Mel O'Neill is a mum-of-two from Penketh and has been battling cancer for more than a decade.

She writes a regular blog for the Warrington Guardian.

Since being diagnosed with incurable inflammatory breast cancer back in 2011, I have learnt to live with the rollercoaster of emotions that the journey would bring me, learning along the way many different aspects to creating a better life and worrying less. 

After finishing chemo over a year and a half ago,  I took chemo's side effects on the chin with every bout of sickness, diarrhea, swelling of my eyes from the clinical trial and of my arm as the cancer spread into the lymphatics of my arm and damaged the vessels, I was unprepared for the after effects the chemo would leave me with permanently.

I have quite a few conditions now from chemo many that I deal with on a daily basis like the persistant styes on my eyelids being advised to apply soft cotton pads to my eyes soaked in warm water morning and night, massaging them for a minute to prevent the ducts in my lids from becoming infected.  That I can cope with along with the relentless fatigue that creeps up on me every so often when I've over done it. 

The lymphedema in my right arm I am learning to manage with the swelling and the inability to use my right hand as often as I'd like, lacking in strength to grip onto many items.

Oral Lichen Planus is a condition I have been left with where ulcers in my mouth remain permanently on my gums and tongue.  I have learnt to manage the pain living in hope that one day they will go eventually after having had them for over five years and being told it is a contition that can only be managed not cured. 

Then there's my loss of vision as a blind spot has appeared in both eyes effecting my periphial vision, failing eye tests and the DVLA taking my driving license away as I'm now seen as being no longer fit to drive. 

The eye specialist at the hospital has informed me that in his opinion it has been caused by the amount of chemotherapy I have been treated with over the past 10 years and is unlikely to get better. 

I am being monitored with regular check ups as they are unaware if this lack of vision is likely to get worse, therefore sadly I will never be able to drive again.  The lack of independance I am still dealing with emotionally as I require other methods of transport and hate not being able to jump in my car to go to places.

Warrington Guardian: Mel O'Neill

Then more recently in the opast year my throat has narrowed and I'm often found choking on food as it gets lodged in my throat preventing me from swallowing.  I have become a master in the art of eating now, no longer panicking when it happens but being mindful that I must take smaller mouthfuls of food, chewing excessively and avoiding meat and bread wherever possible as these seem to be the worst for getting stuck. 

I am currently waiting to be seen by a specialist in the hope that this symptom is one of the many that isn't permanent as my mind goes into overdrive worrying what the outcome will be.  It certainly is the not knowing that I find harder to deal with as when I know, I can face it head on and hope for the best.

Currently I am taking antibiotics for an infection in my lymphedema arm as the stagnent fluid is unable to deal with any bites, scratches or cuts on that arm as it becomes more swollen,hot and red and can quickly turn into sepsis if not treated immediately.  So on a recent holiday to Spain I had to see a Spanish doctor who prescribed antibiotics for my infected arm.

On returning to the UK my throat has become more swollen (no idea why) and my antibiotics are getting stuck in my throat everytime I take them.

After gagging and spitting out copious amounts of saliva, I have discovered massaging my throat allows it to go down easier.  I have three days left of my antibiotics, my diet consisting of homemade vegetable juice and soups so I am destined to lose the holiday weight I gained whilst away.  They say every cloud has a silver lining!

Well my cloud is certainly lined with silver as there is still no cancer to be found anywhere in my body after having active cancer for almost 10 years.  As unfortunate as I am to have the permanent after effects, the chemotherapy did its main job and that was saving my life enabling me to bring my two girls up and discovering my lifes purpose along the way.

I have often felt worthless, controlled and lived to make others happy and like me more. 

However now I have a purpose empowering others, doing what I love and discovering a self love.  So inspite all of my many ailments I thank chemo for not only allowing me to live but allowing me a have a more fulfilling life than I could have ever hoped for.  So ailments aside I will always be eternally grateful.