It is only 6.3 miles, and yes driving the car to Leeds airport I picked up landmarks and measured them. The Humber Bridge, bloody hell there is a sign saying 6 miles and I can hardly see it.
It did help having an email from Cancer Research telling me that the entries were closed for Powderham and pehaps I might consider the Autumn 10k races. This was a get out of jail free card I could still do the race in October and people would not feel let down or juped.
Still no idea what I am going to do, 4 years ago 10k would of been nothing a normal training run, today it feels life and death.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
3 Days to go
Just back from 30 mins and boy does it hurt, what do I do with gift aid I have over five hundred quid raised what do I do?
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
4 days and counting
It is four days to my run.
Today was not a good day, it transpires that the job offer and 2 weeks in Lowestoft then to Bournemouth turned out to be 3 months in Lowestoft and no chance of working in Dorset.
It was quite a blow, the chance to be close to my kids and even have them 2 nights at the weekend was blown. I have got use to up and downs but not prepared these days to put up with crap. I am my children are the most important things in my life and my aim is to be working back in Devon within the next 12 months.
It was good however the two faces I could see when I said no thanks to Lowestoft was Will and Ellen. Cancer has changed my priorities whether it is 6 months, 16 months or 6 years I have left here they will come first. I think that is why I feel sometimes I am destined to be single.
I had one thing in the World, I hate, Cancer, I fucking hate it. It is like a predator that sneaks up to every waking day. You park it but it reminds you when your sleeping, drinking, eating, walking, siting, and running. I need to run to help those never go through the pain.
I had a long discussion with Sarah tonight who said that people would not think bad of me if I pull out of the CR race on Sunday. I must admit I felt stressed, tired and certainly no fit shape to run 10k.
I have been thinking hard all day one to sleep on.
Night
Ferryman
Today was not a good day, it transpires that the job offer and 2 weeks in Lowestoft then to Bournemouth turned out to be 3 months in Lowestoft and no chance of working in Dorset.
It was quite a blow, the chance to be close to my kids and even have them 2 nights at the weekend was blown. I have got use to up and downs but not prepared these days to put up with crap. I am my children are the most important things in my life and my aim is to be working back in Devon within the next 12 months.
It was good however the two faces I could see when I said no thanks to Lowestoft was Will and Ellen. Cancer has changed my priorities whether it is 6 months, 16 months or 6 years I have left here they will come first. I think that is why I feel sometimes I am destined to be single.
I had one thing in the World, I hate, Cancer, I fucking hate it. It is like a predator that sneaks up to every waking day. You park it but it reminds you when your sleeping, drinking, eating, walking, siting, and running. I need to run to help those never go through the pain.
I had a long discussion with Sarah tonight who said that people would not think bad of me if I pull out of the CR race on Sunday. I must admit I felt stressed, tired and certainly no fit shape to run 10k.
I have been thinking hard all day one to sleep on.
Night
Ferryman
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Denver Clinch
Fact of the day: 27% of women in Congo have Aids that is 760000 women; , 40 % of women. The country is too poor to buy antiviral drugs at a cost of £100 million, £100 billion the cost so far to the World of the Iraq war in military and rebuilding costs! Nice one Tony!
It maybe early but the man sitting opposite me on the train is called "Denver Clinch" well that what it says on his name badge. He proudly displays his name badge as an employee of Transpennine Express Railway Company. Denver Clinch could be one of those names that rugger club lads make up, you know like "Mike Hunt" work that one out yourself.
I am en-route to Grimsby, alas at Manchester Airport it is the only destination missed off Transpennine Express advertisement embellished at every opportunity throughout the airport. It is not even advertised on those head high adverts above the urinals that have developed in recent years from the "Happy Driver" range of Motorway service stations offering you the opportunity to purchase new car number registration plates. The one thing I am sure the happy marketers in their "apprentice" style suits and egos forgot to work out that whilst you were reading their stupid adverts you are weeing on your foot!
Doh, you’re fired!
I spent the weekend with my treasures, loves and angels. Of course my children are my treasures and loves, but hey like any other 4 and 7 year old they are certainly no angels. I like that, it is how they learn right from wrong and how they develop as brother and sister. Of course they drive me crazy, they drive their mother crazy but so what I am sure I did with mine. Although I had nothing to do with the sectioning of my mother under the mental health act, do not laugh it is a true story!
I now fully appreciate how hard bringing up children is and what challenges they present. I am under no illusions that they are at you all the waking hours even when they find their own space it is difficult to switch off. Their mum is a martyr to the cause of motherhood. I have no time for "fathers for justice" and other such groups many of who attempt to play the victim in their relationship breakdown. For years, centuries the male race through macho dogma and violence has gone around swaggering it’s testosterone fuelled passion raping, pillaging, beating and disowning their responsibilities of fatherhood.
Many mothers have been left alone with children, without house, money or a chance whilst seeds were sown or some other poor faceless women has adopted the burden of these selfish men. History is littered with horror stories about man’s brutality to women, and we all single mums now left in abstract poverty by irresponsible men whilst their lives are rekindled and disown their own flesh and blood.
Of course life is not all one way and of course a minority of men have been and will be victims but alas it is the price our race has to pay for the horror, brutality and downright selfish behaviour of the male species since life began.
Keep attacking
Ferryman
It maybe early but the man sitting opposite me on the train is called "Denver Clinch" well that what it says on his name badge. He proudly displays his name badge as an employee of Transpennine Express Railway Company. Denver Clinch could be one of those names that rugger club lads make up, you know like "Mike Hunt" work that one out yourself.
