Mumma Fish

God lover,family lover, people lover, book lover, food lover

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

I've just signed @UNICEFuk_action's open letter asking the UK Government to commit to a Global Growing Up Promise. https://t.co/O0g5oX8mpL

[Geoff and Margaret @RetirementTales]

Reducing poverty should be a fundamental ambition of any civilised society.

Our current Government abolished The Child Poverty Act.

Thank goodness for brilliant charities, projects and schools, and wonderful people like Mark!

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

📢Our education system is broken!

Buildings are crumbling, colleagues leave in their droves and our children suffer because of it.

🗳️I pledge to #Vote4Education on Thursday🗳️

RT if you agree with me! #GE24 #VoteEducation

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

Support staff deserve better recognition and reward for all they do, so much that is above and beyond requirements

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

I've just signed this petition. Will you add your name and share too?
https://t.co/sCJAOBQREh via @38degrees

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

I've joined with @BreastCancerNow to call on @NICEComms, @NHSEngland, @ASTRAZENECAUK and @DaiichiSankyoUK to make the life-extending drug, Enhertu available on the NHS. Will you join me? Sign the petition #EnhertuEmergency https://t.co/KmkbjVfEIG

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

I just signed the petition calling on Rishi Sunak to drop the plans for mass bank spying powers. Will you sign too? https://t.co/jsVQYf2hXk via @38degrees

[Hepworth’s Arcade @HepworthsArcade]

Exciting times in London as our #DinsdalesJokeAndTrickShop has become a top Influencer at @Selfridges ❤️🤣❤️

[TheTattooedHeadteacher Deputy CEO 🏳️‍🌈✊🏾she/her @KyrstieStubbs]

Powerful words x ❤️❤️

[350 Europe (moved to Bluesky) @350Europe]

Where on earth could we get £28bn from? 🤔

When the world's breached 1.5C for a full year, it's unbelievable @UKLabour would drop a key green pledge.

Funding green energy lowers bills, creates jobs & fights the climate crisis.

(And those who caused the crisis could pay for it)

[Serdar Ferit @SerdarFerit]

I started writing this during my chemo infusion a couple of weeks ago and wanted to share in case it may be helpful to other cancer patients, and particularly to anyone who has been diagnosed recently.

Some things that have helped me since I was diagnosed with cancer

Fifteen months ago, I was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer.

According to Cancer Research UK, the 5 year survival rate for my condition is about 10%, but for some reason (perhaps because I know that it’s the only way I’ll have a chance), I truly believe that I will be one of the outliers.

I’m a relentlessly optimistic person, and while the last year and a bit has been extremely challenging, physically and emotionally, I remain positive about life. I’m still waking up every day with the intention to leave the world a bit better than I found it.

Mentally speaking, I am in a much better place than I was when I initially found out. The first few months were incredibly difficult. I really feel for anyone who has faced, or will face, the news that they or someone dear to them has cancer.

I have been thinking about some of the things I’ve found helpful since my diagnosis, and wanted to share these in case they may be useful to other cancer patients, and particularly to anyone who has been diagnosed recently.

1. Connecting and reconnecting with loved ones.
This has been the best “side effect” for me. So many friends and family members have been in touch and visited me, including some I hadn’t seen for over 20 years. Some have travelled in from different countries, and one friend drove all the way from Newcastle to London to spend an evening together (not sure why I still find that more impressive than flying over from another country). I’ve also found myself really cherishing moments that I might have previously thought of as ordinary, such as watching reality TV with my wife, or playing football with my son. The love and support I have had from my family, my colleagues and my friends, is the thing I am most grateful for.

2. Connecting with other people who have cancer.
A few weeks after my diagnosis I had a long phone call with a friend of a friend who had been through a similar experience- the shock, the confusion, the emotions. That conversation, and now friendship, has really helped me. I felt so connected to this person from the moment we spoke and over the last year we have shared a lot with each other about our experiences and feelings. Since then I’ve also been a point of contact for a few patients myself. I have been so happy to support them, just as I have been supported myself. While no two cases are the same, I have found it extremely helpful to have cancer buddies and would recommend this or a support group to other patients.

