I am raising money for Beating Bowel Cancer and you can search my name on JustGiving.com
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
5 Years Ride 100 Bike Ride
My latest CT scan was all clear and to celebrate 5 years being free of cancer I am taking part in the 100 mile (160km) London Surrey bike ride on 10 August 2014. I will be joined by 20,000 other cyclists and we start at the Olympic stadium, following the olympic route through London, down through Surrey, back up to London and finish in the Mall. It will all be on closed roads and I am really looking forward to it. The training has been long and painful as you can imagine and my saddle has seen sights that only my surgeon has ever seen!
My vasectomy was less painful and they did that with 2 bricks and a red hot poker!
I am raising money for Beating Bowel Cancer and you can search my name on JustGiving.com
I am raising money for Beating Bowel Cancer and you can search my name on JustGiving.com
Thursday, 17 May 2012
3 Years!
Wow, where did that year go? Just had a CT scan and colonoscopy and both were normal.
Next test in 3 years time. Life is good. x
Sunday, 17 April 2011
2 YEARS!
Bloody hell, it’s now 2 years! I’ve just had my annual service and a series of tests including a CT scan and everything is normal. I am signed off for another year.
Life is good and I am now semi retired and loving it.
Much love to you all,
Jon xx
Life is good and I am now semi retired and loving it.
Much love to you all,
Jon xx
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
It's a year!
What a year!
I have just had a colonoscopy and I’m thinking of having permanent CCTV installed up there. On the plus side they found my favourite blue pants I thought I had lost and no signs of anything else. They took 2 biopsies which were both clear. I have also just had a blood test which was clear and a full body CAT scan which was also completely clear. The really excellent news is my surgeon does not want to see me again for a year. Neither does the greensman at my golf club, but that's another story.
Thoughts of my surgery, convalescence, bag changes and the anxiety on the faces of those who love me, have all but disappeared.
Strangely the news of my all clear proved to be an anti climax instead of a delight. Initially it was a huge relief with floods of tears and then the realisation of my lucky escape caught up with me. I was very down for a few days but I am fine now.
I am left with no problems at all and there is nothing I can’t do or eat, thanks to the skill of my surgeon. My bowel habits have returned to what they were before the op which is incredible and I am back playing hockey. I am deeply indebted to all the medical staff and my family who cared for me and of course to Marilyn for her unflinching love and support.
Some of you will probably have friends who have cancer and it is difficult to know what to say to them. In my case I was aware when people were deliberately avoiding the subject and I appreciated people taking directly about it and not avoiding the word cancer. What I didn’t like was of other people’s cancer stories which were numerous. This was my cancer and I selfishly only wanted to talk about me.
Thank you all again for your hundreds of posts which helped me more than you will ever know. You are all stars and I love you all.
Jon xxx
I have just had a colonoscopy and I’m thinking of having permanent CCTV installed up there. On the plus side they found my favourite blue pants I thought I had lost and no signs of anything else. They took 2 biopsies which were both clear. I have also just had a blood test which was clear and a full body CAT scan which was also completely clear. The really excellent news is my surgeon does not want to see me again for a year. Neither does the greensman at my golf club, but that's another story.
Thoughts of my surgery, convalescence, bag changes and the anxiety on the faces of those who love me, have all but disappeared.
Strangely the news of my all clear proved to be an anti climax instead of a delight. Initially it was a huge relief with floods of tears and then the realisation of my lucky escape caught up with me. I was very down for a few days but I am fine now.
I am left with no problems at all and there is nothing I can’t do or eat, thanks to the skill of my surgeon. My bowel habits have returned to what they were before the op which is incredible and I am back playing hockey. I am deeply indebted to all the medical staff and my family who cared for me and of course to Marilyn for her unflinching love and support.
Some of you will probably have friends who have cancer and it is difficult to know what to say to them. In my case I was aware when people were deliberately avoiding the subject and I appreciated people taking directly about it and not avoiding the word cancer. What I didn’t like was of other people’s cancer stories which were numerous. This was my cancer and I selfishly only wanted to talk about me.
Thank you all again for your hundreds of posts which helped me more than you will ever know. You are all stars and I love you all.
Jon xxx
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Can you believe it's now 9 months!
My dear friends
Can you believe it is now 9 months since diagnosis! I could have had a baby in that time and even have the Cesarean scar.
I had my 3 month check up last week with the surgeon and all was well.
I got my blood test results today and all was normal there as well. Yippee!!
I truly feel cured yet despite this I still sighed with relief on hearing the news. To have cancer is unusual as you don't really see the invader and just imagine it. I was lucky to have bowel cancer as apposed to other types as you can chop it out and if it hasn't broken out you are cured. These poor women with breast cancer for example, having invasive surgery doesn't necessarily do the trick and they have a lifetime of medication. I haven't taken a single pill.
