A cancer support group

Hi my name is Jess and I am setting up this go fund me page to help raise funds for a cancer support group my friend Hayley and I have set up called Cancer You Nasty Thing! 

This GoFundMe is trying to raise money to pay for venues, drinks, food, travel costs and for printing flyers so we can reach and help more people living with cancer who need or want support.

 

Jess’s cancer journey so far 

I was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago when my third child was just four months old. While going through cancer the first time, I only told one of my friends, and my family. I did not want people feeling sorry for me and went into autopilot. Trying to focus on being a mum and wife and keeping my cancer to myself. My marriage suffered and ultimately ended and I really struggled with my mental health.

 

After two years of treatment, I went into remission for three and a half years. Unfortunately, the cancer returned. Even worse, it has metastasized, spreading to my skull, and going from stage 2 breast cancer to stage 4.

 

Knowing how lonely and difficult I had found it before, this time I knew I needed support so I asked for help. I am so glad I did. Cancer affected my life in so many ways. It affects not just your physical health but your mental health as well. It affects how you see yourself and it affects friendships and relationships. It is so difficult for people who have not yet experienced cancer to understand what you are going through.

 

Hayley and I have been friends since we were 11. As much as I wish she did not have to experience her own cancer journey, our shared experience has allowed us to provide support for each other. I have found comfort having someone by my side who has also gone through cancer. Having someone who really knows what you are going through make a big difference. I am in remission for now but will be on treatment for the rest of my life.

 

This is why Hayley and I came up with the idea to start a support group.

 

Hayley’s cancer journey so far

Hayley was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma just after her 30th birthday seven years ago. Before she was diagnosed, Hayley worked for a primary school working as a special needs teacher for children with extreme learning difficulties. Hayley loved her job and, as anyone who has met Hayley can tell, the children absolutely loved her.

 

The cancer diagnosis has meant that Hayley has been unable to continue working. Her immune system is compromised and the effect of the cancer on her body has made working in a school untenable.

 

After a year of treatment, it looked like the cancer was in remission. Unfortunately, it returned after just a few months and Hayley had to go through much harder treatment. Thankfully, after a stem cell transplant, she has reached her fifth year in remission. 

 

 

Cancer You Nasty Thing!


Hayley and I started this group after having gone through this cancer journey twice and supported each other throughout. We would talk about the side effects we suffered, about our physical and emotional struggles and how difficult it was to talk about it with people who mean well but cannot understand. Through this we came to realise how good it is to talk to someone who had gone through the experience and that’s when I suggested to Hayley that we should start a support group.

 

Not everyone has a close friend who understands what living with cancer is like, so we wanted to help provide the support that we have given each other to everyone.

 

We started this group back in March 2023, starting with the Facebook page, Cancer You Nasty Thing!.

 

We now run 2 groups every other Monday, and a Saturday group on every 3rd Saturday of the month.

 

We use our own money to pay for the venue along with the drinks and snacks. 

 

We are now ready to start becoming bigger and to start expanding to other areas.

 

This GoFundMe is trying to raise money to pay for venues, drinks, food, travel costs and for printing flyers so we can reach and help more people living with cancer who need or want support.

 

This group is for anyone who wants a place to come to rant, talk, scream, shout and just be with other people who truly understand what having cancer is like.

Our aim is to become a recognised charity helping people with any form of cancer, to ensure that no one is alone in their journey.

 

So please donate to this page and help us get the funds we need to support people living with cancer in our communities.

 

Thank you 

Jess and Hayley 

Xx