I am now back at work full time. I am TRYING to stick to Lessons 24, 25 and 26, but I am slipping back into my pre-Apocalypse work brain. I need to shake myself. A few weeks ago, I had three minutes to live, and already I am awake at 3am worrying about a very minor problem in a report.

My mum said I was fiercely independent and insisted on doing everything myself, in my own way, from a VERY early age. Apparently this trait has followed me into middle-aged-hood.

So it was against every fibre of my being to email Big Boss Man to say I needed more people in my team. And it worked. THANK YOU Big Boss Man (and MentorMan). I feel more in control and calmer.

The University has honestly been amazing. They have launched a cancer support page on the intranet with stories and ambassadors staff can reach out to. I signed up. Nobody may ever contact me, but I want to be there just like my Emotional Support Army was there for me.

Other side effects are now: permanently cold hands and feet (I have a hot water bottle strapped to me every night like a thermal life jacket) and the tinnitus louder than ever. Now waiting for hearing aids.

LESSON 29: ASK FOR HELP. PEOPLE GENUINELY WANT TO BE THERE FOR YOU, BUT THEY CAN’T HELP IF YOU DON’T SAY WHERE YOU ARE STRUGGLING.  

For the record, I don’t struggle. I fight on stoically, in silence, until I have a full brain meltdown.