Stories of Cancer and Hope: Giving voice to lives affected by cancer

When a diagnosis changes everything

Kevin’s cancer journey came in two waves. The first was in 2018, ending with a stage two melanoma removal and a 'cancer-free' diagnosis. The second arrived eighteen months later. What started as routine back pain ended with a devastating diagnosis of stage four, incurable melanoma.

He recalls: “I went from weeping in the street with relief, to a year and a half later being confronted with the reality that, in terms of life expectancy, the odds were no longer in my favour.

“It felt like an out-of-body experience - I didn’t fully register that the oncologist was talking to me, and it took me a while to grasp the seriousness of the situation.”

After being recommended a course of immunotherapy, which he was told could extend his life, there was still no guarantee of how long that might be. As Kevin shared his diagnosis with his loved ones, the shock began to ripple throughout his family.

His thoughts were dominated not only by his own health but, even more so, by concern for how they would cope if his treatment was unsuccessful.

“My greatest fear centred around my family,” he explains. “My hope was that I could be there for at least a few more years, a few more Christmases - that became a big focus for me.”

Kevin Donaghy, Stories of Cancer and Hope

As Kevin worked on 'Stories of Cancer and Hope', he realised that hope was everywhere. Just as he held onto it for his family, others discovered it in their own ways - through small triumphs, meaningful connections, and the courage to keep sharing their journeys.

Kevin admits he hadn’t consciously thought much about hope before, but while compiling each story, he realised how deeply it mattered to people.

Among the many contributions, one story from an oncology nurse deeply resonated with him.

“She said something very profound,” Kevin recalls. “She said, ‘Hope is constant, hope is always there. But sometimes that changes.’

“Hope does change throughout your journey. In my case, before my diagnosis, I hoped it wasn’t cancer. Afterwards, I hoped it could be treated, and then I hoped my life could be extended. These are similar hopes you might also share with your family.”

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can feel incredibly isolating. While cancer affects one in two of us in our lifetime, being told you have it can feel like it’s happening only to you. Kevin Donaghy is eager to convey in his book that whether you’ve been diagnosed, or are supporting someone who has, you are certainly not alone.

“For most people I knew in the 70s and 80s, cancer was whispered about rather than openly discussed,” says Kevin. “It was seen as almost a death sentence. But things have moved on since then.”

He explains that by talking openly about cancer, people can break through this sense of isolation. Sharing stories not only helps others feel less alone but also creates a supportive space for people to connect and heal.

“I felt privileged that people wanted to share their stories and that I could support them through this period of isolation,” says Kevin. “Sometimes they opened up about things they hadn’t shared with anyone else.”

Some accounts from 'Stories of Cancer and Hope' describe cancer symptoms you might never find online or in a leaflet. They come from real, lived experience, showing how symptoms can manifest in often unforeseen ways - things that don’t always translate through static text or a purely clinical perspective.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t rely on credible sources for information about health conditions or diseases. But hearing about symptoms first-hand is very different from simply Googling a list of signs.

“There are over 200 different types of cancer, with some fantastic campaigns helping to raise awareness of the warning signs to look out for,” says Kevin. “But we also have to be advocates for our own health. You could spend your whole life Googling and self-diagnosing, but each of us has a responsibility to push for answers if we know something isn’t right.”

He goes on to explain that, in his own experience, four medical professionals told him his melanoma didn’t look cancerous. By sharing stories and talking openly about different diagnoses - and even potential misdiagnoses - there is real power in encouraging people to seek, and secure, the right care when they need it.

Maggie’s is a charity that provides free practical and emotional support for anyone living with or affected by cancer. The first Maggie’s centre was built in Edinburgh, which is where Kevin first became aware of the incredible work they do.

There are now 27 Maggie’s centres across the UK, usually located next to major hospitals or cancer departments. They are open to anyone who feels they need help coping with the impact of cancer. All royalties from 'Stories of Cancer and Hope' are donated to Maggie’s to support their ongoing work.

Kevin explains that his relationship with Maggie’s developed some time after his own diagnosis.

“It took me a while to recover from my treatment before I could properly focus on putting my idea for the book into practice,” he says. “I just walked into Maggie’s Edinburgh, with nothing to show, explained my idea for the book, and within 24 hours they came back and said they’d love to have copies of 'Stories of Cancer and Hope' in every centre.”

Since then, Kevin has built a strong connection with Maggie’s, reinforced by the presence of his book in every support hub. He hopes it helps those who access their services and gives people who might not know what to say to someone living with cancer the courage to reach out, having gained a personal insight into what it’s like to live with the disease. Similarly, he hopes the book helps health professionals see the person behind the diagnosis.

“Maggie’s offers so many different services,” says Kevin. “They run classes, bring in people for alternative therapies, and provide advice on financial assistance. In each centre, ex-oncology nurses are there to provide support.

“You just walk in. Someone will come to you, offer you a cup of tea or coffee, and try to figure out why you’ve walked through the door.”

As Kevin collected stories from people sharing similar experiences of cancer, he began to forge friendships with them. This helped him feel less isolated in his own diagnosis, even as he understood that some of these friendships would inevitably be lost along the way.

“It could have been very easy to have 39 stories in the book where everyone lived happily ever after,” Kevin says. “But that is not the reality of cancer. The vast majority of people who contributed are still with us and living fantastic lives.

“Some of them will die in the future - not necessarily from cancer - but we knew we had to include their stories. We knew we would lose people as time went on.”

Kevin adds that he remains in close contact with all the contributors to 'Stories of Cancer and Hope'. For those who are no longer with us, he ensures their families have a chance to continue their story.

“For anyone who has left us, their family always gets the option to add something to their story,” he explains. “My name may be on the front, but this book is as much theirs as it is mine. It’s so important for their voices to continue to be heard. It’s hard when we lose a contributor, but keeping their story alive is essential - hopefully for years to come.”

Whether you are living with cancer or supporting someone who is, you are never walking this path alone. Beyond the vital support of charities such as Maggie’s, there is strength to be found in the shared experiences of others.

This is the heart of Kevin’s mission.

Though his own sense of hope has evolved through every stage of his diagnosis, his latest purpose is to offer that hope to you. Through the pages of 'Stories of Cancer and Hope', he aims to remind every reader that while their journey is unique, they belong to a community that truly understands.

“It takes a while to process your diagnosis,” he says. “Hopefully, by reading other people’s stories, you might feel encouraged to talk to those affected by cancer - or even to share your own story.

“Remember, you are not alone. Whatever you’re going through, whatever your fears or hopes are, there are other people going through something similar. Once you make that connection - whether it’s through reading a story or meeting someone in person - it helps. It absolutely helps.”