I am en-route to Grimsby, alas at Manchester Airport it is the only destination missed off Transpennine Express advertisement embellished at every opportunity throughout the airport. It is not even advertised on those head high adverts above the urinals that have developed in recent years from the "Happy Driver" range of Motorway service stations offering you the opportunity to purchase new car number registration plates. The one thing I am sure the happy marketers in their "apprentice" style suits and egos forgot to work out that whilst you were reading their stupid adverts you are weeing on your foot!
Doh, you’re fired!
I spent the weekend with my treasures, loves and angels. Of course my children are my treasures and loves, but hey like any other 4 and 7 year old they are certainly no angels. I like that, it is how they learn right from wrong and how they develop as brother and sister. Of course they drive me crazy, they drive their mother crazy but so what I am sure I did with mine. Although I had nothing to do with the sectioning of my mother under the mental health act, do not laugh it is a true story!
I now fully appreciate how hard bringing up children is and what challenges they present. I am under no illusions that they are at you all the waking hours even when they find their own space it is difficult to switch off. Their mum is a martyr to the cause of motherhood. I have no time for "fathers for justice" and other such groups many of who attempt to play the victim in their relationship breakdown. For years, centuries the male race through macho dogma and violence has gone around swaggering it’s testosterone fuelled passion raping, pillaging, beating and disowning their responsibilities of fatherhood.
Many mothers have been left alone with children, without house, money or a chance whilst seeds were sown or some other poor faceless women has adopted the burden of these selfish men. History is littered with horror stories about man’s brutality to women, and we all single mums now left in abstract poverty by irresponsible men whilst their lives are rekindled and disown their own flesh and blood.
Of course life is not all one way and of course a minority of men have been and will be victims but alas it is the price our race has to pay for the horror, brutality and downright selfish behaviour of the male species since life began.
Keep attacking
Ferryman
Monday, March 27, 2006
Trebles all round!
Fact of the day: £1.25 million given by CEO of Capita to the Labour party, £1 billion the estimated value of government contracts awarded to Capita last year. Say no more squire!
If I were a sixty six year old athlete with a passion for bus travel and champagne I would be rejoicing today at the news from the chancellor that we would be better off. I wasted sixty minutes of Gordon Brown delivering his budget speech and realised I did not understand a bloody word he said.
I was waiting for news on my pension, I have a self invested pension which I can access early plus the lump sum £12.50p after April 6th. I was trying to ensure that Gordon did not lop off my opportunity to retire early on my pension of £3000 per annum! The penison things does not inspire me, but all I know is that it is an asset and it is mine!
I had some good news today that I will move on from my lofty pitch here on the banks of the River Humber and relocate to the Wash, well Suffolk for my next assignment, which fortunately FLYBE locost airline, an oxymoron there somewhere, operate to Norwich international airport. I have been working in Grimsby for the last 4 months, it is no paradox, it is called Grimsby, after all you can still buy a three bed roomed house here under £80k.
The people are great, I work in an all woman office, it refreshing to work in a enviornment which is not challenging, caring and fun.
It will be sad to leave Graet Grimsby as I wanted to prove I could work again. I am pleased to say the answer is yes and how rewarding is that.
Keep attacking!
If I were a sixty six year old athlete with a passion for bus travel and champagne I would be rejoicing today at the news from the chancellor that we would be better off. I wasted sixty minutes of Gordon Brown delivering his budget speech and realised I did not understand a bloody word he said.
I was waiting for news on my pension, I have a self invested pension which I can access early plus the lump sum £12.50p after April 6th. I was trying to ensure that Gordon did not lop off my opportunity to retire early on my pension of £3000 per annum! The penison things does not inspire me, but all I know is that it is an asset and it is mine!
I had some good news today that I will move on from my lofty pitch here on the banks of the River Humber and relocate to the Wash, well Suffolk for my next assignment, which fortunately FLYBE locost airline, an oxymoron there somewhere, operate to Norwich international airport. I have been working in Grimsby for the last 4 months, it is no paradox, it is called Grimsby, after all you can still buy a three bed roomed house here under £80k.
The people are great, I work in an all woman office, it refreshing to work in a enviornment which is not challenging, caring and fun.
It will be sad to leave Graet Grimsby as I wanted to prove I could work again. I am pleased to say the answer is yes and how rewarding is that.
Keep attacking!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Just give me your F*c*?ng money
I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have sponsored me, with just 6 days to go I need your help to raise just £140. This will mean that I have raised with gift aid over £500 which is amazing considering just 8 months I would have never considered being ever able to run again.
I know money is tight but just £2 will go a long way to helping eradicating this horrid illness and gives others a prolonged life with familiy and friends.
On Sunday April 2nd 2006 I will running Cancer Research's "race for life" 10k, at Powderham Castle, Starcross, Devon.After my struggles to combat and beat mouth cancer in 2005 widely documented in my online blog "The Ferryman's column" It is the least I can do to raise just £500 for vital cancer research in a race in my own village. I am 8 months out of horrifying cancer treatment which will affect my life for ever.
I am using justgiving a well known charity website where the money goes directly to cancer research. I am nearly there with £300 collected and over £75 in gift aid all I need is an extra £125 in sponsorship to push me over the £500. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cancer Research UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
You can donate online at: www.justgiving.com/ferryman
Many thanks for your support.
Nigel "Ferryman" Gooding
I know money is tight but just £2 will go a long way to helping eradicating this horrid illness and gives others a prolonged life with familiy and friends.
On Sunday April 2nd 2006 I will running Cancer Research's "race for life" 10k, at Powderham Castle, Starcross, Devon.After my struggles to combat and beat mouth cancer in 2005 widely documented in my online blog "The Ferryman's column" It is the least I can do to raise just £500 for vital cancer research in a race in my own village. I am 8 months out of horrifying cancer treatment which will affect my life for ever.
