Ringing the Bell
On the 9th of October
2024, I rang the bell to mark the end of my radiation therapy for prostate
cancer, and that moment heralded the beginning of a new life. For those
unfamiliar with it, ringing the bell is a tradition at the close of treatment,
a small but resonant act that marks the end of one chapter and the start of
another. [Photons
on the Prostate - IX]
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| An AI-generated infographic on the blog content. (Click to enlarge.) |
The process was
tough, and the side effects were almost debilitating. I had problems with my
bowel and bladder, my voice had gone, and there was so much else to contend
with, quite apart from the fatigue I had to manage over time.
Surviving and
Thriving
Two years on, things
are a great deal better. There are still issues, of course. My voice remains in
a funny state, and sexual function is a problem, but I do not let these things
bother me. I simply carry on, glad that I am still here: surviving, thriving,
and telling stories.
The stories I tell
are about life itself, from adversity to triumph, and the continuing sense of
hope for better things. That hope is what keeps me writing.
To Signal, Not to
Revel
I had wanted to write
this blog, yet I felt rather lethargic, and I was a little unwell too. I like
to commemorate these occasions, not necessarily to celebrate them as such. By
that I mean I mark them rather than revel in them; I acknowledge the dates without
having to throw a party. It is the spirit of gratitude on display.
Sometimes you feel
too tired to do the things you want to do, so you come to them later instead.
Nothing is lost. You always have the opportunity to redeem the time.
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