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Like me, many people think ‘that’s it’ when they hear they have cancer. After having cancer four times and receiving treatment four times, I’m quite surprised that I am still here.

I’m a professional musician and I’ve been fortunate enough to play the drums alongside legendary artists.

Secondary breast cancer was never on my radar.

The first time I was diagnosed with cancer was 23 years ago. At the time I worked as a lorry driver. I loved it; it was a big part of me.

My wife and I both found comfort and support at Maggie's, and since her death, I can't imagine doing it without Maggie's.

Vicky came to us for support when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Our support helped her understand what was happening and prepare her family for the difficult times ahead. Here is her story.

Faced with the loss of his wife Aga, Ernest was left to raise their young sons on his own. He comes to Maggie’s every Friday, and they join him. It was a place their mother loved.

In January 2021, Stephen was diagnosed with his third separate primary cancer on his lymph node. Weekly visits to Maggie's helped him talk about his thoughts and feelings. Here, he shares why he took part in Nottingham's Culture Crawl to "do his bit".

When the pandemic caused delays and disruption to Kim’s treatment, daughters Helen and Phillipa came to Maggie’s. For such a close-knit family, that support was really vital, and helped them to support their mum through such a difficult time.

Being diagnosed with cancer was a huge shock for Anne, but with one-to-one and group support at Maggie’s, she was able to cope with treatment, discover a new sense of self and look to the future.

When Jo was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 there wasn't a Maggie's centre nearby. Fast forward three years and towards the end of her treatment, Maggie's Royal Marsden opens its doors – and the support Jo has received since then has been invaluable.

In 2020, Alyson was diagnosed with lung cancer. Just months later, her son, Niall, was also told he had cancer. Here, she describes her shock on hearing her son's diagnosis and how Maggie's became an 'oasis of calm in the turbulence of life with cancer'.

Secrecy, stigma and shame are deadly – snuffing out hope, confidence and joy. I know that from personal experience. It is time to ditch the culture of silence.

There are a number of people who came into my life and contributed to the domino effect of diagnosing my cancer and saving my life when I was 35.

I remember those early conversations with Bryn, the Centre Head at Maggie's Royal Marsden: “Where are people my age? Where are the other black people going through treatment?” The centre put me in contact with three others, and we are still friends today.

I was at sea for many years where I achieved the rank of Captain. I'm retired now and I have just turned 70, become a grandfather and the sun is shining in the garden! Life feels very full and couldn’t be better. However, let’s turn the clock back to May

When you’ve got cancer, there are questions, concerns, areas of your life that you often need help in addressing. Over time, I began to notice four similar themes, but with my personal approach, I made it five.

Guy and I shared the same sense of humour, and he never failed to make me laugh. We became inseparable, and married in Manchester in 2009 – it was the happiest day of my life.

On the day my husband Andy died, my name was drawn to run the London Marathon for Maggie’s Barts. It was a centre that had supported us both during his treatment, and also welcomed his Mum, Dad and sister.

Supporting someone through treatment takes its toll, especially over a number of years. But what do you do if they decide they want to come off treatment entirely?