I am using justgiving a well known charity website where the money goes directly to cancer research. I am nearly there with £300 collected and over £75 in gift aid all I need is an extra £125 in sponsorship to push me over the £500. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cancer Research UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
You can donate online at: www.justgiving.com/ferryman
Many thanks for your support.
Nigel "Ferryman" Gooding
Friday, March 17, 2006
St Patrick's Day - 12 months today
Fact of the day: 600 hours parliamentary time spent on fox hunting, 6 hours spent on the invasion of Iraq - nuff said!
12 months ago today I was leaning against my neck and found a lump, you know the rest.
This week has been very strange, it started badly with a sharp stabbing pain in my left shoulder which contorted with pain. I was locked for 30 minutes just unable to move, muscular I think but who knows. I was in Paris feeling helpless miles away from the safety of the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. An internal pain comes and you feel the worse, it maybe muscular but we do not have x ray vision.
My trip to France was tinged with sadness, my ex partner told me that she was dating again before I left. We had a long chat and I gave her the benefit of my wisdom. I wished her luck. Why should she not date after I have and do, it was just the stark realisation that closure was taking place on a period in my life.
In the last 12 months I have been close to closure, my death, other peoples deaths, people died overnight in the ward I was in, alas closure became clinical, but not this closure because of course it involved the most important 2 people in my life, William and Ellen. I wish I tried harder in my relationship, I wish I had not realized I was doing too much and walking away by, stealth from the family I loved so much. I wish I never ran ever ran a recruitment company or became involved with Dawlish Town and wish I had the courage to stay and work it out. It maybe the past but boy it still hurts and now it is closed and I need to move on. My one regret in life.
I can count my lucky stars that I have had 12 months extra life, when the odds are 2-1 against me living 5 years. I have become a better person, realising the strengths and qualities I have, be quixotic about life and death and alas more selfish about me.
There are some good things I have virtually given up drinking, wine burns my mouth, it is like drinking battery acid, my tongue sets on fire and my left gum expands with the pain and the heat. As for beer, some does the same, I may have the odd pint of guniness but my drinking days are history. This week I have been beating myself up about the causes of my cancer, was it the drink, smoking pubs, or just bad luck.
Life moves on for me I have no idea, all I know is that I have 2 days with my children this weekend and nothing makes me smile more.
Keep attacking
The Ferryman
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Cancer research 10k
On Sunday April 2nd 2006 I will running Cancer Research's "race for life" 10k, (6.25 miles) at Powderham Castle, Stacross, Devon.
After my struggles to combat and beat mouth cancer in 2006 widely documented in "The Ferryman's column" It is the least I can do to raise just £100 for vital cancer research in a race in my own village.
www.justgiving.com/ferryman
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cancer Research UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
So please sponsor me now if we raise just £72 through gift aid we will have raised £100. This will help others hopefully never have to go through the horror of cancer.
Many thanks for your support.
Nigel "Ferryman" Gooding
After my struggles to combat and beat mouth cancer in 2006 widely documented in "The Ferryman's column" It is the least I can do to raise just £100 for vital cancer research in a race in my own village.
www.justgiving.com/ferryman
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cancer Research UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
So please sponsor me now if we raise just £72 through gift aid we will have raised £100. This will help others hopefully never have to go through the horror of cancer.
Many thanks for your support.
Nigel "Ferryman" Gooding
Saturday, February 25, 2006
6 months on!
Friends it is six months on from my treatment finishing, my mouth is still sore and my neck hurts when I am tired.
I have no need for pain relief and I am living life.
In the past week I have taken the children to Butlins, and type this message from an Edinburgh hotel following England's shattering defeat at the hands of the Scottish.
William my son is here and we have had a great time, life ain't easy, but there again it is not meant to be.
I will kick off the Ferryman's column again as I want to be an inspiration to those who need help, yes you can survive, yes you can beat, and yes you can live.
Night night Nigel
I have no need for pain relief and I am living life.
In the past week I have taken the children to Butlins, and type this message from an Edinburgh hotel following England's shattering defeat at the hands of the Scottish.
William my son is here and we have had a great time, life ain't easy, but there again it is not meant to be.
I will kick off the Ferryman's column again as I want to be an inspiration to those who need help, yes you can survive, yes you can beat, and yes you can live.
Night night Nigel
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Head and Neck clinic results - Merry Xmas
I hope you are well and as you see I am winding my postings down.
The blog served as a useful tool when I was ill and hopefully kept you informed and smiling in what was the crappest period of my life.
I need closure, however it does not come easily. Yesterday I felt a pain in swallowing, in my right neck area, felt and thought I could a lump! You can imagine the pain and horror that went through my mind. It was lower than the lymph gland and accompanied a sore throat. I was lucky as only had one day to wait to see a Dr at the specialist clinic.
Unlike the other lumps it is painful and sore. The head and neck clinic of 10 people has been scaled down to one young Dr obviously thinking I am getting better. He examined the lump, my mouth, throat and usual suspects before saying it as a salaviary gland and not to panic.
I did and will :)
Anything else was fine and I can enjoy christmas, is that an oxymoron or just a contradiction in terms :)
Happy Christmas thanks for all your love and support.
Nigel
The blog served as a useful tool when I was ill and hopefully kept you informed and smiling in what was the crappest period of my life.
I need closure, however it does not come easily. Yesterday I felt a pain in swallowing, in my right neck area, felt and thought I could a lump! You can imagine the pain and horror that went through my mind. It was lower than the lymph gland and accompanied a sore throat. I was lucky as only had one day to wait to see a Dr at the specialist clinic.
Unlike the other lumps it is painful and sore. The head and neck clinic of 10 people has been scaled down to one young Dr obviously thinking I am getting better. He examined the lump, my mouth, throat and usual suspects before saying it as a salaviary gland and not to panic.
