From Surviving to Thriving: Nurturing the Life You Deserve

Princess Kate recently shared a heartfelt message on World Cancer Day, urging people to "nurture all that lies beyond the disease."

While her words were met with mixed reactions from cancer survivors, they struck a chord with me. Life after cancer is not always the triumphant, worry-free journey many imagine. In fact, I was not prepared for how tough it would be.

During treatment, I had a team of medical professionals guiding me through every step. Their expertise and support were invaluable. But once treatment ended, their job was done. Suddenly, I felt alone, left to navigate a world that had changed while I was fighting for my life.

No one tells you how to reclaim your identity, rebuild your confidence, or manage the emotional toll of survival. The expectations from yourself and others can feel overwhelming. People assume you should be grateful, positive, and eager to return to 'normal'—but what if normal no longer exists?

What if you suspect your lifestyle contributed to your illness - stressed too much? Eating the wrong foods? Toxic relationships ? Being a people pleaser?

To me this not about blaming yourself - it's about taking responsibility for your health, and the good new is you have an opportunity after cancer to put those things right. This is your chance to create the life you want – and the life you deserve after all you have been through – we know all too well that life is short.

This is where Princess Kate’s words resonate. Nurturing what lies beyond the disease is essential.

It’s about focusing on what’s good, making it bolder, brighter, and better so that the challenges shrink in comparison. That doesn’t mean ignoring the difficult parts or pretending everything is fine. It means actively choosing to bring more joy, connection, and purpose into your life, one small step at a time.

For me, that has meant setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and surrounding myself with people who uplift me. It has meant rediscovering passions, embracing rest without guilt, and giving myself permission to live fully—even with the lingering fears and uncertainties.

If you’re feeling lost after cancer, know this: You are not alone.

Healing doesn’t stop when treatment ends, and you deserve support in this next chapter. Focus on making the good in your life what you focus on. Over time, the struggles won’t disappear, but they will become smaller in the presence of all the beauty and joy that you choose to nurture.

‘’Success isn’t magic or hocus-pocus. It’s simply learning how to focus.” – Jack Canfield

My thoughts on this were included in an online article for The Mail -you can read it here.

I'd love to know what you think of this, if you want a step-by step plan to reclaim your energy, check out my ‘Reclaim Your Energy’ course for cancer survivors! find out more here

Your friend 

Gabby