Next step is a colonoscopy in April followed by a CAT scan to look for any secondaries. I know there won't be any so bring it on. If I am clear after a year the prognosis is excellent.
Much love and I look forward to catching up with you all soon.
Jon xx
Can you believe it is now 9 months since diagnosis! I could have had a baby in that time and even have the Cesarean scar.
I had my 3 month check up last week with the surgeon and all was well.
I got my blood test results today and all was normal there as well. Yippee!!
I truly feel cured yet despite this I still sighed with relief on hearing the news. To have cancer is unusual as you don't really see the invader and just imagine it. I was lucky to have bowel cancer as apposed to other types as you can chop it out and if it hasn't broken out you are cured. These poor women with breast cancer for example, having invasive surgery doesn't necessarily do the trick and they have a lifetime of medication. I haven't taken a single pill.
Next step is a colonoscopy in April followed by a CAT scan to look for any secondaries. I know there won't be any so bring it on. If I am clear after a year the prognosis is excellent.
Much love and I look forward to catching up with you all soon.
Jon xx
Monday, 14 September 2009
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Last Blog
Well my dear friends this is my 75th and last blog now that we have reached 5000 visitors.
In my mind I am now cured and the blog has therefore run its course.
I can’t believe it is just 4 short months since I started out on this incredible journey.
Well what have I learnt?
• I now have an excellent knowledge of the gastro system which I must admit was a bit sketchy beforehand. I think bowel knowledge however is on a need to know basis.
• Cancer is such a spine chilling diagnosis and it seems all encompassing. It can however be taken on and beaten but you need luck, skilled care and tenacity. My secretary’s uncle was diagnosed with bowel cancer shortly before me and has just died of it, at the age of 55, in the same time it has taken me to get cured. Sobering.
• Humour is a blessing. Countless times throughout my life it has been inferred that it is a weakness and that I use humour to hide my feelings. I now realise that this is not true as it has been a valuable and treasured asset that has enabled me to face mans worst fear, ones own mortality, and deal with the consequence regardless of the outcome. It is an immensely powerful gift.
• Nothing can prepare you for the agony of telling your children that you have cancer or the pride in seeing their strength in dealing with it.
• The unconditional support and love of a wife is a powerful weapon in defeating the worst of foes.
• Farting is one of life’s treasures which you don’t miss until you can’t. Welcome back old friend.
• The greatest wealth you can have is a loving family and a bevy of good friends.
Thank you one and all for your love and support and I look forward to continuing my long and loving friendship with you all in the future.
The blog will remain open in the hope that fellow sufferers will stumble upon it and gain some support from it. I will also set up a message board post should you wish to continue posting or even chat amongst yourselves (I am sure Francis and Skip would love to hear from their new pen friends). Please drop into the site from time to time and leave a message and I will update it with the 3 monthly test results.
God bless you all,
Love, Jon xxx
In my mind I am now cured and the blog has therefore run its course.
I can’t believe it is just 4 short months since I started out on this incredible journey.
Well what have I learnt?
• I now have an excellent knowledge of the gastro system which I must admit was a bit sketchy beforehand. I think bowel knowledge however is on a need to know basis.
• Cancer is such a spine chilling diagnosis and it seems all encompassing. It can however be taken on and beaten but you need luck, skilled care and tenacity. My secretary’s uncle was diagnosed with bowel cancer shortly before me and has just died of it, at the age of 55, in the same time it has taken me to get cured. Sobering.
• Humour is a blessing. Countless times throughout my life it has been inferred that it is a weakness and that I use humour to hide my feelings. I now realise that this is not true as it has been a valuable and treasured asset that has enabled me to face mans worst fear, ones own mortality, and deal with the consequence regardless of the outcome. It is an immensely powerful gift.
• Nothing can prepare you for the agony of telling your children that you have cancer or the pride in seeing their strength in dealing with it.
• The unconditional support and love of a wife is a powerful weapon in defeating the worst of foes.
• Farting is one of life’s treasures which you don’t miss until you can’t. Welcome back old friend.
• The greatest wealth you can have is a loving family and a bevy of good friends.
Thank you one and all for your love and support and I look forward to continuing my long and loving friendship with you all in the future.
The blog will remain open in the hope that fellow sufferers will stumble upon it and gain some support from it. I will also set up a message board post should you wish to continue posting or even chat amongst yourselves (I am sure Francis and Skip would love to hear from their new pen friends). Please drop into the site from time to time and leave a message and I will update it with the 3 monthly test results.
God bless you all,
Love, Jon xxx
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