Thursday, June 30, 2011

More adventure

In the old Daily Express building in Fleet Street many years ago the powers that be liked to hang signs from the ceiling urging us all to do the right thing.

My favourite: "Cliches will be avoided like the plague."

Another read: "Make it early - make it accurate."

That changed after a disgruntled late night reporter armed with a roll of paper from the old Reuters or Associated Press teleprinter and a pot of glue climbed towards it in the early hours.

Those arriving fresh-faced in the morning saw: "Make it early - Make it up."

Happy days

Meanwhile, returning to Hospital Clinica Benidorm, my radiotherapy to the head continued. All is well.

Thanks for reading this and stay safe,
Bob

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Adventure has begun

First radiotherapy performed on my head today so, following yesterday's post, everything is going just the way it should. More of the same tomorrow and so on.

I've received an avalanche of anecdotal gems from my old Fleet Street colleagues and will put some together soon just for the fun of it. Journalists, I know you know, can be quite strange sometimes and, at least, it won't be about cancer, as promised.

Stay safe,

Bob McG

Monday, June 27, 2011

The Adventure Begins

Tomorrow, June 28, 2011, is for me the start of a new adventure and there have been a few.

I will begin my fight against cancer with one tumour in one lung and its two friends in the brain.

And I will win this.  I will win because I'm determined, always optimistic and I am inspired by the courage of those ahead of me who have fought cancer, including my wife who survived breast cancer twenty years ago, and those who are fighting still.  I consider myself privileged to now be in their company and wish every one of them long life and happiness.

I am a lucky man.  The support from my family and friends is as tremendous as it is humbling.

And I am lucky again because I am being treated in the Hospital Clinica Benidorm in Benidorm, Spain.

In this superb hospital I have found safety and enormous hope. The staff, all of them, are the most professional, caring, optimistic, dedicated and warm-hearted people one could ever be lucky enough to meet.

Well, I would say that but trust me, after weeks and weeks of scans and tests they have given me honest, straight facts, leaving me with no illusions about their skill and my prognosis.

With their dedication driving my determination, together we will win.

Now the radiotherapy on the head begins.  The road to recovery is clearly sign-posted.

My new motto, stitched to my hat is "FIGHT - WIN - LIVE".  That is what I intend to do.

So please stay with me here.  This is a Blog of Hope, not one of despair and although I will keep you posted, it won't always be about cancer.

Thanks for reading this.

Stay safe.

Bob McG