Me, Myself and Cancer

Me, Myself and Cancer I was 42, a husband and a father, when I was told I had terminal cancer and might only have two months to live. Now I want to help others face cancer head on.

It was a devastating diagnosis and yet, almost three years later, I continue to defy the odds.

Another Thursday, another delay of my chemotherapy. My bloods came back and haemoglobin is too low to have the treatment...
12/03/2026

Another Thursday, another delay of my chemotherapy. My bloods came back and haemoglobin is too low to have the treatment so I need a blood transfusion. I've had one before so it's no big deal.

Not only that, but on Monday I started with a rash all over my body. It's so itchy, enough to drive you to despair. Honestly, it's been a lot to cope with and it's always okay to admit that. I'm doing my best and that's good enough right now. I know these things are only temporary.

It's taking some getting through these cycles, but cancer treatment doesn't always go as planned. You need to adapt to these changing situations and accept them. No good fighting what you can't win. Focus on what you can control.

At least it explains why I've been sleeping so much, and why it took me best part of an hour and a half to put up a shelf today. I had to rest after each of the four brackets. Still, I managed it. Small wins. We also went out for coffee but I forgot to take a photo so you get a photo of me as a child instead haha I was smiling then too. I loved that plane 😀

Jim xx

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Chris Hyde, Mark Kahn, Laura Lewis, Jim Mulderrig, Ronnie...
06/03/2026

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Chris Hyde, Mark Kahn, Laura Lewis, Jim Mulderrig, Ronnie Andre, Marc Holloway, Julie Donnelly Crowden, Diamond Michael, Karen Miles, Robyn Nicole, Britt Swain, Lizmarie Eakin, Vicky Wallis, Sarah Southworth

Well, I swapped one chair for another today. Instead of having chemo, I went to the coast instead. I'm still too weak to...
05/03/2026

Well, I swapped one chair for another today. Instead of having chemo, I went to the coast instead. I'm still too weak to have treatment and, as I'm still too weak to do any real walking, we got the wheelchair back out.

Getting a wheelchair was one of the best things I did. It allows me to do things at times when I wouldn't be able to. Today was too nice a day to miss walking by the sea, one of my favourite things to do.

It's frustrating to delay chemo again, but it's necessary, and I'm not worried. I believe I will complete the cycles and that the treatment will work. You'll notice I have a bottle of water in the picture. I'm staying hydrated folks.

I have zero shame being pushed around in a wheelchair. There are a lot of stigmas that exist these days but I've never come up against any. It's a means to make my life better and I'm all for that. Otherwise, it would've been another day on the sofa and I hate wasting the days my wife is off work.

She works so hard on the days she does work, sometimes until late into the night, and I just hope her employer appreciates what they've got. Shes been througjh much and I couldn't do any of this without her.

We treasure the time we get together though. That's what's important in our life now. Time spent together is precious and we've just booked to do the Far North Ralway Line in the Scottish Highlands for April. It's high on my bucket list.

Hopefully I make it... I don't plan on dying haha but way these chemo cycles have been going, it's anyone's guess. Still, that's what cancellation cover is for and it's a great motivation 😁

Jim xx

Just a quick update to explain the radio silence when people have been messaging. I ended up back in hospital on Friday....
01/03/2026

Just a quick update to explain the radio silence when people have been messaging. I ended up back in hospital on Friday. Nothing too serious this time. I think with all the sickness and diarrhea I've had lately, I ended up severly dehydrated so just needed some fluids and Potassium really.

It's really hard for me to stay hydrated because I have stage 3 kidney disease. This was the result of the first lot of chemo (BEP) I had, which is particularly harsh on kidneys. I'm drinking like a fish now. If that's a thing. Do fish drink a lot haha

I'm home now anyway, which is best place for me. I'm exhausted but happy. These chemo cycles are a real struggle and I'll probably need another break now. That's okay. It's important to manage these things and listen to your body. We will get through it, and that's what's important.

There's always a chance that the cancer spread gets out of control, but there aren't any signs of that right now so I really don't think too much about that. I can only deal with what's happening and what needs to happen. I find unnecessarily worrying about things that haven't happened to be a waste of precious energy.

I always try to reply to every message and comment, but if I don't, I'm probably not doing that well physically. I'll never ignore anyone. The support that I receive from you all is too important to me.

Jim xx

So, I was hoping today was going to be an all out celebratory post, and it still is. Almost. Because, even when things ...
26/02/2026

So, I was hoping today was going to be an all out celebratory post, and it still is. Almost. Because, even when things go wrong it's important to shout out what went right too. I find living with terminal cancer, life even, is all about where you choose to focus. If you focus on the negative too much, then of course your life is going to seem negative.

The good news is that I've completed my fourth cycle of chemo after having to abandon the last cycle half way through. I took my last tablets this morning and now I get a week off. I'm so grateful for having completed this cycle. The break too is very welcome because the past few days I've had really bad abdominal pains and I've been exhausted and cold.

These can be common side-effects of CAPOX Chemo so they don't worry me, but they have made it more difficult and not enjoyable. The worst was to come last night though. Diarrhea from hell, and unbelievable pain. I was close to tears I can tell you.

Again, Diarrhea affects up up to 92% of patients receiving CAPOX Chemo between days 8 and 14 (yesterday was day 14). That doesn't make it any less unpleasant though. Eventually, this stopped and I think I passed out so I got some sleep at least, but I'm in bed today instead of going bowling with my wife and daughter.

These things are sent to try us haha You just have to accept them as best you can, and listen to your body. Besides, I've still managed to meet up with friends and family this week and had some good times so not all is lost. Hopefully I pick up soon.