3. Getting a second opinion.
I have sought a second opinion twice since my diagnosis and have found this helpful on both occasions. In my case, the last perspective I had, which was from a different hospital and oncologist, triggered a whole new treatment plan, which I am much more comfortable with than the previous plan.

4. Staying on top of the admin.
This hasn’t been easy, so I’ve had to work at it, but I’m glad that I have done it. I’ve documented my journey, treatment, scans etc, and have tried to keep everything in a folder on an online drive. If this feels too much, I’d recommend asking for support from a willing friend/family member.

5. Counselling.
I’m going to go straight into advice mode here and recommend counselling straight after diagnosis, for patients and their loved ones. A mistake I made was not speaking to someone before I started chemotherapy. I suggest reaching out to Macmillan Cancer Support for advice.

6. Having a sense of purpose.
I can’t stress this one enough. Having a sense of purpose - a reason to make a positive dent in the world with the time that I have - helps me keep going, despite the grim stats.

For some, this might be a sport or hobby, an art or craft; for others, it may lie in gardening, cooking, or caring for a loved one.

For me, it is my work. Seeing the spark in a child's eyes as they share how they've been inspired and motivated, along with what they've learned from Lyfta lessons, fills me with joy and satisfaction. This feeling, I believe, is almost medicinal.

The challenge here is that work can also be a source of stress, and it has been. The key is to find a balance. I’m still looking for one.

7. Yoga, breathing and exercise.
I am so grateful to my wife for bringing yoga into our lives. Yoga has been part of her way of coping with what has happened. She has dedicated a lot of time to practise and also to teaching me over the last year. While I am not very good, I have learned enough to be able to do several flows myself and I have been trying to do a small amount daily when I’ve been well enough. I have found yoga to be an extremely vitalising way to start the day, particularly when combined with breathing exercises. I have also found walking and jogging to be calming and soothing.

8. A cancer card?
I have a Macmillan card that says something to the effect of “I am a cancer patient and I need to use the loo NOWWW!” This has been helpful on more than one occasion and I highly recommend it to those whose bowels/bladder might have been affected by cancer treatment.
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Small personal update for friends who may be reading this: my body responded really well to chemo and radiotherapy last year. I had a couple of setbacks at the end of the year which required two small procedures and I am now back on chemotherapy for a period of time. I know that the road ahead will be rocky and unpredictable, but I also know that I will grow and learn a lot on the way. I know there will be light.

Cancer treatment has advanced significantly and continues to do so. I’m certain that leaps forward in AI and other technologies, along with the phenomenal research being done all over the world, will mean that we’ll see treatments that offer big improvements in longevity and quality of life. There also seems to be a high likelihood that we will see a cancer vaccine before 2030, and I suspect some nice breakthroughs and surprises along the way too. Fingers and toes crossed.
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I am grateful to you if you have made it this far. Please do share with friends/family if you feel they may be interested. If you are a cancer patient and have some positive experiences to share which may be helpful for others, please consider adding them below 🌻

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

BREAKING: X million of us are waiting for NHS treatment in England. We need the next Government to ensure we can be seen within 4 hours in A&E, with access to a GP appointment within 48hrs and ending endless waits. Join me and add your name: https://t.co/Z5KtZtGwad

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

People are pulling out their own teeth! This dentist is so concerned he’s started a petition about it. I’ve signed – will you join us?
https://t.co/pDNxTGVmRJ via @38degrees

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

Brilliant!

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

@no1sunkfarmer I’ve got visions of venison with rhubarb circling my mind…🤣

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

I just signed the petition calling on UK train operators to stop rip off train ticket machines by simplifying train fares and making them fairer. Will you sign too? https://t.co/HgyJJChzJ7 via @38degrees

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

I added my name to the #StopRosebank court case against the UK government over its decision to approve the largest untapped oil field in the North Sea. Help us call time on the climate crimes of the UK government: https://t.co/vekf8IVuUz

[Mumma Fish @Thinkpenguin]

I just signed up to be a part of the 38 Degrees General Election campaign. It's a real chance for change - are you with me? https://t.co/zO4PkmxdCt