The trauma of breast cancer can lead to a storm of emotions that are beautifully expressed in some of the poetry you send to us.  We’ll publish as many of your poems as possible here – do come back often, as we’ll be adding new ones and refreshing the selection on a regular basis.

And if reading what others have written inspires you to put pen to paper, just email your poem to info@amoenalife.co.uk for a chance to appear on these pages!

Come on then Cancer, you do your worst
If you think you'll get me with your nasty curse
I'll have the treatment, side effects too
Mouth ulcers, sickness and sometimes can't poo

But if you think I'm weak, then please be prepared
You've got the wrong person if you think I'm scared
I'm gonna beat you, you will not win
I will control you, you're in the bin

Friends who ignore me, or just disappear
They can't handle you, I guess it's called Fear
They don't know what to say, so say nothing at all
Please, pick up the phone, just text me or call

I am not contagious, it's not like the flu
If I make a joke, join in, just be you
Family and friends to start with are sad
Shocked that you got me cos you're known as bad

I guess the novelty wears off, now it's gone
They did their bit, now they're moving on
Good friends are few, it's true what they say
They keep in touch, day after day

So people I ask, please don't let me go
You're in my phone, it's you who I know
Don't ever think you'll speak out of turn
This will make us stronger, and from that we can learn

Now with my party planning head on
It gives me a purpose, I have to be strong
To plan for the future cos I am still young
For all of my life, I'm gonna have fun!!
Kathy Vance

Farewell my taste buds, you've up and gone
The hospital said it wouldn't take long
Days after chemo and you disappear
Food just tastes rubbish, best stick to the beer

Some things are cold, some things are hot
The texture is good, the flavour is not
My taste will return, I know from last time
So just for the moment I'll stick to the wine

Itchy and tingly fingers don't hurt
But honest, can't feel to do the housework
Redundant is my little brush and dustpan
Ha, I'm gonna milk this for all that I can!

Second week in, feel like I've got the flu
Mouth ulcer gel's just a mouth full of goo
Tongue feels all wide 'n' furry 'n' fat
My God we do go through all sorts of crap

The headache is banging, itchy old scalp
The wigs just look stunning, stuck on with talc
Maud is my brunette, Mabel is blonde
Martha's on order, shouldn't take long

But as side effects go, not doing too bad
I'm on the up, not gonna be sad
So until I can face a lovely big fry up
It'll be the good old Chemo Vino diet!!!
Kathy Vance

When you’re told you have cancer
Of whatever kind
You panic a bit
And it plays on your mind

“It’s not a death sentence
These days there’s a cure”
You want to believe them
But can’t be quite sure

Why is this happening?
It’s all quite surreal
In a protective ‘bubble’
You don’t know how you feel

The medics take over
Your treatments begin
“You can fight it”, you’re told
“And with help you can win.”

This affects the whole family
You must share your views
It will make you all stronger
Whatever the news

The cancer is gone now
We can delay all your fears
But we’ll keep an eye on you still
Just in case, for a few years

All’s back to normal but
There are questions to answer
It’s now that it hits you –
You have survived cancer!
Diane Hansford

I started on a journey but never left my town
I’ve been on a rollercoaster my life turned upside down
I’ve visited lots of places I never thought I’d see
And all because of something that starts with the letter C

The knowledge I have gleaned along this rocky road
I know an awful lot now about the little node
I’ve been to somewhere nuclear had blue dye in my veins
No wonder I have days full of aches and pains

I’ve been to the theatre but I didn’t see a show
I’ve been on the radio but did I speak well no
I’ve also had a tattoo it’s not easy to see
But I know it’s there it’s a part of me

I didn’t want this journey from the very start
I travelled along each day with a heavy heart
I didn’t have a choice of where I was to go
But all through the journey I knew I couldn’t say no
Annette Redwood