World Cancer Day 2021

So - today is World Cancer Day.

I'm not sure I really understand the point of these 'days'. Perhaps it's to draw attention to whatever the particular cause is, to raise awareness, to get it in the spotlight.

As I look out at a world bitterly and violently divided against itself, with some groups actively agitating that social division in the hope that they might divide and conquer, each one claiming the moral high ground (while all of them scramble in the gutter of political depravity), I wonder if there is any single topic that so completely unites people.

You can hold any cancer fundraiser and people automatically and instinctively rally to the cause, irrespective of their differences. They don't need urging, they don't need badgering, they don't need to be cajoled to contribute or help. They just rally round and give their support.

I think it's because there's barely a person on the planet who has not been touched by cancer. Touched. There's a ridiculous use of a word. Battered, devastated, destroyed, ravaged, wrecked, ruined, smashed, trashed, wasted, despoiled, decimated - any of these words would be more appropriate. You don't live through cancer - you survive it (if you're lucky enough - or in some cases, unlucky enough). But there is no part of your life that will be unaffected. You are changed emotionally, physically, psychologically, socially - there is not one aspect of your life that will remain unchanged.

Some people choose to fight. Others, so tortured by pain and hopelessness, crave the escape that death will bring. Neither is right and neither is wrong, and no-one has the right to judge. To be or not to be. That is the question.

And I'm not just talking about the patient here. I'm also talking about the spouses, the families, the friends. It's all to easy to focus the attention on the patient but those around the patient suffer equally painfully. Their lives are changed forever too.

Anywhere you look there are inspirational stories but tragic ones too. I am still in awe and inspired by my wonderful friend Sandra who fought and beat a particularly devastating form of cancer. She faced it all with courage and bravery that would intimidate a lion. But right by her side was her equally inspirational husband Nik, whose devotion to his wife, while always keeping a smile on his face, just leaves me breathless with respect and admiration.

On the other hand, last month marked a year since we lost our beloved and devoted friend and wise counsellor, Heather. She was such a massive strength in my life and she helped me... no, she trained me - to face the demons of leukaemia. Next month will mark a year since the death of her son Jack who was also such a treasured part of our life. Heather died from a particularity virulent and aggressive form of cancer. She fought unbelievably hard but sadly yielded to the inevitable. Two months later, she was followed into death by her son who simply couldn't reach peace with the outcome of his Mother's cancer and found the prospect of the warm welcoming arms of death preferable to the stark reality of life.

Inspirational stories right alongside tragic ones. As I said, the impact of cancer visits equally hard on the family of the patient as much as it does on the patient themselves.

So, as I sit here approaching my fifth year of fighting leukaemia, I will be using World Cancer Day, not to think of my journey. Rather, I will be trying to draw inspiration from deeply loved friends like Sandra and Niki while mourning the loss of equally loved people like Heather and Jack.

Maybe that is the point of World Cancer Day after all.

Stay Strong. Fight Hard. Laugh Lots.

Stay strong. Fight hard. Smile lots.