Yesterday was the sixth anniversary of my diagnosis with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL), an aggressive cancer of the lymphatic system. I … More
Tag: NHL
From the archives: Walking into the light
We walked into the brunt light, towards the hospital. The air was dry, February-cold. Traffic was going about its business. … More
On not having cancer
On certain afternoons I am certain it has come back. A twinge in my right side, where the pain … More
Walking into the light
We walked into the brunt light, towards the hospital. The air was dry, February-cold. Traffic was going about its business. … More
Things people said when I had cancer
‘I am so, so sorry.’ ‘You’re going to be fine.’ ‘Fight it, you know you’re a fighter.’ ‘Are we going … More
Ten years today
This is a momentous week. It marks the tenth anniversary of the day I was told I had cancer. To … More
Ghost chemo
I am taking a break from writing brand new blog posts over the summer. Instead of posting new work I … More
What is a lifesaving poem?
Tomorrow I will be taking part at the Wenlock Poetry Festival in an event with Roz Goddard. We will be … 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
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
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
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
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
Curtains
The room is small, the size of a student bedsit. An enormous grey sofa takes up most of the space. … More
This isn’t happening
Don’t forget, this is inside us every day -Stephen Berg This is not happening. It happened. Past tense. One … More
This is the day
This is the day we go the hospital as usual. We have banter with Jörn and Nadine while they inject … More
Sailing through
Dear Anthony Two cycles down, just six more to go. You are not looking bad, considering. The belligerent doctor who … More
Get out of the house while you can
Dear Ant So you’ve had your first chemotherapy treatment. That first night, when you came home and carried the sick … More
All you have is now
Dear Ant Isn’t it strange, how quickly you notice your passing from one world into the next? One minute … More
