It's probably no surprise, given my continuing existence, that were I to be given the opportunity to change any of the decisions made regarding my treatment, I wouldn't alter a thing. However shaky some of the steps may have seemed at the time, and whatever slings and arrows outrageous fortune may have flung at me as a result, it's … Continue reading Me and my immunotherapy, on the national news
Passing it on with Destination: Cure
JULY 2016 UPDATE: NHS England has, devastatingly, announced it will no longer routinely fund second stem cell transplants – the opposite of what I explained Anthony Nolan and I were trying to do in my post below, this time last year. Please sign and share Anthony Nolan's petition against this. You can read more on their … Continue reading Passing it on with Destination: Cure
Day +261: Good blood and bad chat
It's been a while... I even cheated and used a website to work out how many days it's been since my stem cell transplant. I usually put such a delay down to the fact I've been too busy getting on with life, which is at least partly true. It's also, though, because medically my life hasn't been very interesting, … Continue reading Day +261: Good blood and bad chat
Day +195: My body is no expert
Do you listen to your body? I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend some time living in Naples when my father was posted to work there for three or four years during my teenage years – and not just because otherwise I'd never have met the magnificent Mariacristina... My happy memories are … Continue reading Day +195: My body is no expert
Day +181: The patience of patients
Q. What do you call a winner who is quite happy to wait around before receiving his/her medal? A. ... Remarkably, at my last clinic appointment at St George's, I showed my face at reception pretty much bang on time and was ushered through immediately to see the doctor. I was flabbergasted, having set myself up … Continue reading Day +181: The patience of patients
My 100th post: 10 months in pictures…
"You know what?" said Mariacristina. "It's been a great year." She's right, of course...
Day +139: Remembrance of things past
Every now and then my father turns up at our house with a box of bits and pieces left over from my years in the family home, which I usually try to squirrel away as quickly as possible before Mariacristina can divert them to the recycling bin. It's good that the imminent threat of a cull hangs … Continue reading Day +139: Remembrance of things past
Day ONE HUNDRED and something…
I'm not sure where to start. Day +100, perhaps? How much hair can one man wear? [beware: video contains some flashes] http://youtu.be/1QUddSmO0gM Yep – I hit three figures and had a small, hairy celebration with a few friends, toasting the three-digit milestone and raising money for Macmillan. This came after promising results from my bone … Continue reading Day ONE HUNDRED and something…
11 Reasons Why You Are The Boss Of Cancer
So, cancer reckons it's in charge? I'm 77 days post-stem cell transplant following my relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and I say it's not... 1. Cancer fails to deny its inferiority As a trained journalist, I'm keenly aware of giving the 'other side' of a story the right to reply. So I tried contacting cancer through various media … Continue reading 11 Reasons Why You Are The Boss Of Cancer
Days +64 to +68: My very own triathlon effort
I've been feeling a bit more tired over the past few days; perhaps because of the triathlon in which I competed on Thursday evening... This was all one take (as you can probably imagine), but hopefully explains the importance of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, and why you MUST support Anna in the Blenheim Palace … Continue reading Days +64 to +68: My very own triathlon effort