Hello Everyone.

I’m Karen.

I’ve often thought about trying to write a humorous blog, but was never sure what would be my subject. Perhaps the one hundred and one jobs that I’ve already had in my 25 years: There was the time I pretended to be a professional make-up artist, and painted the faces of paying department store customers, ignorant of my actual abilities. Complaints? There were a few. Or when a temping agency sent me to work at a heart disease conference, and I found myself being roused from my slumber on the front desk by a delegate eager to register. I could have written a post about the three weeks that I went from vegetarian to vegan, and gave up when I was offered butter with my bread roll. But there are already too many vegan blogs out there. It could have even been about the afternoon that I spent at a college in Brooklyn, New York, and convinced a room of students that I was Akuna, a native Nigerian woman.

Now I have found my subject, and it’s really not that funny. Instead of something cute or edgy, my blog is called ‘quarter-life cancer’. Why quarter-life? Simple, I’m turning 25 in a few months. Why cancer? Well, because I’ve got it. I was officially diagnosed with cervical cancer on 18th November 2014. So, here I am. Hey ho. Onwards and upwards.

I live in London with two friends, and earn the pennies by working as a receptionist/office administrator, where one of my best friends is my manager. In the evenings I go to Birkbeck University, where I am studying for a degree in Drama and Theatre. I’d like to one day be able to say ‘I am an actor and writer,’ and for that to be true. I have an incredibly supportive and wonderful boyfriend called Bear. That’s not his actual name, but the nickname I’ll use in blog posts.

I see as much theatre as I can, and gorge on good, and sometimes bad, T.V. series. And films. Love a decent film. And documentaries. So I guess I like to watch things. And to read things. Books, books and more books please! Eating and drinking is also a strong area of interest – sometimes too strong. I cry very easily, but enjoy laughing more, and making others laugh. I have a collection of the most wonderful friends, and incredible parents. All of whom I am indescribably grateful for, and will write about (with their permission) in posts to come.

The purpose of ‘quarter-life cancer’ is to describe this blip in my life with honesty, detail and humour. I hope that it is informative, helpful, and elicits the occasional chuckle from whoever reads it.

I desperately don’t want this to be seen as poking fun at cancer, to cause offence to those who are also dealing with the big C, or that I am not taking this situation seriously enough. I am. I am absolutely petrified. Cancer is gross, unfair and scary, but as I’ve already mentioned, I’d rather laugh than cry.

xxx

karenhobbs@live.co.uk