"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light."

So here it is folks! A guest post written by my beautiful friend, Annie. Without further ado, I shall hand you over to the lovely lady herself.......

I'm Annie, I'm 27, and I like cheesy quotes..... the title is from a lady called Helen Keller.

So.... hello world!! testing 1, 2 3..... *clears throat*

Hello and good morning/afternoon/evening/night... it's a great privilege to be blogging in another part of the 'world'!  I have only 'known' Chez for a few months (even though I've never met her in 'real life' – whatever the hell that is?! Anyway more of that later!) and, when she asked me to write a guest post I was HUGELY honoured and HUUUUUUGGGGGEEEELY terrified...  Anywayanywayanyway (ooh I say that a lot!) she said I could blog about anything... (brave/crazy lady!) sooooo here goes....

First, I have to begin by telling you that 9 months ago, I thought blogs and forums were A BIT WEIRD! I had Facebook and Twitter accounts, but I never 'spoke' to anyone I didn't know in 'Real Life'... and then.... well, then everything changed. 

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2010, and since then, have been on a bit of a bumpy ride! (I shan't bore you with it here!) Anywayanywayanyway.... I must tell you here and now, that I like knowing stuff. I like being nosy, but also (in a very geeky way), I just like knowing things. Things about music, about drama, about books, about tele, about... well, about anything really!  And on 13^th October as I left the hospital, I knew nothing about breast cancer. I knew what the doctor had told me about my case, but I didn't know if that was good or bad, if the treatment I'd been scheduled was normal/advanced/old-fashioned, how I was going to feel, what was going to happen in the future – and even though I had (and have!!!) the most amazing support network of friends and family members, none of them (thankfully!!) had ever had cancer, and some days I felt totally and utterly bewildered and alone.

(by the way, me telling you all of this, is honestly 'going' somewhere, I'm not just using this as therapy!)

Pretty soon after the cancer was diagnosed a friend suggested I start writing about my 'feelings' and experiences on a blog, so when 'it' was over I could look back (and …. laugh?! cry?! I'm not sure really.... hang on, maybe I need to go back and see that friend again... … no, it's ok, I'll wait til I've finished writing) annnnnnnd...  so my blog was born!  Anywayanywayanyway I discovered there is a HUGE amount of information about cancer on the internet, and I also discovered that most of it should be ignored!!! 

Thhhhhaaaaaaannnnkkkkkfully I was pointed in the direction of the breast cancer care website (www.breastcancercare.org.uk) and looked at the forums where I 'met' loads of women who were all living with breast cancer, some young, some old, some living beyond breast cancer, and some, like me then, newly diagnosed. Aaaaannnnd all of a sudden..... forums, and blogs, and talking to strangers online made sense!  It was also there in the forums (amongst the lists of new acronyms and abbreviations to do with breast cancer, and experiences of medicines and treatments) that I found a list of other blogs about breast cancer, and found the lovely CHEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (huzzah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! incidentally, you should all be doing a round of applause now, cos we know she's fab!!!) and together we have rambled through this crazy 'adventure' together.

And... I feel as though I've rambled on quite a lot and not really said anything so am going to try make some kind of point now!!! When you're diagnosed with cancer it won't be long until someone tells you how brave/couragous/inspiring/strong you are, and, as far as I can work out, nobody with cancer believes that they are. I believe this whole thing is a team game, and I count myself lucky to be a member of one of the finest teams.  I now have the best friends at home and online aaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnd..... Amongst these new friends is a brilliant blogger called Chez, who, even though things have been rubbish for us both at various points, she's helped keep me smiling, and (as far as I can work out) hasn't been too scared by my COMPLETE INSANITY!  What's also FABULOUS is that she's a scouser!  Which means that when she comes back to the homeland (soon!! please soon!!) she'll only be 20 minutes up the road!!!

Anyway, anyway, anyway.... I have rambled enough now, and want to leave you with a  song that's a bit of an anthem for a few of us.  Annnnnnnnd a bit of cheesy encouragement....... 

Whether you read this blog as an 'old' friend or family member of Chez's, as a breast cancer patient (either current or in the past) or as a 'random' visitor you should know this: 

Sometimes, when it feels like there's nothing to say to a friend or family member who is 'going through it'  that “walking with a friend in the dark, is better than walking alone in the light”, and your friendship is appreciated and valued... (cheesybuttrue!!)  You should also know that the owner of this blog is a brilliant lovely lady, who, despite anything that life has thrown at her is impressive and feisty and smart and an inspiration (and I'd better not add too many more in, or she'll get a big head!! ;o) or..... not publish the post!) and I feel very lucky to call her my friend!

And during the struggle
They will pull us down
But please, please let's use this chance to
Turn things around
And tonight we can truly say
Together we're invincible 

Until next time dear reader,

Annie xxx


Visit Annies blog: http://curlyhair&falseeyelashes.blogspot.com