I have found myself thinking about cancer quite a lot of late and this rather challenging/sobering topic is not an easy one to write about. In fact, this post was in “draft” for weeks whilst I stressed over what to include – I really didn’t want to create something crass (and fingers crossed I haven’t).
Anyway, the cancer related introspection began as a result of a watching the drama on the BBC with title of this post. Whilst the programme was aired a number of weeks ago now; it actually took me some time to get around to watching it because Mrs Baldwin wasn’t keen on spending time viewing something that would upset her.
In the end, I watched the drama on my own via the BBC iPlayer and just before the window to do so closed. The programme told the story of Lisa Lynch, a journalist in her late twenties diagnosed with breast cancer – though she referred to it as “The Bullshit”.
I’ll come back to Lisa’s story in a moment.
Cancer has been on my mind for other reasons too. An old work colleague of mine recently died as a result of breast cancer and the news of her death depressed me more than I thought it might. Like Lisa Lynch, Liz Royal was in her twenties when diagnosed. She was young, attractive, bright, genuinely nice and extremely brave/positive in facing all the challenges of mastectomies, chemotherapy, surgical reconstruction etc. We were connected on Facebook but to be honest after I was made redundant from Masterlease in 2011, our paths hadn’t crossed.
Another friend of mine who is a director of a marketing business I worked with for a number of years has been facing similar challenges and has had surgery. Thank God though that her prognosis is good.
Over the last few weeks, an old Masterlease work colleague connected with me on Facebook – it turns out that his wife has a brain tumour that is inoperable.
Bruce Dickinson, the singer from Iron Maiden - one of my favourite bands - is recovering from treatment for cancer that was discovered on his tongue. Following a seven week course of chemo and radio therapy, he was given the all clear, such as it can be with cancer, in May.
Leukaemia (cancer of the blood) has also figured in my thinking as a chap I know (coincidentally a former singer of one of my favourite punk bands) collapsed at work and was hospitalised, irradiated and is undergoing stem cell therapy to help replace his bone marrow.
In recent weeks I’ve even been consuming every episode I can of Breaking Bad (care of Spike) and Walter White, the main character, has lung cancer!
The effects of cancer have been felt much closer to home too; though to protect the innocent, this is not the right environment to share those developments.
Prior to watching The C Word, I had never heard of Lisa Lynch but having seen the drama, I went to find her, perfectly titled, blog “Alright Tit”. Over a number of days, I read every single post in chronological order.
Though the drama was visual, the blog gives one so much more insight - but then isn’t the book always better than the film? Lisa’s posts were/are well written, honest, hopeful, often humorous and entertaining (even when the subject matter couldn’t get bleaker). She wrote in a conversational way that works for me because that’s the way I write.
Having only just discovered her blog, for me (as it could be for you if you’ve never read it), it was all the more poignant because I knew the end before starting at the beginning.
A number of Lisa’s observations resonated for me, in one post she wrote about the cathartic qualities of writing, it was her way of taking some control back from The Bullshit. She shared her belief a few times that she was more eloquent and interesting in words/blog than in person. And let’s be frank here – as someone that finds solace/comfort/entertainment in writing - I’ll admit to having similar thoughts about blogging and concerns about my own life-and-soul-of-the-party status.
Lisa shared her joy (and that of her family) when the blog gained enough momentum for others to become aware of it and contribute their comments to her posts. It would appear that not even the lows of cancer can affect the pleasure a writer gets from knowing someone is actually reading, enjoying and taking the time to respond to their work.
She wrote one piece that made me smile about her take on ageing…
“And, until cancer came along, I'm sure I'd have dutifully plodded along and checked off the other predictable items on the to-do list: buy a house, have kids, get National Trust membership, retire...”
Damn, I suddenly feel rather dull! By that observation, I only have retirement left to achieve…
…and death of course.
Though I am older, male, tit-less (though occasionally a tit) and a non-cancer sufferer (so far - the bullshit may nail me in the end too), the observations above evidence that Lisa’s blog has a value as an insight into someone’s life. Cancer gives Lisa’s blog focus but there is much more to it than the disease – don’t feel that you can’t get something from it just because you aren’t in the demographic.
Alright Tit became a huge, celebrity endorsed, worldwide success - but I never came across it whilst Lisa was alive. That reflection was a little depressing for me because whilst I had read some utter shite, like “Fifty Shades of Grey” (just to find out what the fuss was about), I had missed something far more significant.
To be frank, Lisa’s blogging/publishing achievements dwarf anything I will ever achieve with my hobby-efforts but nonetheless, I still want to add my own endorsement to her literary legacy. If you want to read something about coping with adversity, or using the written word to find strength/purpose, you should follow the links and get reading too.
If you know anyone with cancer and you want to have some idea what they are going through – read Lisa’s blog. If you don’t know what to say to sufferers, get some hints and tips from Lisa.
The C Word is available as a book, the DVD of the drama is available and Alright Tit is still operational.
Though Lisa’s life was short, she achieved more than many that reach their four score years. Her no-bullshit approach to writing about cancer will help other sufferers (and their friends and family) for years to come.
