D-Day - 17 years cancer free

Ask anyone who has had or has cancer will know what the importance of dates are then you will get a clear understanding of how a simple anniversary can provide a mental trauma.  Today marks 17 years of my diagnosis of cancer and as there were so many dates in 2005 I use this one as my D-Day, diagnosis day.  You live through the experiences of 17 years ago today as it were yesterday.  

The year I decided to deflect my thoughts of the past, after all they are not a life sentence and I will next week embark on a hike up the Inca Trail with a visit to Machu Picchu, the deflection strategy has worked a treat. 

This years clinical update brings to you the final demise of my teeth on my lower left jaw through Osteoradionecrosis.  As I written before with many cancers the after effects of the treatment bring lingering side effects and now with the lower left jaw clear of teeth I hope things will settle down in terms of head and jaw pain.  My left shoulder and neck, are holding up as I changed my exercise regime to do less weight bearing exercises which were building muscle to compensate for the lack of muscle in my left neck.  My hearing in my left side has gone for good following the same radiotherapy that killed my jaw, but hey "we go again" for another year.

On a personal level it was a good year, my son finally graduated, my daughter went to University to become a student nurse and I acquired a new dog Beau or she acquired me. 

#Keepattacking everyone let us hope I will report back next year! 

Readjusting life and work goals

Field Marshal Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf von Moltke is credited with the quote that "No plan survives contact with the enemy" 

Today my son finally graduated (Covid delays) with an upper degree in German and Japanese from the University of Manchester. 

Those who follow my blog will remember my plan post-cancer was to keep well enough to see my children now 23 & 20 to 18.  My plan was never to be here to see them graduate, it was more of an aspiration and as a result, I made life and business plans accordingly.  

You set yourself short goals post-cancer for obvious reasons.  When I was undergoing radiotherapy the trauma to my head, neck and throat meant that I had a score chart marking off each day.  My plan is to get through the 30 plus days of treatment and then the 3 months of recovery of vocal cords and the ability not to be fed through a nasal tube and count off the days I can return to work. 

I take my personal life learning into life.  Getting both my children to graduation is a new goal, one down, one to go.  It was never in my plan.  It was never in my work plan to have a business that in 2022/23 will achieve a 7 figure turnover, 5 plus people relying on me and so personal and life goals have been changed. 

I am teaching my students at Plymouth Marjon University this week the theory, the research around work-life balance. Whatever you do in life and business always be prepared to rip up the plan and start again as my plan is to ensure that in two years' time I see my daughter graduate as a registered nurse.   Remember the balance in life. 

#Keepattacking