Glasgow mum's cancer blog has given hope to thousands

Former secondary school teacher Lesley Graham, 43, began writing about her ordeal two years ago.

'One day at a time: a beginner's guide to cancer' has now been read by people in countries as far away as Australia, China and the United States.

Lesley, who lives in Rutherglen with her eleven-year-old daughter, Olivia, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012.

She said: "I wasn't in a good place after the initial diagnosis. I was very angry. I was looking out for me and I wasn't in a place to give.

"As I was coming to terms with my resentment and anger about what had happened to me I realised that, rather than be bitter about it, I could be productive and pass information on to others who are going through what I have went through.

"The first blog I wrote was very detailed on the practical advice about what happens when you get breast cancer, what should you be looking out for.

"I was also making the point that you shouldn't feel you're being rushed out of the treatment room. It's your life and if the consultant is looking at their watch don't be deferential to the medical profession.

"I'm an intelligent educated woman and I didn't do this at first, so if I didn't do it there will be others out there who could do with the help of my blog. That was my motivation in the beginning.

"I also realised that I am actually alive today so I might as well use it. I was initially given nine months to live but, as a modern studies teacher, I don't believe in statistics."

Lesley has now blogged more than 60 times and her posts are giving hope to thousands of people with cancer.

She said: "From the very beginning, people were messaging me saying they loved it. I was getting messages from people I didn't know, from all over the world. My blog has had 18,000 hits in more than twenty countries.

"I have readers in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Malta, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, Finland, America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, Nigeria, South Africa, Nigeria, China, Japan and Hong Kong.

"They write to me and say they're coping with cancer or have friends who have it. That was really rewarding and made me want to go on.

"I was determined that, even if it was just a short blog, I would explain my journey from day one when I found a lump in my breast to being told it's in my lung and it is terminal.

"It just evolved. When I had a good day I blogged. When I had a sad day I blogged and it would help me.

"People then started writing to me and saying thank you for reminding them to live one day at a time and be positive.

"That makes me feel really good. For me, the cancer journey has taught me how to live. That can be hard for people to understand but it's true."

The tumours have now spread and Lesley was recently told she may only have six months to live.

She said: "My cancer has gone to the brain and it could be weeks now. There is no more treatment for me but I'm not scared.

"I've planned my funeral. I've set up everything my daughter needs. I'm moving to a new house with my best friend who will look after my daughter when I'm gone."

Lesley believes the blog has helped her come to terms with her illness.

She said: "Being able to face it regularly in my blog has enabled me to be practical. It's prepared me and now everything is organised.

"And Olivia has been on the journey with me too. I've been very honest. She's read my blog. She asked me recently if I am definitely going to die, to which I said I don't expect to be here in a year but we will take each day at a time.

"Because I've been honest and practical she is quite accepting. She knows where she is going to be. She'll be at the same school. She'll have the same rules in place because my best friend and I are very similar people."

Lesley plans to write her final blog and leave it behind for friends to post online after she's gone.

She added: "I'm absolutely at peace. There isn't a morning when I wake up and think I'm going to die. I wake up and think about what I'm going to do each day. Everyone has a path, as far as I'm concerned, and this is mine."

Lesley's blog can be read here