Whilst writing this post, I read news of some scientific breakthroughs that might help more people live longer with cancer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32969833
The shame is that the immunotherapy advances are too late for Lisa.
Alright Tit
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Anyway, the cancer related introspection began as a result of a watching the drama on the BBC with title of this post. Whilst the programme was aired a number of weeks ago now; it actually took me some time to get around to watching it because Mrs Baldwin wasn’t keen on spending time viewing something that would upset her.
In the end, I watched the drama on my own via the BBC iPlayer and just before the window to do so closed. The programme told the story of Lisa Lynch, a journalist in her late twenties diagnosed with breast cancer – though she referred to it as “The Bullshit”.
I’ll come back to Lisa’s story in a moment.
Cancer has been on my mind for other reasons too. An old work colleague of mine recently died as a result of breast cancer and the news of her death depressed me more than I thought it might. Like Lisa Lynch, Liz Royal was in her twenties when diagnosed. She was young, attractive, bright, genuinely nice and extremely brave/positive in facing all the challenges of mastectomies, chemotherapy, surgical reconstruction etc. We were connected on Facebook but to be honest after I was made redundant from Masterlease in 2011, our paths hadn’t crossed.
Another friend of mine who is a director of a marketing business I worked with for a number of years has been facing similar challenges and has had surgery. Thank God though that her prognosis is good.
Over the last few weeks, an old Masterlease work colleague connected with me on Facebook – it turns out that his wife has a brain tumour that is inoperable.
Bruce Dickinson, the singer from Iron Maiden - one of my favourite bands - is recovering from treatment for cancer that was discovered on his tongue. Following a seven week course of chemo and radio therapy, he was given the all clear, such as it can be with cancer, in May.
Leukaemia (cancer of the blood) has also figured in my thinking as a chap I know (coincidentally a former singer of one of my favourite punk bands) collapsed at work and was hospitalised, irradiated and is undergoing stem cell therapy to help replace his bone marrow.
In recent weeks I’ve even been consuming every episode I can of Breaking Bad (care of Spike) and Walter White, the main character, has lung cancer!
The effects of cancer have been felt much closer to home too; though to protect the innocent, this is not the right environment to share those developments.
Prior to watching The C Word, I had never heard of Lisa Lynch but having seen the drama, I went to find her, perfectly titled, blog “Alright Tit”. Over a number of days, I read every single post in chronological order.
Though the drama was visual, the blog gives one so much more insight - but then isn’t the book always better than the film? Lisa’s posts were/are well written, honest, hopeful, often humorous and entertaining (even when the subject matter couldn’t get bleaker). She wrote in a conversational way that works for me because that’s the way I write.
Having only just discovered her blog, for me (as it could be for you if you’ve never read it), it was all the more poignant because I knew the end before starting at the beginning.
A number of Lisa’s observations resonated for me, in one post she wrote about the cathartic qualities of writing, it was her way of taking some control back from The Bullshit. She shared her belief a few times that she was more eloquent and interesting in words/blog than in person. And let’s be frank here – as someone that finds solace/comfort/entertainment in writing - I’ll admit to having similar thoughts about blogging and concerns about my own life-and-soul-of-the-party status.
Lisa shared her joy (and that of her family) when the blog gained enough momentum for others to become aware of it and contribute their comments to her posts. It would appear that not even the lows of cancer can affect the pleasure a writer gets from knowing someone is actually reading, enjoying and taking the time to respond to their work.
She wrote one piece that made me smile about her take on ageing…
“And, until cancer came along, I'm sure I'd have dutifully plodded along and checked off the other predictable items on the to-do list: buy a house, have kids, get National Trust membership, retire...”
Damn, I suddenly feel rather dull! By that observation, I only have retirement left to achieve…
…and death of course.
Though I am older, male, tit-less (though occasionally a tit) and a non-cancer sufferer (so far - the bullshit may nail me in the end too), the observations above evidence that Lisa’s blog has a value as an insight into someone’s life. Cancer gives Lisa’s blog focus but there is much more to it than the disease – don’t feel that you can’t get something from it just because you aren’t in the demographic.
Alright Tit became a huge, celebrity endorsed, worldwide success - but I never came across it whilst Lisa was alive. That reflection was a little depressing for me because whilst I had read some utter shite, like “Fifty Shades of Grey” (just to find out what the fuss was about), I had missed something far more significant.
To be frank, Lisa’s blogging/publishing achievements dwarf anything I will ever achieve with my hobby-efforts but nonetheless, I still want to add my own endorsement to her literary legacy. If you want to read something about coping with adversity, or using the written word to find strength/purpose, you should follow the links and get reading too.
If you know anyone with cancer and you want to have some idea what they are going through – read Lisa’s blog. If you don’t know what to say to sufferers, get some hints and tips from Lisa.
The C Word is available as a book, the DVD of the drama is available and Alright Tit is still operational.
Though Lisa’s life was short, she achieved more than many that reach their four score years. Her no-bullshit approach to writing about cancer will help other sufferers (and their friends and family) for years to come.
Whilst writing this post, I read news of some scientific breakthroughs that might help more people live longer with cancer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32969833
The shame is that the immunotherapy advances are too late for Lisa.
Alright Tit
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