I’ve been searching for local support in Cornwall and it strikes me how little there is for us, it’s such a big county with so many women going through this, yet we’re quite isolated when it comes to community and connection.
I thought I’d introduce myself properly, because I want you to know I truly understand what this journey can look like.
I’m Tanya, based in Cornwall, close to Newquay. I was diagnosed in 2021, screen detected DCIS which turned out to also be a 35mm grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. By the time we had the full picture, 20 out of 31 lymph nodes were positive. There was also a worrying adrenal mass diagnosed as secondary, which thankfully turned out to be false positive result (phew).
I had a wide local excision, axillary clearance, weekly paclitaxel, a cycle of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (stopped due to severe toxicity), and radiotherapy. I was on anastrozole for a year and a half, switched to exemestane and completed a two-year course of abemaciclib. I’m now on the Elegant drug trial with Elecastrant.
I’m not sharing all of that to shock anyone, I doubt anyone reading this would be shocked, you’ve been through your own hell. The physical side is one thing, but navigating life after… or during all of this, in a county where there is so little support? That’s its own challenge.
I’d love to start a little Cornwall community right here on the forum. Somewhere to check in, share what little local support exists, and just know there’s someone nearby who understands. Drop a reply and say hello, even just your area so we can see how many of us are out there across this beautiful, isolated peninsula of ours
Fellow Kernow resident here! I’m in the east of the county near the Devon border but a very regular visitor to Newquay as have family and friends there.
My experience of cancer was relatively straightforward. I had a lumpectomy, radiotherapy and two years out of five on tamoxifen. Fortunately my treatment has all gone well and I’m back to being happy and healthy. If anything my life has been enhanced by the whole thing. Very lucky, I know, and I am so grateful.
I do know what you mean, though. Although incredibly beautiful and a great place to live, Cornwall can also seem isolated at times. I work in social care and in my experience the lack of services sadly isn’t exclusive to cancer support. My husband’s friend has experienced another type of cancer which has severely impacted their life and they have really struggled to get the support they need locally. When I was first diagnosed and wanted/needed to meet some people in person the closest I could find was an informal group set up through Facebook and we met in Exeter.
Hi lovely ladies, and well done Tanya for thinking about starting a local support group.
Just wanted to let you know that Macmillan offer excellent help, advice, resources, and grants to assist anyone wanting to start a local group so it would definitely be worth getting in touch with them. I believe they also have area representatives who can help.
It can start simply with just a coffee and chat or a meet up for a short walk.
I started a healthy Lunch Club for local cancer patients. We meet once a month in my home. We chat, eat a healthy lunch cooked by me, and then listen to a meditation tape. There are only six of us, survivors of different cancers, and range in age from forties to eighties.
Wishing you well with your initiative. Love Tulip x
I’m so glad to hear your treatment went smoothly and that you’re back to feeling happy and healthy. I understand what you say when you say your life has been enriched by the experience. It certainly can. I think that is encouraging for people to hear.
The isolation here can be real, especially when you’re going through something like this and just want to be around people who get it. The fact that the closest in-person group you found was in Exeter says it all, really. It sounds like that gap in provision is felt across health and social care more broadly, which is both frustrating and sadly not surprising.
I hope it will be a comfort to people living in Cornwall to know there are others nearby who understand what this journey is like, even if “nearby” in Cornwall terms still means a fair drive!
Tulip, thank you so much for this. What a beautiful thing you’ve created with your Lunch Club. That sounds like exactly the kind of nurturing space people need.
Thank you also for the Macmillan tip, that’s really helpful to know, and I will definitely look into what support they can offer.
I should mention, I didn’t want to bring it up in my original post as it felt like advertising but since you’ve raised the subject of resources, I’m actually already in the process of exploring something along these lines. I’m planning to visit The Cove in Cornwall to speak to someone there about getting something started, so hopefully things are already beginning to take shape!
Watch this space — and thank you again for the encouragement.
