Mum calls for better mental health help for cancer sufferers

Friday 27 September 2019

A local mum, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy for bowel cancer, is calling for better mental health support for islanders going through cancer treatment after being told she may have to wait 18 months for help.

Writer Emma Critchley (40) was told about the wait when she tried to access Talking Therapies.

She was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February and is currently on her seventh cycle of chemotherapy.

Emma’s symptoms started last year with her started feeling run down. She also noticed some changes in her bowel habits but put it down to her food intolerances. Her symptoms got worse over the following months, but it wasn’t until early this year that she went to the doctor, after finding blood in her stool. 

She was eventually diagnosed at the end of February and decided to name her stage four tumour Phyllis. In June, doctors “evicted” Phyllis and installed a stoma bag, before reversing that operation nine days later - a first in Jersey.

While she expected to be done with chemotherapy by July, the mother of two was told she would have to go through four more cycles due to cancer cells breaking into her blood, something known as “vascular invasion.” Her last lot of chemotherapy is now planned for October.

“I’m starting to realise the mental ratification of having this hanging over me,” Emma told Express. 

While she says she can’t fault the medical team that has been looking after her for the past six months – “they have been absolutely amazing” – Emma thinks islanders going through cancer treatment should receive better mental health support. 

“There should be a different level of mental care,” she explained.

Fearing that her cancer “might come back” now that it’s in her blood, Emma sought the help of Jersey Talking Therapies but was told the waiting list currently is of 18 months. 

“There is obviously a focus on the physical side at first,” Emma said. “But it’s important to stay positive. There needs to be more of a holistic approach. After you see the oncologist, it would be nice to see someone that can ask you how you feel or if you have any questions. People need access to those services when they need to - not after 18 months.”

Emma has been documenting her journey on her blog, Island Living 365, which she launched four years ago with a parenting and lifestyle angle. “It took an unexpected turn,” she admits.

Emma has been open in documenting her battle with the disease, sharing thoughts on her diagnosis, her first weeks of chemo, and her emotional journey through sickness and dark days, all in a bid to raise awareness about bowel cancer. 

She encouraged people to drop their pants and speak to their doctor if they have any concerns, while also aiming to debunk the myth that bowel cancer is an “old people’s disease".

She also wrote blogs about how to support someone going through chemotherapy or what not to say to a person going through chemo.  

This led her to make the final in the the 2019 Brilliance in Blogging Awards, nominated in the ‘Inspire’ category, which recognises “blogs with enthusiasm and stories that encourage and inspire around them".

“It’s really nice to know a lot of people have nominated me,” Emma said. “It’s nice to have something good coming out of a sh*tty year.”

Over the past seven months, Emma has found a lot of support on social media, which is often criticised for being bad for mental health. “Social media offered a lot of support, people have been amazing. You only hear the negatives about social media, but I’ve received so much support, it’s an encouraging space.”

Emma found a whole community of people going through cancer treatment on Instagram, where “everyone understands what each other is feeling”. While she says some of them have now sadly passed away, there are also “many inspiring people who have got through it".

With the end of her chemotherapy approaching, Emma is keen to keep on writing about her experience “to show what life is going to be post treatment".

“In real life, you don’t get told you are in remission,” she explained. “Regular check-ups are necessary. It’s about not letting that stop you and finding a new sense of normality.”

In a bid to raise even still more awareness, Emma recently stood up to cancer - and so did her hair.

Pictured: Theo and Marc Le Sueur also had their hair done to help raise awareness of Stand Up To Cancer.

With her daughters, Matilda (10) and Amelia (6), also known as Boo, she had her hair transformed into audacious orange creations by Anita Brown and her team at Bonita Hair and Beauty at Les Ormes Lodge and Leisure Centre as part of Stand Up To Cancer, a joint campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

Theo Le Sueur (6) and his dad Marc also decided to join in, as they visited the salon on the same day Emma and her daughters were there.

They are all hoping fellow Jersey residents will follow their lead and embrace the charity’s hair-raising challenge as one of the fun ways to raise money for serious research.

““Cancer affects everyone so I hope everyone will get involved and Stand Up To Cancer in whatever way they choose,” Emma said. “If it’s hair, like us, let your imagination run wild - punk, sixties bee-hive or rock-a-billy. Just do something to raise money.”