Annie Robinson

In 1999, I was diagnosed with breast cancer while I was four months pregnant with my first child. I endured an operation while pregnant and then undertook seven weeks of radiation treatment after the birth of my son Bill. With a positive prognosis, I got on with life, enjoying my new baby. In 2001, the cancer returned. Lumps were found in my neck, spine, liver and lymph nodes. I undertook a gruelling course of chemotherapy, which was not entirely successful, and so I entered the life of having widespread metastatic breast cancer, which brings with it, constant chemotherapy of some kind, regular check-ups and painstaking tests. Subsequently, in 2004, tumours were found in my back, which fractured my spine and a bone in my pelvis. More treatment followed. I now have periods of chronic illness, interspersed with periods of normal, happy living.

For me, the disease has now become more of a mental battle rather than a physical battle. I wake every day knowing that on top of whatever happens in this day, I also have cancer to keep on top of. I have found that by thinking and doing things in life that I am passionate about, and being around people that I feel happy to be with, gives me the strength to enjoy life more and think less about the disease I have. I have always gained a great deal of satisfaction out of making a list of things I want to achieve in life and working my way through them.

Hence, Dreams2Live4. If I could have my dreams come true, what would they be? I discovered I have many….. being a back-up singer for a well-known singer at a huge concert, cooking with a famous chef, walking holidays with my husband and son in New Zealand and Spain, driving Route 66 from New York to LA. While I think about and do these things, I do not have time to die or be sick.

If we can encourage people to think of what their dreams may be and help them achieve these dreams, they just may improve the outlook of their disease. If not, perhaps they will die with a big smile on their face. I know I will if I can achieve these and hopefully more.

Annie’s dream as a back-up singer was realised by Andrew Denton.  She sang for Human Nature in 2007 when they were on tour.  Highlights of this dream were televised on Enough Rope in October 2007 "Can I write the Ending".