THE CAMBO CANCER CHRONICLE

This recent period has marked something of a Cancer Odyssey landmark which, for ease, we're calling “Freedom Week”, as it is now 2 years since I quit the rat race of London, ran away and never looked back - the best decision I ever made! That, and the additional time and space for navel gazing I had while in Kampot recently, has given me thoughts on a new way of approaching life as an extension of my original Freedom Philosophy, living each day in a more conscious way. I will expand on my thinking and how this might help others in due course, but to mark Freedom Day, here are the immediate changes I’m making: To start uncomplicating my life, relinquishing all duties and responsibilities so I can stop thinking beyond today, dates no longer apply Live each day consciously, even I decide to spend that day in a darkened room, it's not wasted time if that's what I decide I need. Always be asking myself: What am I doing / reading / working on? Is it worth my while or am I...

3000 words / 15 minute read This is a special "on the road" edition of the Chronicle, brought to you from the riverside town of Kampot and written in the waterfront bar of my guesthouse, whilst taking in these kinds of picturesque views. As well as giving you an insight into where I currently am, the pretty picture’s presence is designed to give you an easily accessible "happy place" because, as the title suggests, I'll be touching on some subject matter that may mean you "feel my frustration" at the way I was treated pre-diagnosis. THE ROAD TO OLGA Here in Cambo, just getting in front of the doc to be told what you know already costs 20 bucks, so coming to live here has really underlined to me how lucky we are in the UK to have the NHS. Once you are dealing with a specialist, you really see the organisation at its finest - but it's the period just prior to that, between the initial onset of symptoms and my eventual diagnosis, that...

Well the universe certainly knows how to put the boot firmly on the other foot sometimes eh? In return for all the worry that I have caused my friends and family over the Odyssey years, I have been dealt a taste of my own medicine - and it's not messing around. How has this manifested itself? Well a good friend of mine back in the UK was hit by multiple strokes a week or so ago. He is only in his early thirties and (from what I understand) not in any high risk groups so this really is a bolt  from the blue. As you can imagine, he has been in hospital since and was making good progress over the first few days, yet has had two further strokes whilst in hospital and has now had surgery to try to put an end to them and allow the doctors to gain some control. My man has two particularly good reasons to fight as hard as possible and he has plenty of friends and family around him which I hope will give him all the support he needs to do so. He was always very supportive of...

1200 words / 6 minute read PROBABLY NOT SUITABLE FOR MEALTIME READING SURPRISE #1 You've probably noticed that I don’t do much present-tense Cancer Chronicling (since there's not much to tell really), but this week I have had two separate  changes to my current physical situation, both good news, that I hope you won't mind me sharing. First up, you will recall the Mischief I did to myself back in April this year, which resulted in the Gammy Hand ( detailed here ), deciding to bring my trip home forward by two months, and being installed with George II, my "Bag for Life", which really has  (with no hyperbole whatsoever)  changed everything for the better. (NOTE - I know I keep promising to document that period, and I will in the very near future, you have my word!). The Mischief‘s technical term is a “neuropraxic injury”, caused by compressing the radial nerve in my right arm while I slept, effectively severing the connection that runs from my fin...

2900 words / 14 minute read I think I can actually remember when I first felt the effects of Olga. Admittedly it may be my imagination masquerading as a memory, now we know I had a Trojan Horse sitting in place and pilfering my nutrients - but I think I can pinpoint the day that I first noticed something “was up” because it was a very different type of bellyache to anything I'd had previously, and the beginning of a pattern that would repeat every time there was progression in my symptoms. I was actually here in Sinville believe it or not, and it was most likely February or early March 2011. I was with a group of friends one evening at a local-style open air roadside eatery and I remember having a nasty ache in my gut, no appetite and my girlfriend offering to go and get me some tiger balm “to make me feel better”. It may well have done (I should try it again come to think of it) but now we know what we're dealing with, it might be a bit like bringing a knife to a ...