After a few weeks of having problems swallowing my food and heartburn, I sought medical attention. This led to my eventual diagnosis of stage 2 stomach cancer.

Finding out I had cancer made me fearful. When told you have cancer, you automatically think you’re going to die.

Based on my doctor’s recommendations, I opted for the following treatments:

• Esophagectomy
• Lymphadenectomy (removal of lymph nodes)
• Chemotherapy
• Pain medication

Once this treatment plan was decided, I did feel fearful. When you get cancer you know there's a good chance that you may not make it.

I had 4 rounds of chemo called FLOT**, then surgery followed by another 6 rounds of chemo, which were a little easier going. My treatment is subsidized.

Because of chemo, I struggled with fatigue that made me very weak. I had reflux and felt sick too. I also suffered from hand and foot syndrome, as well as nausea and vomiting. Thankfully, the doctors were brilliant and seemed to have drugs to counteract most side effects, so I took medication.

My nutrition and diet changed the most after treatment. I was recommended medical advice related to:

• When and how much food I should eat
• What kind of food to refrain from, i.e. curry, spicy food

I have to be careful of what I eat and when. I must not eat too late and also have to sleep with my head/back slightly upright as my small stomach is now much higher in my chest so I can easily get reflux. In fact, that’s been the most challenging aspect of being a cancer survivor – learning what I can now eat and when.

For the near future, my plan is to enjoy life to the full best that I can as cancer makes you feel how precious life is and how in an instant it can all be gone.

My oncologist was particularly helpful in my journey with stomach cancer. Keep in touch with your doctor/oncologist as they seem to have drugs to counteract most side effects.

I stopped working after finding out I had cancer. I very quickly started chemo and there was no way I could have worked.

Being diagnosed with cancer has impacted my personal life in numerous ways. In terms of my social life and relationships, loved ones tend to not know how having cancer still affects you. Loved ones just tend to think you're okay now but in reality I’m not okay. I still have a lot of pain from the surgery site and still am a bit paranoid that it will come back.

I’ve struggled in my professional life and day-to-day life too, as I don't feel as healthy as I used to, but that could just be age as I am in my 5th year now. Just keep on going and try to enjoy life to the fullest and put cancer out of your mind, which is difficult because cancer is so rife now.

My greatest fear is it coming back. Every blood test, every visit to the oncologist is fear-inducing too.

To cope with these thoughts, I try to put them out of my mind.

Now I’m optimistic, but still a bit paranoid that it will come back. Again, cancer can and does equal death.

Yes it’s scary, but they can do a lot more nowadays with cancer and a lot more people are getting through it and kicking its arse. Chemo ain’t fun but it's doable and there are drugs to counteract nearly every side effect. Stay positive and upbeat, tell yourself “I’m gonna beat it!!”