My Cancer Journey
One sweltering day in June, Hospital loomed, sad news I assumed.
It's Cancer they said, all my thoughts my fears came true that day.
Disbelief, denial, shock, it is happening to me.
Telling the wife, the boys my family that day I can't forget.
Within weeks a diagnosis hospital appointments came thick and fast.
With friends and family all informed and all by my side.
The Overwhelming love the support made me strong and determined.
I will beat this thing that is growing inside me.
The long road ahead was beginning to sink in I knew I could be strong.
Nothing prepares you for all this.
Intense treatment and appointments, the waiting around in Hospitals with strangers.
Nothing prepares you for all this.
Journeys in cars and ambulance and buses taking me to hospital toing and throwing.
Nothing prepares you for all this.
The feeling sick the tiredness, so hard at times, I felt nothing but pain.
Weeks of radiotherapy went by but now complete as well as my long hot sunny days they will be missed.
A brief respite from treatment before the 18 weeks of chemo, I had time to reflect.
The love the support I receive is overwhelming it's strong, I’ve cried I've wept... stop being so nice to me.
I'm feeling so lucky in my times of need to have some much love and support.
I will give back to all that have helped me through when this is all over.
So, the next its chemo I'm feeling anxious and nervous.
I can only say that I didn’t know what to expect all the side effects.
It's effectively poison they are putting inside you to take the cancer away.
Side effects came again, feeling sick unable to eat my mouth is dry.
Days weeks of extreme tiredness I'm exhausted my brain was functioning, but my body wasn't responding.
Listen to my body they said you need to rest! that’s all I could do; I’m feeling hopeless and frustrated.
Christmas was approaching the days shorting, my days felt long so dark when suffering my symptoms.
I'm halfway through my chemo now I've got this far I need to keeping going, it's becoming a drag both physically and emotionally.
Good news I receive that my cancer is shrinking more treatment ahead but so much hope for the future.
Next is surgery the final stage with the end in sight.
Surgery Loomed cancer has moved its spread so off to London I went.
I was operated on and earlier than expected 5 weeks of hell in hospital
They removed my rectum anus and tumour with complications my bladder was damaged by surgery.
Whilst in hospital I developed cellulitis around my stoma so had surgery again to remove it.
I took almost 6 months to recover with help from hospital and district nurses.
I'm so grateful to my family my friends the NHS Macmillan.
I'm left with a permeant stoma and catheter time to adapt and get on with my life a second chance I feel very lucky to be alive.
Thank you