I did and will :)
Anything else was fine and I can enjoy christmas, is that an oxymoron or just a contradiction in terms :)
Happy Christmas thanks for all your love and support.
Nigel
Monday, November 14, 2005
Mouth Cancer awareness week
As you know I have the tendancy to be competitive, in fact I have said before buying a tube ticket is a sport for me and queing for a bus resembles the opening of the sale doors at Harrods.
This week is no difference. I have managed to get myself on Sky news radio, Gemini Radio, Devon's local independent local radio station and the Exeter, Express and Ech, no not through the court circular but speaking of my experiences of mouth cancer. In essence I see the campaign as important and if I can help one person nmot going through the shit I have been through then I have suceeded. It means closure for me.
Oh and of course I beat Mr T Griffin to local fame through more press coverage and my ex partner who on recent weeks has appeared on Home Truths and in the Guardian!
:)
This week is no difference. I have managed to get myself on Sky news radio, Gemini Radio, Devon's local independent local radio station and the Exeter, Express and Ech, no not through the court circular but speaking of my experiences of mouth cancer. In essence I see the campaign as important and if I can help one person nmot going through the shit I have been through then I have suceeded. It means closure for me.
Oh and of course I beat Mr T Griffin to local fame through more press coverage and my ex partner who on recent weeks has appeared on Home Truths and in the Guardian!
:)
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Mouth Cancer Foundation Press Release
Mouth Cancer Awareness Week – November 13-19
CASE STUDY – Nigel Gooding - Exeter
Date:
Release: Immediate
Local man fighting back from deadly disease: “My friend saved my life!”
Mouth cancer kills one person every five hours in the UK. In addition, one in two sufferers dies as a result of the condition. However, with early detection survival chances increase significantly.
It was in March this year that 41-year-old Nigel Gooding first became aware of a small lump on his neck. He had leant his hand against it during a trip to Cheltenham Races and booked a doctors appointment when he got home.
Due to his flu like symptoms, it was originally thought that Nigel had mumps but with the lump on his neck still there two weeks later, his friend Nicola began to worry.
Nigel commented: “I am a single man who lives alone, but with two children who live with their Mum. I was not going to go to the doctors again to get the lump checked, but my friend Nicola begged me to go. I am so indebted to her. I have read statistics since that single men have less chance of survival with cancer because there are no partners to nag - so thank you Nicola!”
On Nigel’s second visit, the doctor expressed concern that the lump was in the wrong place for mumps and sent him straight to hospital.
There followed six weeks of tests; including two needle biopsies of the lump, a CT scan, a head x-ray, MRI scan and an endoscope of his throat.
In May, Nigel was admitted to hospital with a small tumour on his left tonsil. Diagnosed with cancer, he underwent a radical neck dissection to remove the lump, with intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy sessions soon following.
He continued: “The specialists had no idea why I developed mouth cancer. I have never smoked. In addition, I spent much of my childhood and adult life keeping fit and running half marathons, as a reaction to my father’s heart disease being caused by smoking.
“Like most, I do enjoy a glass of wine and, like most, I have overindulged on occasion – but I am not a heavy drinker. I was told by the specialist that 25 percent of people who develop mouth cancer have no link to the major risk factors.”
Nigel was speaking the run up to Mouth Cancer Awareness Week (November 13-19).
The main risk factors of mouth cancer are smoking and drinking to excess, with people who do both being up to 30 times more likely to develop the condition. However, this year’s campaign is using the tagline ‘It Could Be You’ to inform people that the condition can strike anyone at any time.
Men are twice as likely to develop mouth cancer as women, although the ratio of women to men suffering with the condition has grown by a third in the last 10 years.
Nigel only discovered the condition a few months ago, but it has already had a very major effect on his life.
He said: “During my radiotherapy and chemotherapy I could not eat. I went eight days without eating, because my mouth and throat was burnt internally and chemo made me feel sick. I had to be fed through a tube via my nose and even drinking water caused tremendous pain.
“The first four weeks after treatment my quality of life was one out of ten – now it is closer to eight of ten, and I have even managed to get back to the gym!
“Of course when you have cancer you go through the normal questions – why me? How me? Have they got it wrong? Am I going to die? It was tough on my family too and had a big effect on my children.
“I am on the road to recovery now though. I still face the possibility that cancer could end me life at 41 but I have more purpose know. I value different things to what I did before cancer.”
Dr Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, who co-ordinate the awareness campaign, commented: “Early detection is the key to surviving mouth cancer, so we need to be examining our own mouths regularly as well as maintaining regular visits to the dentist.
“Look out for any unusual lumps or red or white patches in the mouth and if you have an ulcer that hasn’t healed after three weeks, get it checked by your dentist or doctor immediately.
“Self examination is now the norm for breast cancer and testicular cancer – it needs to be the same for mouth cancer.”
Members of the public can show their support for increasing mouth cancer awareness by purchasing the Campaign Blue Ribbon pin badge. The ribbon is available for only £1 including postage. Send the donation with a SAE to British Dental Health Foundation, 2 East Union Street, Rugby, CV22 6AJ. The money raised from the sale of ribbons will be used to expand the Foundation’s work on improving awareness of mouth cancer, which could save lives.
Mouth Cancer Awareness Week is coordinated by the British Dental Health Foundation, supported by Denplan, and backed by a wide range of leading national health organisations. These include Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), British Dental Association, British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists, British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Cancer Research UK, the health departments of the four UK countries, GKT, Mouth Cancer Foundation, Pharmacy Health Link, QUIT and Scope.
ENDS
CASE STUDY – Nigel Gooding - Exeter
Date:
Release: Immediate
Local man fighting back from deadly disease: “My friend saved my life!”
