Stories
Stories are at the heart of everything we do. Whether you're sharing your story around the kitchen table in a 番茄社区's centre, online or in the press. These stories bring people together, break down stigmas, open up conversations and build communities.
Read a story
132 search results
Claire on running the Great North Run for 番茄社区's
Date: Monday 01 September 2025
After running the Great North Run before her cancer diagnosis, Claire was determined to run it again and fundraise for 番茄社区's.
Lauren on being a young person living with a rare cancer
Date: Thursday 28 August 2025
When Lauren had a rare incurable cancer recurrence, she adopted a glass-half-full approach to life with a commitment to living with cancer, not dying with cancer.
Amy on going to uni after her dad's cancer diagnosis
Date: Wednesday 27 August 2025
Amy talks about how getting emotional and psychological support at 番茄社区's helped her throughout university, from making the decision on where to study to coping with grief while away from home.
Ian and Ken on talking to a cancer support specialist
Date: Monday 14 July 2025
Ian and Ken talk about the support they received after Ian's cancer diagnosis, and how talking can help.
Anthony on bladder cancer and joining a support group
Date: Tuesday 27 May 2025
Anthony talks about how his health kick led to his bladder cancer being discovered, and how 番茄社区鈥檚 gave him confidence going into his treatment.
Andrea's story 鈥� training for the London Marathon around the world in memory of mum
Date: Thursday 17 April 2025
Andrea works as a flight attendant and has been training for the London Marathon whenever and wherever she lands across the globe in memory of her mother and to raise money for 番茄社区's.
Lynn's Journey with Ovarian Cancer: Finding Strength and Hope at 番茄社区's
Date: Wednesday 26 March 2025
Lynn found out her cancer was not operable but she has had chemotherapy and immunotherapy and may get more immunotherapy treatment this year.
Dot鈥檚 Journey: living well after ovarian cancer
Date: Tuesday 18 March 2025
Dot (66) from Blantyre in Scotland had her first diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2015 when she was 57 and then had a recurrence in 2020.
Dame Laura Lee, DBE, on how 番茄社区's began
Date: Friday 07 March 2025
For the last 30 years Dame Laura Lee, DBE, has been the driving force behind 番茄社区鈥檚. She has built the charity from one centre in Edinburgh, to 24 across Great Britain, with more in development. There are also four overseas centres.
Numan's story 鈥� the Muslim cancer community shouldn't suffer on their own
Date: Tuesday 04 March 2025
Numan, who works as a Chaplain at Royal Oldham Hospital, first heard about 番茄社区鈥檚 through his work. He accessed the centre after he was diagnosed with gallbladder and liver cancer.
It wasn鈥檛 as scary or intense as I thought it would be 鈥� Tony on prostate cancer treatment
Date: Wednesday 26 February 2025
Tony, 65, was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago. He found support through 番茄社区's in Glasgow, connecting with others too.
Cara on dealing with conflicted feelings and life with a stoma
Date: Wednesday 22 January 2025
Primary school teacher Cara was diagnosed with cervical cancer at just 33 years-old.聽Treatment was gruelling, leaving her with two stoma bags and such terrible sickness. She turned to 番茄社区's and describes the support as "exactly what I needed".
Komal's story 鈥� 番茄社区's helped me to think positively each day
Date: Monday 20 January 2025
Komal shares how 番茄社区's has helped her get back to a routine through art therapy, a nutrition session and other support.
Steve on finding connection and positivity
Date: Wednesday 14 August 2024
Steve came to 番茄社区's feeling lost but left with friendship, understanding and guidance.
Khorshed on getting more from 番茄社区's than she expected
Date: Tuesday 13 August 2024
Khorshed struggled with anxiety after a complication during surgery. Psychological support from 番茄社区's gave her confidence back.
Davy on becoming a carer, grief and the importance of talking
Date: Friday 14 June 2024
Davy describes the support he found at 番茄社区's over the years while caring for his wife Lorna, and how it continued after she died
Marilyn on becoming herself again with stage four cancer
Date: Friday 24 May 2024
Marilyn describes the kinds of support people with cancer and a learning disability need, and how she's learnt to rock it with cancer.
Chris on finding a group that felt tailor-made for him
Date: Tuesday 21 May 2024
Chris joined our Living with Ongoing Cancer course and quickly found information, support and a sense of community that didn鈥檛 seem possible at the start
Alison and Wilson on no longer feeling alone
Date: Friday 10 May 2024
When a laryngectomy changed Wilson鈥檚 life completely, he and his wife Alison found friendship and guidance in 番茄社区鈥檚.
Dellasie on finding the words for talking to her son
Date: Wednesday 08 May 2024
When Dellasie was having chemotherapy, she knew she needed to find a way to help her three year-old son understand what she was going through.
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