Telling my Daughter

Tuesday, 17th June 2025

Today I made a video for my clients about what was happening. Although I had told a few classes in person yesterday I knew I couldn’t keep that up every day, it was too emotional both for me saying it and for people hearing it. 

So I decided to record a short video that went out in place of our weekly newsletter. Here it is if you want to watch it https://youtu.be/UT6PyaMQVN0 

As you can imagine I was inundated with messages of love and support and kind words of how I will get through this. 

I didn’t get home until 8pm that night and still hadn’t told Amber - I was desperate to tell her but she had her friend with her earlier in the day so there wasn’t an opportunity.

Having been a single mum for 6 years, Amber and I have a special bond, and we have always promised to be honest with each other. Having kept this from her for over a month now was awful and I knew I wouldn’t get a good night’s sleep tonight unless I brought her up to speed. 

I had every intention of telling her very simply with my emotions in check as they had been when I’ve been talking about it with others. But as soon as I stepped into her room I knew this wouldn’t be possible. 

I started to well up and immediately she was asking what was wrong and looking really worried. The exact opposite reaction to what I’d been aiming for!

I quickly told her that I’d found a lump and that it had been confirmed as being Cancer. 

She started to get upset and I desperately tried to reassure her that I'd caught it early and it was totally treatable, I was going to be fine. 

After the initial shock had passed she calmed down and listened to me and heard what I was saying, she asked if I’d be in hospital for ages and I said I probably wouldn’t be in for more than a couple of nights. 

Amber was only 18 months old the last time I was diagnosed so doesn’t have any recollection of anything to do with it. However she knows my body and my scars and I’ve made sure she knew what I went through before. 

She seems to have taken it quite well and clearly can see that I am not overly upset so neither should she be. 

I’ve let her know she can ask any questions and that I will be totally transparent with everything as it happens now she’s in the loop again. 

Now we just wait for the follow up appointment on Thursday (two days from today) to get the results of the CT scan, find out what type of Cancer it is, and what the treatment plan will be along with surgery options.