Mouth cancer kills one person every five hours in the UK. In addition, one in two sufferers dies as a result of the condition. However, with early detection survival chances increase significantly.
It was in March this year that 41-year-old Nigel Gooding first became aware of a small lump on his neck. He had leant his hand against it during a trip to Cheltenham Races and booked a doctors appointment when he got home.
Due to his flu like symptoms, it was originally thought that Nigel had mumps but with the lump on his neck still there two weeks later, his friend Nicola began to worry.
Nigel commented: “I am a single man who lives alone, but with two children who live with their Mum. I was not going to go to the doctors again to get the lump checked, but my friend Nicola begged me to go. I am so indebted to her. I have read statistics since that single men have less chance of survival with cancer because there are no partners to nag - so thank you Nicola!”
On Nigel’s second visit, the doctor expressed concern that the lump was in the wrong place for mumps and sent him straight to hospital.
There followed six weeks of tests; including two needle biopsies of the lump, a CT scan, a head x-ray, MRI scan and an endoscope of his throat.
In May, Nigel was admitted to hospital with a small tumour on his left tonsil. Diagnosed with cancer, he underwent a radical neck dissection to remove the lump, with intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy sessions soon following.
He continued: “The specialists had no idea why I developed mouth cancer. I have never smoked. In addition, I spent much of my childhood and adult life keeping fit and running half marathons, as a reaction to my father’s heart disease being caused by smoking.
“Like most, I do enjoy a glass of wine and, like most, I have overindulged on occasion – but I am not a heavy drinker. I was told by the specialist that 25 percent of people who develop mouth cancer have no link to the major risk factors.”
Nigel was speaking the run up to Mouth Cancer Awareness Week (November 13-19).
The main risk factors of mouth cancer are smoking and drinking to excess, with people who do both being up to 30 times more likely to develop the condition. However, this year’s campaign is using the tagline ‘It Could Be You’ to inform people that the condition can strike anyone at any time.
Men are twice as likely to develop mouth cancer as women, although the ratio of women to men suffering with the condition has grown by a third in the last 10 years.
Nigel only discovered the condition a few months ago, but it has already had a very major effect on his life.
He said: “During my radiotherapy and chemotherapy I could not eat. I went eight days without eating, because my mouth and throat was burnt internally and chemo made me feel sick. I had to be fed through a tube via my nose and even drinking water caused tremendous pain.
“The first four weeks after treatment my quality of life was one out of ten – now it is closer to eight of ten, and I have even managed to get back to the gym!
“Of course when you have cancer you go through the normal questions – why me? How me? Have they got it wrong? Am I going to die? It was tough on my family too and had a big effect on my children.
“I am on the road to recovery now though. I still face the possibility that cancer could end me life at 41 but I have more purpose know. I value different things to what I did before cancer.”
Dr Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, who co-ordinate the awareness campaign, commented: “Early detection is the key to surviving mouth cancer, so we need to be examining our own mouths regularly as well as maintaining regular visits to the dentist.
“Look out for any unusual lumps or red or white patches in the mouth and if you have an ulcer that hasn’t healed after three weeks, get it checked by your dentist or doctor immediately.
“Self examination is now the norm for breast cancer and testicular cancer – it needs to be the same for mouth cancer.”
Members of the public can show their support for increasing mouth cancer awareness by purchasing the Campaign Blue Ribbon pin badge. The ribbon is available for only £1 including postage. Send the donation with a SAE to British Dental Health Foundation, 2 East Union Street, Rugby, CV22 6AJ. The money raised from the sale of ribbons will be used to expand the Foundation’s work on improving awareness of mouth cancer, which could save lives.
Mouth Cancer Awareness Week is coordinated by the British Dental Health Foundation, supported by Denplan, and backed by a wide range of leading national health organisations. These include Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), British Dental Association, British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists, British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Cancer Research UK, the health departments of the four UK countries, GKT, Mouth Cancer Foundation, Pharmacy Health Link, QUIT and Scope.
ENDS
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Best mate and pheasant RIP
I really hope the pheasant that shattered my windscreen today enroute to watch Horse Racing at Exeter died quickly, the thing nearly made me late for races, thank goodness it was only 4 miles from my house to the track. It was even more ironic that the bird died less than half a mile from my house.
I made the decision to crack on the racecourse to witness the return of Best Mate in the Haldon Gold Cup. The rest is history one minute he is being pulled up, the next minute he has veered in front the last fence and collasped. We all stood and saw the screens be erected. Here was a national treasure half a mile away underneath the screens. The jockey and Hen Knight walking away, his jolly owner walking away in tears and all of us stuck to our binoculars as the horse ambulance or hearse pulled up neck to the screens. The ambulance pulled away and you could not see a horse walk in. The king was dead. The presentation took place then Vickki Robinson the normally storic friend of mine announced to the crowd that the king had died she was in tears, as were people around me and yes I wiped a tear away from my eyes.
For many it was their first site of a horse that have given millions so much fun through his horse racing and charity work. I cannot explain the air at Haldon, for just a moment life did not seem real, it felt surreal, racing was unimportant. He had died in front of his worshippers rather than an empty paddock. Tonight he will be buried at the last fence, may he rest in peace, unlike the that BLOODY pheasant!
I made the decision to crack on the racecourse to witness the return of Best Mate in the Haldon Gold Cup. The rest is history one minute he is being pulled up, the next minute he has veered in front the last fence and collasped. We all stood and saw the screens be erected. Here was a national treasure half a mile away underneath the screens. The jockey and Hen Knight walking away, his jolly owner walking away in tears and all of us stuck to our binoculars as the horse ambulance or hearse pulled up neck to the screens. The ambulance pulled away and you could not see a horse walk in. The king was dead. The presentation took place then Vickki Robinson the normally storic friend of mine announced to the crowd that the king had died she was in tears, as were people around me and yes I wiped a tear away from my eyes.
