Hello, how are you?

It’s been awhile since I posted but I haven’t forgotten about you. I think a lot about the people who read my posts and wander how they’re all going.

Are you going ok?

I guess some of you are doing well, and maybe some of you aren’t. Such are the ups and downs of life.

Take a look at the photo again and give it another read. Give it a moment to let it sink in.

Now give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve survived life right up to this moment in time. We will all have scars be they big or small. We have all survived this far and it’s worth celebrating one way or another, especially as there are those who haven’t made it this far. Life is so very precious and some people’s journeys end far sooner than they should have done. Take a moment and give a thought to the ones who are no longer with us on this precious planet of ours.

Being on a cancer journey has given me a new appreciation of life and that I want to live it. Whether it’s being spontaneous, doing something scary, having fun, getting out and about, looking at waterfalls, or just sitting on the sofa doing nothing. Every moment is precious and I’m grateful for every single one. Even the ones when I’m frustrated, sad, angry or whatever. They’re still precious moments that I can live through, survive and thrive. The fact that I can get up everyday, look up and say “thank you for another day of life” is amazing to me. That’s because at one stage I wasn’t sure how long I would last, but here I am. Still writing blog posts, still alive, and very grateful for this life of mine.

A few days ago, October 10th to be precise, was the two year anniversary of my cancer diagnosis. Wow, I still have to let that sink in. Two bloody years! It doesn’t feel like two years, but then what is two years meant to feel like? Now to give myself a pat on the back. I’ve survived, here I am, scars and all. Believe me, I have scars from this journey. Physically, emotionally and mentally.

Before I go any further I’d just like to mention Lymphoma Cancer Awareness who I got the photo from. I recommend checking their page out. It’s got lot’s of useful info. You can find them on Instagram, just click the link here: Lymphoma Cancer Awareness

I’m still on a cancer journey with my mantle cell lymphoma. Thank you for being on this journey with me, whether I know you personally or not. Some of you have been there from the beginning and some of you have joined along the way. Which ever it is thank you for staying the course with me. Thank you for supporting me, giving me hope, kicking my ass when needed, funding me, hanging out with me, checking in on me, being my family, being my friend, and in some cases just plain old loving me. I appreciate all of it, and more. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Will this journey continue? I think that’s the million dollar question. And it’s a difficult one to answer. I had my sixth and final round of chemotherapy on Friday 20th September. Has it worked? Well, I find out later this month. I have a PET scan on Friday 25th October then find out the results on Wednesday 30th October. I’m in a state of limbo, and trying not to think about it too much. I like to think I’m in full remission but I still need to get the stamp of approval from the specialists. I’m quietly optimistic because I know my body. I know how sick my poor old body was and how it feels now. It feels good. Everything feels like it’s working properly just about. It’s not perfect and it’s still in recovery mode. I can feel it’s still trying to work itself out. If nothing else it’s still recovering from six months of chemo and everything that goes with that. Chemo is a huge struggle, physically, mentally and emotionally. It takes it toll.

Whatever the results, I feel, the journey will continue. If I’m not in full remission then new treatments will be looked at. If I am in full remission then ongoing support will be looked at. It doesn’t just end. Not to mention the stem cells. I’ve talked about cancer stem cells before in other posts. But for those that don’t know chemo can’t, normally, touch cancer stem cells. It can kill all the normal cancer cells but not the stem cells. They are a different breed. Which is often why cancer comes back months or years later. However, there are other ways of dealing with cancer stem cells so that will be a subject to be discussed with my haematologist oncologist. A stem cell transplant may be offered, but I’m not sure. Also there’s a lot of research that shows certain compounds can get at cancer stem cells. EGCG is one such compound. It’s found in green tea and can be extracted from it. I’ve mentioned this in previous posts on green tea so give them a read if you’d like more info. Also, have a read of this article: Top ten natural compounds against cancer stem cells

My journey is in limbo right now, as I mentioned earlier, until I get the results from the next scan. That’s ok though. I’ve survived this far and I’m living life. One day at a time, just getting on with it. Spending time with the ones I love, talking to friends, and just being.

I also take time everyday to check in on the people in my club. The cancer club that none of us wanted to be in, but now we’re in it bonds are formed. Don’t take this the wrong way but if you’ve never had cancer you can never fully appreciate what it’s like to have this horrible disease. That applies to me too. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed that the full impact of this disease hit me. How it effects people on all levels. So when you communicate with others who have cancer or have had cancer it helps a lot most of the time. You get them and they get you. There is a mutual understanding of the impact this disease has on a person. It even creates levels of mutual support that you can have with complete strangers. For example I have interactions with people on Instagram who I never knew before having cancer. I take an interest in other peoples cancer journeys and they take an interest in mine. In some cases I’ve even formed online friendships. Mutual support can really help. It may not be for everyone but it works for me. It gives me great joy to see people beat there cancer diagnosis, to survive chemo, or whatever treatment they are going through. On the flip side though it’s very sad when someone doesn’t make it. I had a recent experience of this with a guy from the U.S. He sadly passed away recently and it was a shock to go on Instagram and find that out. We’d been supporting each other on and off for just under a year and he didn’t make it. This is something we mustn’t forget. For all of us that survive and keep living there are those that don’t make it. This makes me even more determined to survive. Some of us have to. It’s important that we do.

Keep living life people. Whether you’re climbing Everest or watching crappy tv. So long as you’re enjoying it then keep on going. Be present in all that you do, don’t just exist for the sake of it.

Every second counts.

Big Love, Jon