Hi, i’m Hollie.
In 2024, when my youngest was just six months old and I was 31, I was diagnosed with stage 3C1 cervical cancer. Suddenly life became hospital appointments, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Everything changed.
I was trying to be a mum, trying to get through treatment and trying not to completely lose myself in the middle of it all.
But one of the hardest parts wasn’t actually the treatment. It was everything going on in my head alongside it. The fear. The overthinking. The loneliness. Trying to carry on with normal life when absolutely nothing felt normal anymore.
I had plenty of leaflets telling me what treatment I was having and what side effects to expect. What I couldn’t find was something that actually understood how it felt to be 31, with three children and a whole life happening around me, and suddenly have cancer thrown into the middle of it.
I didn’t just need information. I needed something that felt human. Somewhere I could be honest about how I was really doing, without feeling like I had to be positive or brave all the time.
Chemo & Co began…
When treatment finished, I felt completely lost. I knew I wanted to do something with everything I'd been through and create something for other people who might be feeling how I had.
I've always been someone who writes things down. During cancer, getting the thoughts out of my head and onto paper helped me make sense of things when everything felt completely overwhelming. That's where the idea for Chemo & Co started.
I wanted to create journals that felt personal. Not another clinical booklet, but something written by someone who had actually sat in that chair, had those thoughts and knew how much cancer can affect every part of your life.
The journals were the beginning of Chemo & Co and they'll always be a huge part of what I create. But the dream is growing too. I want Chemo & Co to become a place for younger adults to find resources, community, honest conversations and support for the emotional side of cancer.
It started with a journal. Now I'm building everything I wish I'd had alongside it.
Why these journals exist
Cancer changes everything. Your plans, your body, your relationships, your head and sometimes the way you see your whole future. At the same time, you're suddenly expected to remember appointments, medications, questions, names and a ridiculous amount of information.
That's where the journals come in.
Each one is created for a different part of the cancer experience, giving you somewhere for both sides of it. The practical stuff you need to remember and the thoughts and feelings you might not know what to do with yet.
They're not clinical and they're not filled with cheesy positivity. They're honest, useful and made with a real understanding of what those days can actually feel like.
Book me to speak
If you’re looking for a speaker to talk openly and honestly about the cancer journey, I’m available for talks, events, workshops and conversations of all sizes. I share my personal experience of diagnosis, treatment and remission, alongside the emotional realities that often go unspoken. I also talk about why I created Chemo & Co, the power of journalling as emotional support, and how small, thoughtful tools can make a big difference during incredibly difficult times. Whether you’re organising an event, supporting a community, working within healthcare or simply want to start a conversation, I’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch to chat about how we could work together.
-
After my diagnosis, I realised how much support focused on treating the cancer, but not always on everything going on in your head alongside it, especially at my age. I wanted something that felt less clinical and more like it actually understood what I was going through. Chemo & Co came from wanting to create exactly that.
-
Writing in all its forms. I started a public Instagram account (@holscancerfight_) to document my journey, and it became such an outlet for me. It helped me process what I was going through and gave me a sense of purpose when everything felt out of control.
But I know that not everyone wants to share their story with the world like I did and that’s okay. That’s exactly why I created these journals. They give you a private space to work through everything quietly, at your own pace, and without the pressure of performing your experience for anyone else.
-
That it’s not just about treatment. It’s about identity, fear, family, survival, grief and it’s literally sometimes all in one day. And no two people go through it the same way.
-
Yes! They’re designed from the pages I needed and wished existed. Every prompt, section, and question has come from my lived experience and the voices of others I’ve met along the way.
-
Yes, you can. I’ve had the chance to speak at a few events and on podcasts about my cancer journey, and it’s honestly given me the bug! I’ve loved being able to share my experience and have open, honest conversations. I’m not a professional speaker, just someone with lived experience who cares deeply about emotional support, storytelling and helping people feel less alone. If you think my story, the journals, or a relaxed, real conversation around cancer could be helpful for your event or community, I’d love to hear from you.