For many it was their first site of a horse that have given millions so much fun through his horse racing and charity work. I cannot explain the air at Haldon, for just a moment life did not seem real, it felt surreal, racing was unimportant. He had died in front of his worshippers rather than an empty paddock. Tonight he will be buried at the last fence, may he rest in peace, unlike the that BLOODY pheasant!
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Day 69 - Head and Neck clinic results
Well today is rather strange, it is 6 years to the day that my father died but here I am celebrating being given the all clear from Head and Neck clinic. I have to return in 2 months time, which means it is my second month cancer free.
I left the room wanting to cry, full of pent up emotions and nervous energy I walked out and drifted around the hospital corridor not in celebratory way but a sense of huge relief sweeping over me.
I tend to put cancer to the back of my mind now and try and live for the moment, it is something which makes me look over my shoulder everyday but not for too long.
Just as I shed a tear for my dear dad this morning, they get shorter every year as time makes a great healer.
Keep attacking! N
I left the room wanting to cry, full of pent up emotions and nervous energy I walked out and drifted around the hospital corridor not in celebratory way but a sense of huge relief sweeping over me.
I tend to put cancer to the back of my mind now and try and live for the moment, it is something which makes me look over my shoulder everyday but not for too long.
Just as I shed a tear for my dear dad this morning, they get shorter every year as time makes a great healer.
Keep attacking! N
Monday, October 24, 2005
Days 61 - 68 - Head and Neck clinics
Today is my second head and neck clinic. The last week has flown by, I been to London, looked after the children and returned to gym all with no ill effects. The mouth ulcers are going and quality of life has improved no end in the last 7 days.
I feel I have my old energy back and after having my medical assessment before joining the local gym, my blood pressure was on the slightly above average not suprising when you consider the summer I have had. Most of which was spent on my back either in my bed or a hospital one.
I have not worried about my visit today I suppose more to do with being busy than over confidence. I remember saying after I had done a huge walk in May before I knew I had cancer saying "there cannot be anything wrong with me if I can do this walk" I never ill before and its the same now. Of course my shoulder hurts, of course my mouth still reminds me of the RT and chemo however my general health feels quite good. I am keeping my fingers crossed but will find out today.
N x
I feel I have my old energy back and after having my medical assessment before joining the local gym, my blood pressure was on the slightly above average not suprising when you consider the summer I have had. Most of which was spent on my back either in my bed or a hospital one.
I have not worried about my visit today I suppose more to do with being busy than over confidence. I remember saying after I had done a huge walk in May before I knew I had cancer saying "there cannot be anything wrong with me if I can do this walk" I never ill before and its the same now. Of course my shoulder hurts, of course my mouth still reminds me of the RT and chemo however my general health feels quite good. I am keeping my fingers crossed but will find out today.
N x
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Day 55 - Day 60 - Life goes on- some thank yous
Well it is nearly a week since I posted here. Why the delay, well I suppose it is about having something witty, fun, or morose about my own condition to say.
I had another week of work and spent time in London. I witnessed Beaver Cars in action on my long train journey and managed to have a row with queue jumpers at the Odeon trying to get into see Wallace and Gromitt at the Odeon. Having the energy to challenge is a sure sign I am getting better!
I am very tired each evening, it is a different sort of tired my body aches and the yawns cause me problems. Yawning can be quite dangerous, you see I have no muscle structure on the left side of my neck so a yawn tears at operation lines and tends to cause the left hand side to freeze imagine doing driving. I have your whole head goes into spasm and you cannot move it looks hilarious to onlookers but its bloody painful and a tad dangerous at 70 mph, ok 55 mph in the camper! I lied.
I have however never taken cocaine for the record! Just in case I get called on the stand for election in teh next few months.
I can deal with the tiredness = sleep however there has been a marked change in the last week. Since RT finished I have been dribbling at night getting away without having a dry mouth, however in the last week there is no saliva left in my mouth. I tend to awake about 4am with a dry mouth it has no fluid in it at all and your throat, tounge and mouth feel like they have seized up like an engine with oil. I combat it with water, oral saliva replacement gel, but these tend to only work about for about 3 hours so my sleep is broken and when I wake up it is very uncomfortable as my lips are coated with a white film and prising my lips apart is quite difficult. Throw in my sore shoulder from the operation and the first 30 mins of waking up are pretty poor.
Things have improved on the ulcer front I am checking it everyday it seems to subsiding and the only problem I tend to get with it is during those dry mouth nights where it is exposed to air and boy does it remind me it is still there.
So things are generally good at the moment. I have lots of thanks to say to people and I am not sure how to say them and show I mean them. So over the next few weeks I will cut down the postings to three a week, unless anything dramatic happens - like my next Joint Head & Neck Clinic on the 24th Oct! I will however be saying thank you to lots of people for being my friend, loyal and there for me.
I had another week of work and spent time in London. I witnessed Beaver Cars in action on my long train journey and managed to have a row with queue jumpers at the Odeon trying to get into see Wallace and Gromitt at the Odeon. Having the energy to challenge is a sure sign I am getting better!
I am very tired each evening, it is a different sort of tired my body aches and the yawns cause me problems. Yawning can be quite dangerous, you see I have no muscle structure on the left side of my neck so a yawn tears at operation lines and tends to cause the left hand side to freeze imagine doing driving. I have your whole head goes into spasm and you cannot move it looks hilarious to onlookers but its bloody painful and a tad dangerous at 70 mph, ok 55 mph in the camper! I lied.
I have however never taken cocaine for the record! Just in case I get called on the stand for election in teh next few months.
