On headphones in the day case ward and in my kitchen late at night, Mogwai’s New Paths to the Helicon, … More
Tag: non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
The art of Jörn Cann
This is Jörn Cann. He was my ward doctor at the haematology unit where I was treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma … More
Why it’s called Love for Now
Love for Now did not begin with an idea but an illness. As I have written elsewhere, there wasn’t a plan. I … More
Losing my ambition
Towards the end of my treatment for cancer in 2006 I had one of the most profound conversations of my … More
The ‘rollercoaster ride’ of cancer: an Interview with James Landale
It was great to hear the BBC’s Deputy Political Editor James Landale’s interview about his experience of treatment for cancer … More
On disappearing
I wrote recently about poets who disappear from view, specifically Susannah Amoore, from Faber’s Poetry Introduction 6. My point is far … More
I am Fighting
I wrote here a couple of days ago about my aversion to using war metaphor to describe cancer. Judging from … More
Cancer isn’t a battle, it’s cancer
A friend of mine drew my attention via Twitter this week to an article detailing Robert Peston’s thoughts on his … More
When they told me I would live
Nine days after I was told that my chemotherapy treatment was not working in April 2006 the doctors discovered the … More
Relapsing from cancer…by mistake
Seven years ago this is what happened halfway through my treatment for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I went for a midway scan … More
Diagnosis anniversary 7
Today is the seventh anniversary of my diagnosis with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL), an aggressive cancer of the lymphatic system. I … More
When I knew I had cancer
Seven years ago today, the date in the photograph above was the day I knew had cancer. By this … More
The Next Big Thing: some questions about Love for Now
The Next Big Thing I have been been tagged by poet and blogger Abegail Morley to answer set questions relating to my memoir … More
5 Common Responses When You say ‘I’ve got cancer’
When I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma nearly seven years ago the aspect of telling people I dreaded most was … More
Together we can beat war as a metaphor for cancer
If there is one difference I hope to make with Love for Now book it is to challenge the overwhelming … More
2012 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: 4,329 films were submitted … More
Cancer, I found no poetry in you
I was formally diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, on Valentine’s Day, 2006. I was 42. … More
When Your Friend is Diagnosed with Cancer
If you have a friend who is diagnosed with cancer, the best thing to do in terms of what to … More