I began writing Love for Now, my journal-memoir of diagnosis and treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2006, one week before I … More
Category: Cancer
Remembering Jörn Cann
To all who knew him, it was a tragedy,one year ago, to lose the life-force that was Jörn Cann. I … More
What I have learned about remission
Originally posted on Lifesaving Poems:
In February I wrote a blog post on the anniversary of my diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s…
Lifesaving Poems: Derek Mahon’s ‘Everything is Going to be All Right’
Everything is Going to be All Right How should I not be glad to contemplatethe clouds clearing beyond the dormer … More
On Riddance
Riddance is published today. It is my fourth full-length collection of poems and my third with Worple Press. You can … More
On Radiotherapy
This week six years ago I began the course of radiotherapy which was to mark the final chapter of my … More
Riddance
On Valentine’s Day, 2006, I was was formally diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. Riddance is … More
Life After Chemo
The oddest phase of my experience of cancer six years ago was the period of time after my chemotherapy treatment … More
Lifesaving Poems: Yves Bonnefoy’s ‘Let a Place be Made’
Let a Place be Made Let a place be made for the one who draws near,the one who is deprived … More
More Chelsea Than Sunderland
‘More Chelsea Than Sunderland’ was prompted by the remark of a doctor of a friend of mine, when asked to … More
The Quiet Room
Six years ago today I was told I wasn’t going to die. Those weren’t the words my consultant used, but … More
Lifesaving Poems: Patrick Kavanagh’s ‘Wet Evening in April’
Here is what happened halfway through my treatment for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in April 2006. I went for a midway scan … More
On hearing the word ‘discharge’ for the first time
I never thought I would actually get to hear the word ‘discharge’ at the haematology unit where I was treated for non-Hodgkin’s … More
7 things I have learned about cancer
Yesterday was the sixth anniversary of my diagnosis with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL), an aggressive cancer of the lymphatic system. … More
On waiting to be diagnosed with cancer
Six years ago I began writing the journal which has become my forthcoming memoir of my experience of cancer. It … More
What I have learned about remission
In February I wrote a blog post on the anniversary of my diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL), a cancer … More
In memory of Jörn Cann
I was deeply saddened to hear ten days ago of the death of Jörn Cann, the ward doctor in the … More
Lifesaving Poems: Mandy Coe’s ‘Let’s Celebrate’
I will forever be grateful to Emma Metcalfe from the Bath Festivals’ Write Team for recommending to me Mandy Coe’s … More