In other good news, and this is really exciting, I want you you meet the main character of a new Children's book I'm going to be publishing with Panda Publishing. This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, and something I probably wouldn't have done prior to my diagnosis. I've really used my situation as an opportunity to better myself and this will be another dream realised for me and my daughter.

I'm just waiting on the illustrator right now so keep checking back for lots of exciting updates. It's based on a poem I wrote for my daughter and I can't wait to share it with you all 😊

Jim xx

Shout out to my newest followers! I never for one moment thought that I'd have over 1000 when I started this, but your s...
25/02/2026

Shout out to my newest followers! I never for one moment thought that I'd have over 1000 when I started this, but your support has been absolutely amazing. Excited to have you onboard! Susan Flower, Rosemary Reeves, Evette Bruning, Helen Collett, Weiland Tammy, Sue Low, Dawn Lewis, Julie Dougle, Dawn Richards, Catriona Watson, Susan Willenbrock Johnston, Cathy Whitley, John Hancock, Irene Carver, Morna Low, Julia Bennett, Nancy Jo Clark Wood, Catherine Reynolds, Jayne Nettleship, Annabel Bryant, Ashley Paine, Catherine Gordon, Marion Parrott, Pauline Matthews, Rohana Reading, Sue Jennings, Chris Browning, Toni-Anne Coggins, Gail Bloxham, Phil Hallett, Wendy Johnson, Michelle Hale, Remi Russell, Mairi Leach, Kay James, Andy Bellm, Jane Roh-Bruns, Victoria Wide, Sharon Leamy Carrasco Martin, Thomas Peter Milstam, Tania St Pierre, Gill Webber, Paul Reid, Jerry Roodhouse, Claire Balding, Lisa Sheehan, Chrissie Babbington, Ray Jeffries, Jane Pitkeathly, Sandra McLean

23/02/2026

1000 followers 😁 That's amazing. Thank-you so much to all you wonderful people out there supporting me on my journey. I feel like we've created something special xx

Chemo Day 9 and I'm feeling... fine. Well, not fine exactly, but no complications this time so far. So good. I don't kno...
20/02/2026

Chemo Day 9 and I'm feeling... fine. Well, not fine exactly, but no complications this time so far. So good. I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but I am exhausted! Cancer fatigue, whether from the cancer itself, or the treatment, isn't like being tired. It takes over your whole self and I feel like I'm walking everywhere in treacle.

Still, I like to push myself and get out when I can. This morning it's a trip to our local garden centre and I usually reward myself with a coffee. Flat white with oat milk please if you ever see me out and about 😀 A rare treat of a sausage roll too which I no longer eat as a general rule, but looked too yummy to resist in my weakened state.

This cycle hasn't been so bad. Not like a 4th cycle which I would expect to be worse. The two week break obviously did me good but mostly it will be down to all the steroids I'm on. Its worth the extra weight I'm gaining, and the sleepless nights to have less side-effects. On that, it's hard for me not to think that the weight gain is the abdominal fluid returning which, if so, would mean the cancer isn't under control. I choose to believe otherwise though so I will just continue to monitor and slow my eating ha Best not to let these thoughts get on top of you.

There are two thoughts in life, especially when living with terminal cancer. Right now, it's the emotional thought which tries to tell me the cancer is growing versus the rationale thought which tells me I'm gaining weight because I'm eating more. There are no other signs the cancer is growing. The more you can side with your rationale mind, the better you are going to be able to cope.

I'm in a very serious position right now. The cancer is in a hard place to treat and yet I'm living my life as if everything is okay. I don't need to force this. I'm not pretending it isn't happening. Its just my natural preset these days because I've built up my resilience through realistic expectations and small wins. You can do the same. Never set yourself up to fail, or you already have. Statistics tell me the treatment won't work. I say it will. I know who I'd bet on 😀

I won't have another scan now until the end of Match so I won't know if its working or not. That's okay because I believe it is. Obviously, any new symptoms will be reported if needed though. Again, the emotional thought will say any new symptom is the cancer growing but this has to be balanced against the rationale. One of the hardest things about living with cancer is that all of the symptoms overlap. It makes it impossible to know, which leads to anxiety. No thank you. These thoughts can be controlled, it just takes work.

Right now, i'm just focused on enjoying life. Cancer be damned. Letting the treatment do it's thing, and looking forward. I hope you are too. Seize the day.

Jim xx

Wow, Okay..so my first ever supporters and they're all still with me which is amazing. Some of my favourite people right...
18/02/2026

Wow, Okay..so my first ever supporters and they're all still with me which is amazing. Some of my favourite people right there. Happy follow-versary to my awesome followers. Thanks for all of your support! Beth Phillips, Ian Saunders, Mark Solan, Dawn Pedelty, Lee Mountford, Lis Aylott I now have over 800 of you, which absolutely overwhelms me. I'm so grateful x

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Margaret Fisher, Janice Skeggs, Lorraine Ellen Lloyd, Mar...
17/02/2026

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Margaret Fisher, Janice Skeggs, Lorraine Ellen Lloyd, Margaret Upton Bissett, Beth Owen, Brian Warner, Christopher Stevenson, Liz Johnson, Maureen Lindsay, James Barrett, Barbara Verlander, Pamela Dimmock, Lilian Brockwell, Angie Kirrane, Tracey Brookman, Craig Hunter, Mae Edmunds, Elaine Thompson, Brian John Gutberlet, Angela Widdup, Bill Manuel, Susan Chun

17/02/2026

Today is Random Act of Kindness Day and the smallest gestures can mean the most.

So, why not add a little heart to someone’s day? Maybe do something for a friend – just because.

It’s an easy way to break out of the everyday routine and remind someone you’re thinking of them.

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