Ghost chemo

It’s hard to describe. One day your are fine, not quite the same (age will do this to you), then … More

Nine years ago today

Nine years ago today I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells. Even though I have … More

Just another Wednesday

Days Each one is a gift, no doubt, mysteriously placed in your waking hand or set upon your forehead moments … More

On writing and illness

Reading Arthur W. Frank’s astonishing At the Will of the Body  recently has given me pause to reflect on the relationship … More

Open letter to Arthur Frank (on reading At the Will of the Body)

Dear Arthur Frank I’m writing to say thank you for your extraordinary book At the Will of the Body. It is … More

Standing up to cancer?

I am not completely stupid. I know celebrity culture is here to stay. As my children frequently remind me, ‘It … More

Poetry and illness

Medicine The black hair of my Chinese doctor gleams like combed ink as he leans over his desk, with quick … More

On not relapsing

A year ago I had a relapse of my cancer. Except I didn’t. For a week or so I knew … More

Influences: Jörn Cann’s art

  This is Jörn Cann. He was my ward doctor at the haematology unit where I was treated for non-Hodgkin’s … More

Then this

I am taking a break from writing brand new blog posts over the summer. Instead of posting new work I … More

This is the day

I am taking a break from writing brand new blog posts over the summer. Instead of posting new work I … More

Losing my ambition

I am taking a break from writing brand new blog posts over the summer. Instead of posting new work I … More

To my cancer

I am taking a break from writing brand new blog posts over the summer. Instead of posting new work I … More

The Year of Drinking Water, seven years on (free download)

Seven years ago I published The Year of Drinking Water, a pamphlet of poems, about my experience of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (Exeter … More

Probably better

A scan, with different initials. The train journey to it, biting nails; the one back pretending not to be radioactive. … More

The cancer World Cup

The ward is a void without him. Football blares in the corner, the monotonous roar of the crowd unleavened by … More

Why aren’t you dead yet?

Jörn Cann wasn’t my friend. He was my doctor. He was famous before we even met him as the doctor … More

A Case of You

The way it starts. With an ending. Just before our love got lost. We have all been here: the wit … More