoker) with oral cancer after having an ulcer on my tongue for several months. I had a 9 hour surgical operation along with the skin graft and all of the after effects that went with it-pretty much the same as Emma’s 4th surgery story.
Awareness and research are a massive part of everything surrounding cancer. I really feel we will beat it one day.