Why signing Macmillan's petition calling on the Government to reduce distressing waiting times for Personal Payment Independence is so important

Life with Leukaemia: A family's story of navigating the emotional, physical and financial challenges of living with blood cancer, by Amy Atkinson...

This week we had a chat with Joel's consultant who said that Joel is doing really well. His blood counts are stable and he has been in remission for months now. He said that we need to start living, stop hiding away and being fearful of cancer.

So we've decided to start saying 'yes' when we're invited to places, being sensible and more cautious when we are out than in our 'past' life. Our heads never really switch off from the risks around us, but we both decided we have to start living, not just existing. For us, it is like we are just coming out of lockdown.

Adjusting to Joel's improved health and the constant changes to our lifestyle we have to implement, with certain cancer treatments or illnesses that Joel has battled along the way, is hard to keep up with.

Cancer to me means war. It means you have got to fight. Remission is like being in a ceasefire, a temporary truce. Whilst a positive voice inside prays you'll be at peace forever now, a negative one reminds you that the battle could resume at any point. The strength to fight could be needed again.

The elation and relief that comes with the word remission is not to be taken for granted, but, equally, Joel and I know that relapse is common with the type of blood cancer that he has. It is hard to relax in the ceasefire, hard to switch your brain off from the survival mode that was activated upon Joel's cancer diagnosis.

I think it is important to have an outlet for all the stress that comes with this lifestyle. For me, writing clears my head and I go for long walks or to the gym. For other people it might be different, but everyone needs a 'safe' space to escape to and switch off.

I cannot emphasise enough the importance of being kind to yourselves when you or a loved one is going through a cancer journey.

In positive news, some of Joel's family members did a fantastic job and ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon.

His aunty Steph, cousin Dom and his wife Sophie collectively raised £1,030 and counting for Leukaemia UK. You can still donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sophie-tyler11.

They were inspired by Joel's leukaemia journey and determined as a family to make a positive difference to the blood cancer community. Being sent photos from their run gave us a real boost and a sense that good can come from all the bad that cancer brings. The key to better treatments for cancer is research – every penny raised makes such an impact.

I have written before about how stressful a cancer diagnosis can be on finances. This week I signed Macmillan's petition calling on the Government to reduce distressing waiting times for PIP (Personal Independence Payment) to 12 weeks.

We were waiting six months for our PIP to be processed. Joel was unable to work and I was fired upon telling my old employer about my caring responsibilities, consequently we had no income for a long time. Thankfully we have a supportive family who helped us through and I worked my second job at weekends at JoJo Maman Bébé to top up our funds.

PIP is a benefit intended to help people with a chronic illness, cancer or disability with some of the extra costs they have due to a health condition or disability.

The average wait time currently for this to be processed is five months, which in the current cost-of-living crisis is completely unacceptable. Please sign the petition at https://campaigns.macmillan.org.uk/page/113058/petition/1.