My personal experience with cancer is that I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in February 2004.

Once I was in remission and getting better, I decided that I would like to do some work with Macmillan,

to find out more and hopefully help other people in my situation.

My wife was first diagnosed with cancer in the year 2000.

When she died I felt very low,

and I think Cancer Voices has given me the opportunity to give some input back.

It allows cancer sufferers to collectively get together,

and at least voice their opinions on different aspects of the disease, different aspects of the treatment.

There is all sorts of opportunities you can get involved in,

it allows you to use your experience to give you a voice on cancer,

and to put your thoughts forward to influence cancer care in the future.

It is like everything else to me, it is like a problem shared is a problem halved.

It can be far more helpful than wallowing in your own self pity,

because that can only drag you down.

I have been involved in a number of opportunities since getting involved with Macmillan.

It has ranged from simple things, such as reviewing books or DVDs

on particular cancers or cancer in general, and giving my thoughts as someone who's been through the process.

It has also allowed me to get involved with different conferences with Macmillan,

where you can meet everyone from the Chief Executive down to other people who have had cancer themselves,

you can share a great deal and meet some great friends.

You certainly do not feel alone.

There are many times when you think, am I the only person in the world who feels like this?

and then you realise actually, no, you are not,

there are lots of people who feel exactly the same as you.

I think it is important to get men to come along and talk about what is happening to them,

and what is happening to their partners and friends.

It can only do good I think, to have more men join Cancer Voices,

and share their experiences and not just shut it out and forget cancer.

It is difficult, but I think that it is good to accept that you have had cancer,

and realise that many men do get cancer,

so because of the amount of people that do, they need to have a voice.