Page 25 - Inspire
P. 25
“When I was first diagnosed, I was told that,
without treatment, I probably had about six
months. I wouldn’t see my 65 birthday. With
th
treatment, they gave me about 18 months, with
around 12 months of that spent having treatment.
I said to them ‘Right, I’m going to get to 70!’ I knew that I was going to have something which
wasn’t very pleasant, but I couldn’t wait to start.
It took a while for me to be diagnosed. Too long. For me, this was the start of getting better.
All in all, it was about 18 months of back and forth
to the doctors complaining of problems in my side I had this vision that the chemo was a bottle of
and shortness of breath. This was unusual for me. weed killer and they were going to keep squirting
I’ve run marathons, half marathons, 10ks. I’ve kept it on the cancer, the weed. They were going to
fit all my life because I just like feeling fit. smother it, really cover it and get rid. That was my
positive way of thinking.
The doctor didn’t seem concerned though,
especially after the x-ray appeared to come back And me being me, I just tried to make the chemo
clear. His words were, ‘There’s nothing sinister ward a happier place. I was trying to get
going on in your body Mr. Wilkinson.’ everybody’s spirits up. I was the practical joker,
chatting away to people and just trying to find
It was only after I was diagnosed, and I was something positive to smile about. You have to try
speaking to a surgeon, that I found out my X-rays and find the positives. I’m having treatment that’s
weren’t clear. At the time they were taken, they trying to make me better. It might not cure me,
believed the problem was muscular, so they were but it will make me better.
looking for strains and breakages. That’s what they
were trained to look for.
I first got told I was in remission in September
The surgeon, however, said had he seen the X-rays, 2017 and my scans continue to remain stable.
he would have spotted that I had lung cancer. It As long as we can keep it like that, I’m happy.
was behind my heart. I suppose I could get angry at Because I’m not ready to go yet - I’ve got a couple
that and, of course, I was angry when I was more World Cups in me, a few more Olympics
diagnosed, very angry and very fearful, but now I and, of course, reaching the big ‘seven-oh!’
just want people to learn from my experience.
I get a lot out of my life. I’m happily retired. I’ve
got a lovely family and I’m just enjoying life. I don’t
Unfortunately, by the time I was diagnosed, surgery want to go around the world, go to the moon and
wasn’t an option, so I had to go down the chemo back, I’m just happy doing what I’m doing. I’m
route. happy with my life. I’m okay.”
