December 29th 2023.
On New Year's Eve last year, I raised a glass of water into the air to salute the conclusion of my first fortnight of chemotherapy tablets. As I peeled off the surgical gloves that prevented the toxic pills from coming into contact with my skin, it suddenly hit me that this now routine tablet ceremony would be my last act of 2022. I didn't see 2023 in, I just went to bed early and hoped to wake up feeling a bit better.
I had no idea that this year would be so significant. I had no expectations of surviving it, but amazingly I have lived three hundred and sixty something days with stage four bowel cancer. It all started in March of last year when I started to notice what I now recognise as symptoms. At the time, it wasn't a big deal to me. I was only 37 and I assumed my abdominal issues were due to my vegan diet.
But after months of this, I went to the GP in September and was diagnosed with bowel cancer within a month. I began chemotherapy in December, and being told by the specialist that I'd likely be dead within five years was a huge shock. It felt like I had left the room a completely different person.
I was given a new treatment plan early last year - or lack thereof. My remaining tumours were small and growing slowly, so my doctors intended to do nothing. No surgery, chemo, or even medication. I couldn't believe it. I suddenly had permission to live my life again!
I decided to make the most of this unexpected window of wellness and started to slowly get back into running. I built up to 60 miles a week over five months and eventually organised a 100-mile run from Harwich in Essex to Tower Bridge in London. I was also able to get back into rehearsing, gigging, and songwriting.
I started writing a blog to update my loved ones and it became an outlet for all the emotions I was feeling. I was even lucky enough to be invited by my local MP, Wes Streeting, to talk at the Labour Party Conference. I also managed to raise over £7,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
This year has been so special, and I'm most proud of working my way back to full-time work as a primary school music teacher. It is a privilege to be in the classroom again. I plan to run the London Marathon in April to raise more money and awareness.
This should have been the worst year of my life, but instead it's been full of adventure, success and moments of pure joy. My first year as a cancer patient will take some beating!
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