I can deal with the tiredness = sleep however there has been a marked change in the last week. Since RT finished I have been dribbling at night getting away without having a dry mouth, however in the last week there is no saliva left in my mouth. I tend to awake about 4am with a dry mouth it has no fluid in it at all and your throat, tounge and mouth feel like they have seized up like an engine with oil. I combat it with water, oral saliva replacement gel, but these tend to only work about for about 3 hours so my sleep is broken and when I wake up it is very uncomfortable as my lips are coated with a white film and prising my lips apart is quite difficult. Throw in my sore shoulder from the operation and the first 30 mins of waking up are pretty poor.
Things have improved on the ulcer front I am checking it everyday it seems to subsiding and the only problem I tend to get with it is during those dry mouth nights where it is exposed to air and boy does it remind me it is still there.
So things are generally good at the moment. I have lots of thanks to say to people and I am not sure how to say them and show I mean them. So over the next few weeks I will cut down the postings to three a week, unless anything dramatic happens - like my next Joint Head & Neck Clinic on the 24th Oct! I will however be saying thank you to lots of people for being my friend, loyal and there for me.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Day 52/53/54 Cornwall
I cried when I left Cornwall, not because it was pouring with rain but because it holds so many happy childhood memories for me when we were a family and I was protected. It was West Cornwall I fell in love with many years ago, playing with gay abandon in the sand dunes and rock pools and hoping my children will have the same experiences.
I cried because I did not want it to be the last time I ever saw West Cornwall. I get like that fear of the unknown always in the back of your mind a slight doubt will the cancer return. I am taking the children at the end of October back, so why the tears? Who knows John Peel use to cry after Little House on the prairie and Sheila use to comfort him, so if its good enough for Lord Peel its good enough for me.
The break was well deserved, no driving and very relaxed.
I struggled at meal times mainly due to "new English menus" which does away with gravy or sauces with meals and leaves a dry dish to attempt to squeeze down with lashings of water or in my case beer. Ok it was not lashings but 2 pints one night, which took me three hours to drink whey hey!
They are trying to extend the Tate gallery in St Ives into the car park, destroy sea views of local residents if they cannot extend they will have to close, so the Tate story goes. After paying £5.50 to view 6 pictures of local St Ives artists, and 2 floors of a radical Berlin artist whose name forgets me, but 10 years ago in less politically correct times I would of called Helga I struggle to see what all the fuss is about. The main reason for extending is so that they can cater for more people in the overpriced cafe, which took 30 minutues to serve up a fairly bog standard cafe mocha, all for £2.50. I have often wondered how the beast of Porthemoor Beach was able to get planning permission in the first place considering it has all the beauty of a hermit crab without its shell!
One of the exhibitions was a 16mm film of a working revolving cafe in Berlin. The camera was stationary and the cafe revolved around. The pictures were blurred and did not even show you the view from the window!
It is not the first time I have beed perplexed, or ripped off by Tate modern in St Ives, the secret is find something else to do if its raining in West Cornwall!
I cried because I did not want it to be the last time I ever saw West Cornwall. I get like that fear of the unknown always in the back of your mind a slight doubt will the cancer return. I am taking the children at the end of October back, so why the tears? Who knows John Peel use to cry after Little House on the prairie and Sheila use to comfort him, so if its good enough for Lord Peel its good enough for me.
The break was well deserved, no driving and very relaxed.
I struggled at meal times mainly due to "new English menus" which does away with gravy or sauces with meals and leaves a dry dish to attempt to squeeze down with lashings of water or in my case beer. Ok it was not lashings but 2 pints one night, which took me three hours to drink whey hey!
They are trying to extend the Tate gallery in St Ives into the car park, destroy sea views of local residents if they cannot extend they will have to close, so the Tate story goes. After paying £5.50 to view 6 pictures of local St Ives artists, and 2 floors of a radical Berlin artist whose name forgets me, but 10 years ago in less politically correct times I would of called Helga I struggle to see what all the fuss is about. The main reason for extending is so that they can cater for more people in the overpriced cafe, which took 30 minutues to serve up a fairly bog standard cafe mocha, all for £2.50. I have often wondered how the beast of Porthemoor Beach was able to get planning permission in the first place considering it has all the beauty of a hermit crab without its shell!
One of the exhibitions was a 16mm film of a working revolving cafe in Berlin. The camera was stationary and the cafe revolved around. The pictures were blurred and did not even show you the view from the window!
It is not the first time I have beed perplexed, or ripped off by Tate modern in St Ives, the secret is find something else to do if its raining in West Cornwall!
Friday, October 07, 2005
Day 48/49/50 - Normality
It is Day 51 and this afternoon I am off to Cornwall for a short well earned break.
I survived my first week back in London. I ma working from home today which takes a little of the physical pressure off what has been a tiring week. My main concern was my voice standing up the rigors of full time work. I have been able since Sunday to find enough potions to keep my horrific tounge ulcer at bay to enable me to eat, drink and talk. I must admit with the various cocktails of potions quality of life was pretty poor.
I must admit I did not expect the welcome back I got. People who I had hardly known shaking my hand and hugging me, there was a genuine welcome for me which was very emotional. I felt safe, well looked after, comfortable which in a city such as London is a blessing.
I am off to Zennor later today, still yawning, still tired but I am sure a couple day in South West Cornwall can only be R&R after all treatment finished 51 days away and still the after effects of chemo and RT linger on.
N x
I survived my first week back in London. I ma working from home today which takes a little of the physical pressure off what has been a tiring week. My main concern was my voice standing up the rigors of full time work. I have been able since Sunday to find enough potions to keep my horrific tounge ulcer at bay to enable me to eat, drink and talk. I must admit with the various cocktails of potions quality of life was pretty poor.
