From 5 to 50It started when I was tucked up in bed. Suddenly waking, I felt cold, a clammy cold. I became aware that my T shirt was soaking wet and peeled it off wiping myself down before squelching my way to the bathroom. But, it was not only my torso that was affected, my bald legs and feet were sticking together in some very odd unions. Just how legs can sweat I don’t know, but peeling them apart is bound to wake you up I can assure you. Lovely picture isn't it?Remembering that I have a veritable cocktail of drugs rattling around inside of me at any one time which cause all sorts of mischief, I regard all of these oddities as transitory and try to pay them no real attention. I have had side effects ranging from chronic fatigue to blisters and blackouts! So I was thankful but not surprised that the night “sweats” were only short lived. However I do appear to have picked up a secondary Plantar Hyperhidrosis.
I was going to start this diatribe by poking fun at my planter hyperhidrosis and getting you all worried over the Latin name rather than my …SWEATY FEET! However, the more I looked up the problems of hyperhydrosis the more I felt sympathy with the million or so people in the UK who actually suffer from it. There are web sites, help forums, and NHS support to help those who sweat too much. And no, not all sweat smells before you have an image of me humming like an old training shoe! So how did I cope with this, the latest in setbacks? Cotton socks and showers! I think I’ll survive.
Talking of survival, you probably know the figures for cancer developing in all of us is roughly one in five. Why then out of my close group of five friends who go back to school days some 40 years ago, do three out of the five of us have or have had cancer? We all survive but what are the odds?
I always knew the physics lessons with Depleted Uranium weren’t a good idea Mr Phillips!
There was always a strange glow about the pupils in Class 3c.
Actually that takes me onto a sideways look at my cancer. From day one I would have expected that the researchers would have been all over me with respect to the fact that I had worked with the MoD and using various “materials” over 10 years before irradiating myself flying at altitude for a further couple of decades with the airlines. I must have had some serious radioactive millisievert activity over those years so it came as no surprise when I was asked to produce a report for Excel Airways on the accumulated radiation exposure to pilots and cabin crew before I left. It is a very real problem taken seriously by some airlines. There was even a related rumour that cabin crew would not be considered as organ donors because of this exposure. However, I personally believe this statement would be more correct if commentating on the state of their livers! Long live Caribbean beer… which in fact does have a half life of Mr Phillips’ Uranium!
It remains true that no one in the lifestyle or genetic research cancer community was at all interested in my radiation exposure over the years. Perhaps it’s not relevant to my kidney cancer and the 7000 new cases in the UK every year. Perhaps they know where the cancer comes from and don’t need to look for external causes? It would however be nice to know my enemy.
But to more important things, the hair is growing back! Fluffy white above the ears, white eyebrows and a general whispy down on top. If you look closely you can see the roots of the “white hair” are now coming through as black. The beard has changed from a stately grey/white and has developed patches of dark around the “goatee” areas such that I can look like Ming the Merciless’ grandad! The ladies in my life have taken to fluffing the top of my head in recognition of the new growth… I have become a sex toy. The rest of me is actually feeling very good. Energy levels are increasing, as is my waistline, so I’ll have to consider not sticking so much down my neck…eat consciously and all that. From the sublime to the ridiculous then if you consider what I was like pre-Christmas. There isn’t a scan booked for another 6-8 weeks and the medics are ignoring me unless I have a problem. The Hospice Day Centre have conceded that I am not typical and do not need craft activities to be a complete human being. They have put me on the back burner to simmer away for…ever, I hope. I’m back at my pilates class and the bike is going to get an airing when the weather stops behaving like it's winter. All told I’m in a good place, but one without biscuits!
NOTE: The above diatribe was written three weeks ago. Since then I have lost weight and gained strength. Sometimes it’s difficult to get an appetite but I known the consequences if I don’t eat this time around. Mind over matter. Focus Copley...now where is the Cadburys hidden?
And the best news of all is that I have secured a venue and band for 6 November 2010.
Yes, I’ll be FIFTY and the achievement of reaching a half century is going to be celebrated with enthusiasm. I’m going to throw a huge party for all of you. From aged 5 to 50 there have been many of you who have touched my life and it would be good to see you again.
More details to follow but I’m having great fun sorting out the early logistics.
Richard
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