Members
GBP ^

No products in the basket.

Cancer Care Parcel Logo
Cancer Care Parcel Logo

No products in the basket.

For Everyone Touched By Cancer

Sharing Our Cancer Stories Is A Source Of Strength We Should Be Tapping Into

Written by Fabian Bolin on 
15th May, 2020
Updated: 3rd March, 2024
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Just like many others who have been diagnosed with cancer, my leukemia diagnosis was not anticipated.

Just like many others who have been diagnosed with cancer, my leukemia diagnosis was not anticipated.

There was no sense that something was wrong, no clear warning signs. Prior to my diagnosis I was living in London, where I had spent two years working as an investment banker before deciding to become an actor and changing my career completely. I was set to join two feature films, and had a visa to move to America. I had been working hard for years, so I wasn’t a stranger to exhaustion. I didn’t realise it was a sign of something far more serious than burn out.

One day, after weeks of exhaustion, I found myself feeling too tired to breathe.

I was visiting home at the time, and my parents rushed me to the hospital. Two days later, doctors told me that I had leukemia. Cancer was never – is never – part of anyone’s plan and yet here I was, being told I needed 900 days of chemotherapy. I had so many questions.

What would life look like after this? What was going to change?

Fabian Bolin, CEO and co-founder of War On Cancer

Sat in my hospital bed, I wrote a Facebook post intended for friends and family – I was sharing frank, honest information about my new situation, and looking for advice or knowledge from others. 24 hours later my post had been shared 13,000 times. The amount of love and support I received - from those close to me and those I’d never even met before - was the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced.

I made it my new mission to share my experience with the world through writing about it online through my blog, ‘Fabian Bolin’s War on Cancer’. The blog became my savior throughout the treatment; it gave me a place for me to vent all the frustration and darkness I was feeling and, perhaps most importantly, a place where I could feel less alone. My inbox was filled with thousands of messages from people sharing intimate details of their personal journeys, because I had shared mine with them. Whenever I felt down or sad, which I did (and still do) more often than I admit, I would turn to these stories, looking to them to give me the strength to carry on.

When I was feeling isolated, I found the best coping mechanism for me was writing about it.

Feeling this immense connection with others, with people who, if I had not been diagnosed with cancer would have been strangers, brought me an enormous amount of comfort.

Every time we share our journey or story, we are reaching out a hand of support to others. People who are currently undergoing treatment can find inspiration by reading about someone similar to them, and can establish real and authentic connections with people who can relate to what they are going through. That’s why myself and my friend and co-founder, Sebastian Hermelin, developed our app, War On Cancer - a social network and safe space for these stories to be shared.

War On Cancer – a social network and safe space for these stories to be shared.

Right now, many people going through cancer will be coping with isolation and may find themselves feeling disconnected from friends and family. When I was feeling isolated, I found the best coping mechanism for me was writing about it. Whilst I don’t expect that everyone will be suited to writing a blog, I think that everyone can benefit from writing for themselves, or even just a few select friends, in order to collect their thoughts and feelings.

We are a strong community, collectively. Sharing that strength through words will make us all that more powerful.

Further reading

Helping A Friend With Cancer: What You Need to Know

Moving Beyond the Fear: Learning to be Part of the Cancer Community

As long as you have books, you’re never alone

The Cancer Shop - All The Items You Need When You Have A Cancer Diagnosis

Related Posts

Cooking For Chemotherapy: By Chef Ryan Callahan

Cooking For Chemotherapy (Chef Ryan) Specializes In Helping Cancer Fighters Overcome Many Eating-Related Chemotherapy Side-Effects.

Read More
Bike & Fight: Our Motto “Bike Together – Fight Together” In Every Way

During Chemo, Cycling Gave Me The Strength To Ease My Mind And To Not Fall To Pieces. So I Developed Bike & Fight. To Fight Together.

Read More
Top Four UK Groups That Give Free Cancer Gifts: 2018

We Came Up With These Top Four UK Charities And Voluntary Groups That Will Give You Free Cancer Gifts If You Have A Cancer Diagnosis.

Read More
Suggestions For An Optimal Cancer Diet: Hoaxes And Myths Not Discussed

Discussing What A Healthy Cancer Diet Is And How Cancer And Its Treatment Can Affect This Diet. Included Are Suggestions For Dietary Changes Which May Help.

Read More
1 2 3 51
We strongly advise you to talk with a health care professional about specific medical conditions and treatments. The information on our site is meant to be helpful and educational but is not a substitute for medical advice.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sign up for more information
I HAVE CANCER 
3 Days Of Tips For People With Cancer
MY FRIEND HAS CANCER
3 Days Of Tips To Help You Help Your Friend

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Newsletter For
Anyone Touched By Cancer
Sustainability Matters
Every purchase, big or small, has a footprint. But sustainability challenges don’t have a quick fix.
Organisation for Responsible Businesses.
Recycle
EcoFriendly
Cancer Care Parcel Ltd. Registered in England and Wales.
Trading Address: Highstone House, 165 High Street, Barnet, Herts. EN5 5SU, UK. Registered Office: 7a High Street, Barnet, Herts, EN5 5UE.
Company Number 14415197, VAT number is GB428826076,  EORI number is XI428826076000
SITEMAP
cartmagnifiercrosschevron-downquestion-circle