My Story
I am a 51-year-old man, married with two boys of 21 and 17. My wife and I have been through a lot over the last 23 years together, experiencing the highs and lows of life. She has been there for me every step of the way and continues to be upbeat, loving, caring and supportive as we face this difficult challenge. My eldest son is at Loughborough University, my youngest at college doing his A levels. They are the light of my life and make me so proud as they make their way in the world. I have a sister, six years younger than me, who is married with children, a boy and a girl. She has been so supportive, acting as my guide, advisor, and councillor, providing help in any way she can. I still have my 83-year-old Dad but sadly lost my Mum 15 years ago to breast cancer. My Dad continues to go out of his way to do whatever he can to help, often making his way to my place on his beloved train network to see me and his grand kids. We all live in the same area, so I am lucky enough to see a great deal of my family.
I’m blessed to have a fantastic group of friends, most of whom I’ve known for over 30 years, some for over 40, and still see them all today, regularly. It’s so important to have them around: life would be unbearable without the constant banter, abuse, and laughter. My close pals all find their own ways to deal with me, all of them different – men aren’t the best emotional communicators sometimes. We tend to get the “how are you” conversation done as quickly as possible, and then just get on with our time together. The normality is a Godsend.
I’ve always worked, having been in the commercial side of the IT business since I was 21 years old, and had a wonderful career, working with some great companies, including my own, and with some great people. The hard work has afforded me an ok life from a financial perspective and meant I’ve been able to take out a number of insurance policies that, with hindsight, was money well spent. I’ve had a critical illness pay-out, and I have some income protection moving forward. Most importantly I have private medical insurance, so nothing is ever a problem when it comes to treatment. I’m on a number of cancer forums and my heart breaks when I see people suffering from this terrible disease, and then having to face challenges where they cannot receive the medicine they so desperately need due to financial issues.
This story and the accompanying website information, video’s and social media activity is simply an insight into how I try and live and thrive with this terrible disease, and I hope can give some help to others going through the same crap as me.
How do you try and cram what should be 30 or so years of life, into what might only be 2 or 3?
Tick tock…
My video journey so far can be found on my YouTube channel.
The Journey Home
The week was everything I had expected, and more. The sun shone every day and I was submerged in luxury for an entire week, drinking fine wine and eating beautifully cooked local seafood. But I missed the simplicity of the monastery. I missed the happiness I had felt while only worrying about food and shelter.…
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Back to Reality
I’m not sure how long it took before I succumbed to my “western ways” and left my eastern experience behind. I think the morning meditations lasted a little longer than my sense of calm as I quickly get back to the reality of living in a busy, chaotic, lively home, filled with different opinions, family…
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Side Effects
Anyway, this combo of chemo is designed to attack everything from mouth to anus, all your white blood cells, and the nervous system. The side effects are delightful. “First Bite Syndrome” is a condition where every time you take your first bite of food after a break, your saliva glands do an “Animal” (of Muppets…
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Military Precision
I tolerate a further 6 cycles, made more interesting because the initial cycle had to be delayed due to me having a cold. The life of a chemo patient with terminal cancer is an interesting one. I really need things to go to plan, it’s like a military operation to me because the few things…
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Second Opinion
Long story short – I tell Nicola I want a second opinion on this – it feels so difficult – I have a great relationship with her, and our “British” ways often mean we are too embarrassed or shy to ask. Anyway, she says she’ll refer me to an interventional radiologist called Paras Dalal. I…
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Got the Hump
It’s amazing news and I’m sure the surgery will hurt – there is always risk and I’m fully aware of what that looks like, particularly the fact that when the body undergoes trauma, cancer can attack unabated. But what the hell – what have I got to lose? We plan to look at doing something…
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Life goes On
I made the most of the of the summer, a trip to Silverstone to see my good pal Mark race his Lamborghini’s in the British GT Championship, and again to watch the British Grand Prix, in style, courtesy of his BRDC hospitality. What a day that was for sport – we left the GP and…
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Fundraising
In between my hectic social life, recovery from chemo, and numerous cancer related meetings, my time was spent trying to raise some funds for the three charities I try and support; www.BowelCancerUK.org.uk , www.TheMulberryCentre.co.uk , and www.CancerActive.com . I really felt the need to try and give a little back to those that do so much to help people like me,…
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Ideal Reunion – 27th September
Really shouldn’t be attending this as was released from hospital the day before the event following my first lung ablation procedure! This was a long burner; my dear friend Joe had come up with the idea of combining an Ideal Hardware reunion with a charity fundraiser. Another dear pal, Simon, had mentioned this to me…
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