Someone recently raised the point that positivity without genuine understanding can feel fake. This has deeply resonated with me and I'm going to tell you why. I feel there is often this disconnect between those who have gone through a serious disease and the "healthy ones". This miscommunication is two-fold: Firstly, a big chunk of … Continue reading Is positivity without empathy fake/hollow?
brain tumour
Traveling for Inspiration: A Writer’s Experience
I strive to produce an article at least once a month. Some are a pain to put together, while others flow seamlessly and are a joy to write. Sometimes the idea comes to me, quite literally, out of nowhere, other times I find myself grasping at straws, trying to think of an engaging topic or … Continue reading Traveling for Inspiration: A Writer’s Experience
The latest advances in treatments, clinical trials … for brain tumours
My close friend, Andrew, who I interviewed, for example, HERE, has recently been invited to the British Neuro-Oncology Society (BNOS) conference. Seems like it was a very informative event. He was kind enough to answer a couple of questions I had and that I thought could be relevant for all brain tumour patients. Below is … Continue reading The latest advances in treatments, clinical trials … for brain tumours
Cry me a river – how NOT to fall into the self-pity trap
In our lives, we generally tend to focus on the negative experiences we encounter. When the washing machine breaks down, when we are stuck in a traffic jam, when it rains on our days off… I’m not any different… I have always loved walking. It was a sort of exercise for me. I would often … Continue reading Cry me a river – how NOT to fall into the self-pity trap
How has mindfulness literally saved my life
The brainstem, where my tumour hides, is right at the bottom of our heads, above the spine. It controls all the essential, automatic functions, including heartbeat, breathing and swallowing. As all these functions have been affected, in my case, in order to survive, I had to modify the way I breathe, and swallow food and … Continue reading How has mindfulness literally saved my life
9 key factors of a long-term cancer survival
Since entering this VIP oncology universe, I've come across the "cures" and "guaranteed routes to follow" and "people who have all the answers". Most would ring the alarm bell, raise all the red flags and make me even more skeptical. I am a very pragmatic person. One who questions both the mainstream and alternative treatments. … Continue reading 9 key factors of a long-term cancer survival
Gift of a brain tumour
Not everyone would call their cancer/tumour a gift. I suppose it's within one's approach to a disease; some fight it, while others live with it. I wrote about this quite extensively. How I'm grateful for my tumour and dislike the war rhetoric used in oncology. While reading The Myth of Normal, I came across Will … Continue reading Gift of a brain tumour
15 articles I’m most proud of writing
Sometimes, there is a bit of a discrepancy between the articles you are most proud of and those, which are the most read. This is often due to one's inflated ego, presuming people would find your work fascinating. And the general truth is that most people are attracted to private, clickbait-y, dramatic/emotional content. That's how … Continue reading 15 articles I’m most proud of writing
Stages of grief
We all have probably heard about the five stages of grief. These, often referred to as the Kübler-Ross model, were initially introduced by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book "On Death and Dying." It's essential to note that these stages are not necessarily experienced in a linear fashion, and individuals may go through them … Continue reading Stages of grief
Trying to raise awareness
Raising awareness is not an easy task. Particularly of brain tumours, which are very complex, difficult to treat and not considered a sexy topic. This November, I set myself a goal to get some attention to this often overlooked topic. 28th October to 4th November was the International Brain Tumour Awareness Week. I did my … Continue reading Trying to raise awareness
Anna's Brainstorm 