A MOTHER who has been told she may have only six months to live has spoken of how keeping a blog on her battle with cancer has helped her come to terms with her illness.
Former modern studies teacher Lesley Graham, 43, began writing about her ordeal two years ago and her "beginner's guide to cancer" has received 18,000 hits in more than 80 countries - as far afield as Australia, China and America.
Ms Graham, who lives in Rutherglen with her 11-year-old daughter, Olivia, began penning the online diaries after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012.
She said: "I wasn't in a good place after the initial diagnosis.
"As I was coming to terms with my resentment and anger about what had happened to me I realised that, rather than be bitter about it, I could be productive and pass information on to others who are going through what I went through.
"That was my motivation in the beginning."
Ms Graham, who earlier received an apology from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde after its errors left her waiting for treatment for the disease, has now blogged more than 60 times and her posts are giving hope to thousands of people with cancer.
"It just evolved," she said. "When I had a good day I blogged. When I had a sad day I blogged and it would help me.
"People then started writing to me and saying thank you for reminding them to live one day at a time and be positive.
"That makes me feel really good."
The tumours have now spread and Ms Graham was recently told she may only have six months to live. She has made arrangements for her best friend to care for her daughter.
She said the blog has helped her come to terms with her illness.
"Being able to face it regularly in my blog has enabled me to be practical.
"It's prepared me and now everything is organised.
"And Olivia has been on the journey with me too. She's read my blog.
"She asked me recently if I am definitely going to die, to which I said I don't expect to be here in a year but we will take each day at a time.
"Because I've been honest and practical she is quite accepting."
She added: "I'm absolutely at peace.
"There isn't a morning when I wake up and think I'm going to die.
"I wake up and think about what I'm going to do each day."
The blog can be read at: chemocentric.blogspot.co.uk
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