I was casually flicking TV channels last night and happened across Rhod Gilbert's story of his treatment for head and neck cancer back in 2022. I had a similar minor health issue back in 2011 (bowel cancer) and although it's 15 years ago now and thankfully I'm still here, I really identified with Rhod Gilbert's story.
People who have no experience of serious life changing or health issues probably thought - 'Why is this big, grown man constantly in tears ? He's a comedian for God's sake'.
I was exactly the same as Rhod Gilbert and rapidly developed the emotional fragility of an egg.
- When I completed my 30 successive days of radiotherapy, I had built up a relationship with the radiographers so I bought the team some biscuits. Like Rhod Gilbert, I was completely in pieces as I said 'Thank you' and 'Goodbye' and they were so kind and understanding.
- Thankfully, I didn't have a bell to ring or friends and family waiting outside the hospital after I completed treatment and left hospital but I empathised with Rhod Gilbert as he made his short speech.
- When he got the 'all clear' but was told he would just need a scan on an anomaly near the lymph node in his throat, he didn't celebrate and feel happy. Understandably, he was now obsessed with and dreading this next precautionary scan in 3 months (which was clear).
- My equivalent was completing treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) and having the portacath (device used to dispense chemo or antibiotics) removed from my chest. The male nurse said 'I guess this must be quite a milestone for you'. Again, he was uncannily accurate and set me off yet again in the preparation area.
Gilbert closed his documentary with a dedication - 'Thanks to all the friends, family, the marvellous doctors and nurses in the NHS and cancer patients past and present'.