I must admit I did not expect the welcome back I got. People who I had hardly known shaking my hand and hugging me, there was a genuine welcome for me which was very emotional. I felt safe, well looked after, comfortable which in a city such as London is a blessing.
I am off to Zennor later today, still yawning, still tired but I am sure a couple day in South West Cornwall can only be R&R after all treatment finished 51 days away and still the after effects of chemo and RT linger on.
N x
Monday, October 03, 2005
Day 46 - Beavers!
When starting in business naming your company is always difficult, its easy if you are called Mr Sainsbury or William H Smith but I must admit naming a company has always been a challenge to me. That’s why I admire the owner of the most inappropriately named taxi company in the South West. The award goes to “Beaver cars” of Sherbourne.
Now can you imagine calling Beaver Cars after a good night out at the Sherbourne Conservative Association tombola and charity race night, only to be greeted by the taxi co-ordinator at the other end of the phone saying “Beaver here how can we help” Now you would think you had one glass too much of Mrs Beekeepers home made sherry. Now Dorset is not known for its legends but I suspect there are no wild beavers within 5000 miles of Dorset or in Zoological gardens in the County but for some reason the people who started the company decided to call themselves Beaver! It’s not even a clever marketing tool. If you’re a taxi company call yourself Aardvark Taxis to get yourself the first listing in the Yellow pages, but Beaver cars in a small sleepy Dorset Town I am sure there is some answer to this amazing piece of mystery. I think there is some pun that relates back to the sexual connotations of the alternative word for Beaver, but I have yet to work that one out.
How do I know all these interesting facts I hear you ask. Well it’s looking out the train window en-route to London. I have started back to work today and travelling to London. We are lucky in the West Country there are 2 routes to London from Exeter one can take. The London Paddington route which can be only 2 hours on a fast train or the London Waterloo route, which calls at a mammoth ten stations before depositing me three plus later in South London. I do prefer the latter route it has a more gentile, sedentary and relaxed view of life about it. The route is patronised by a more elderly population than the Paddington route and stops at such hip places such as Yeovil, Sherbourne of course and Andover.
I call it the elderly line, I did not realise how many old people actually lived in East Devon, Dorset and South Somerset. However, regardless of their age they still manage to indulge in the tactic of surrounding themselves with books and papers to bag the table of four and make discouraging noises to prevent young whipper snappers parking myself next to them and upsetting their neatly arranged piles.
The train journey and my fellow occupants reminded me of the Alan Bennett story where he said you cannot imagine Ryan, Brittany or Jordan being in an old peoples home suffering from incontinence and forgetting their name. Only Gladys, Walter or Ethel find themselves in old peoples homes.
I enjoy rail travel my day dreaming of Beaver cars and old people has more to do with my 1st real day back at work, one which fills me with trepidation and joy both at the same time :)
Now can you imagine calling Beaver Cars after a good night out at the Sherbourne Conservative Association tombola and charity race night, only to be greeted by the taxi co-ordinator at the other end of the phone saying “Beaver here how can we help” Now you would think you had one glass too much of Mrs Beekeepers home made sherry. Now Dorset is not known for its legends but I suspect there are no wild beavers within 5000 miles of Dorset or in Zoological gardens in the County but for some reason the people who started the company decided to call themselves Beaver! It’s not even a clever marketing tool. If you’re a taxi company call yourself Aardvark Taxis to get yourself the first listing in the Yellow pages, but Beaver cars in a small sleepy Dorset Town I am sure there is some answer to this amazing piece of mystery. I think there is some pun that relates back to the sexual connotations of the alternative word for Beaver, but I have yet to work that one out.
How do I know all these interesting facts I hear you ask. Well it’s looking out the train window en-route to London. I have started back to work today and travelling to London. We are lucky in the West Country there are 2 routes to London from Exeter one can take. The London Paddington route which can be only 2 hours on a fast train or the London Waterloo route, which calls at a mammoth ten stations before depositing me three plus later in South London. I do prefer the latter route it has a more gentile, sedentary and relaxed view of life about it. The route is patronised by a more elderly population than the Paddington route and stops at such hip places such as Yeovil, Sherbourne of course and Andover.
I call it the elderly line, I did not realise how many old people actually lived in East Devon, Dorset and South Somerset. However, regardless of their age they still manage to indulge in the tactic of surrounding themselves with books and papers to bag the table of four and make discouraging noises to prevent young whipper snappers parking myself next to them and upsetting their neatly arranged piles.
The train journey and my fellow occupants reminded me of the Alan Bennett story where he said you cannot imagine Ryan, Brittany or Jordan being in an old peoples home suffering from incontinence and forgetting their name. Only Gladys, Walter or Ethel find themselves in old peoples homes.
I enjoy rail travel my day dreaming of Beaver cars and old people has more to do with my 1st real day back at work, one which fills me with trepidation and joy both at the same time :)
Friday, September 30, 2005
Day 43/44 More remission
Its been a strange week with the events of Monday fresh in my mind, and things definately healing at more rapid rate than previous weeks. Ok my mouth is still playing up and my favourite tounge ulcer is a real bind despite the lotions and potions.
At some stage I must accept life has moved on from those terrible days of the summer and life has a future. I go to London next week with a hint of trepidation, I bought a new suitcase today, not because I wanted to take more clothes but to take all the lotions and potion with me. I must admit I have booked a comfy hotel and now that I am eating as normal as I can under the circumtances and feel I will manage.
At some stage I must accept life has moved on from those terrible days of the summer and life has a future. I go to London next week with a hint of trepidation, I bought a new suitcase today, not because I wanted to take more clothes but to take all the lotions and potion with me. I must admit I have booked a comfy hotel and now that I am eating as normal as I can under the circumtances and feel I will manage.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
