Dying of cancer - NOT amateur radio

 My wife has been to see her old work colleague and friend several times recently. 

After a long battle with stage 4 cancer she has come home to die. They gave her less than 5 years, but she has lasted 8 years. She probably only has days left. It is all so sad. She sleeps a lot of the time and is confined to bed. 

It is odd. In some ways this experience has dulled the fear of death. For her husband it must be unbelievably sad knowing that your wife is dying and there is no prospect of her getting better.

Dying of cancer - NOT amateur radio

One of my wife's friends is dying of cancer. She was told she had perhaps 5 years to live, but she has lived with it for about 7 years.

She is now in the very last stages and has days or weeks to live. She was in hospital, but has come home to die.

It must be incredibly difficult for her, her husband and all their family. It is so hard to know what to do for the best. 

It brings our own limited time on this planet into focus. I am reminded of the famous poem "Spring and Fall' by Gerard Manley Hopkins.

See https://poets.org/poem/spring-and-fall .

UK King's cancer diagnosis - NOT amateur radio

Whatever views you hold on royalty, the announcement yesterday that the UK king has cancer was a shock. Hopefully it has been caught early and it can be cured with treatment. For many now this happens (it is cured) far more times than in the past when cancer felt like a death sentence.

One thing it reminds us all of is that life is finite. Whatever your views are on life after we die, our time on Earth is limited. In every moment there are things around us we have never noticed to be enjoyed. We are all reminded that there is beauty all around us if we look.

Profound moment - NOT amateur radio

Some days ago I posted that my cousin had died of jaw cancer after his only child died in the last year. She died childless, so the widow is all alone.  

My faith was weak before, but this has had a profound effect on me. What faith I had has been shattered. I guess I am hoping for some sort of "eureka" moment, but right now it is hard to see anything good in this situation. 

One could be forgiven for thinking life can be cruel and random. I would like to see some good in this, but I cannot.

"Life's a bitch and then you die" - NOT amateur radio

Not sure where this phrase originated. It must be good to have a strong faith.

Recently my cousin died of jaw cancer having lost his only daughter in the last year. His wife was so upset that she told nobody of the funeral and there were only 3 people there (her sister, niece and herself). She must feel so alone and bereft. 

Nothing I can say will be able to make things better. Talk of a loving God and life everlasting seem hollow.

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday September 28th 2016, and cancer research

Solar flux is 83 today. The sunspot number is 21. K=5. The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor". With disturbed conditions I am not expecting much DX today on 10m. Mind you, thing change!

Had my mother survived cancer she would have been 99 today. It is still not too late to give, even a little, towards cancer research.  If you want, you can hide your name and give, just a little even, anonymously. Cancer effects many people of all ages. Thank you to the kind person who donated earlier. Your gift may just make a difference.

Only last week a radio ham friend, Paul G8GML, died of bowel cancer. He died too young.  When I first came to Cambridge we talked and talked on 2m FM most nights. RIP Paul. In more recent times he enjoyed amateur TV and 160m.

One day this could be you and the research you help to fund might save your life.

Cancer research. Can you spare just a little please?

It is still not too late to give, even a little, towards cancer research. 

If you want, you can hide your name and give, just a little even, anonymously.  I posted something similar a few weeks ago and was blown over by your generosity. Nothing!!! Yes, that's right - not a single penny was donated.

People happily spend £10k on rigs, linears, towers and beams, but seem unwilling to spend a very little towards research that may one day save their life.

Please think if you can spare something, however small. You can use your credit or debit card.

"In the midst of life...." - NOT amateur radio

"In the midst of life we are in death" - so goes the famous saying. Recently I have been made aware of this more than before with another of my university friends dying from cancer. I expect this is an age thing with more of my own generation dying. In the meantime,we must all milk life like Dame Sarah Storey at the Paralympics. She is the daughter of a university friend.

My son Tim Lapthorn is raising money for cancer research. If you are able, please support this good cause by giving just a little.  Every little helps.

See https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Tim-Lapthorn-dryathlete2016

"Media vita in morte sumus ; quem quaerimus adjutorem, nisi te Domine, qui pro peccatis nostris juste irasceris? Sancte Deus, sancte fortis, sancte et misericors Salvator, amarae morti ne tradas nos."

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_vita_in_morte_sumus 

Cancer - NOT amateur radio

On of my wife's friends has, out of the blue, been told she has breast cancer that has spread. It was a total shock. It was picked up by a routine screening. She had had no pain or warnings. She has been told she has less than 5 years to live. Both my father and grandfather died in their 60s of heart conditions. I know my time is limited. Maybe I'll live to 95 or I could die next week. However I have hope. What she has been told is, in effect, a death sentence. I'd find this hard to accept. Clearly she is very worried. She has not been helped by her doctor who was rather uncaring about the whole thing. With cancer there is always hope. Some do recover and surely she should have been told this.

Cynical, me? - NOT amateur radio

OK, I know I am becoming a grumpy old man but I was not impressed by the latest statements that the exchange of nuclear waste with the USA would benefit cancer sufferers. To me, this sounds like "spin" which we can well do without. We are NOT stupid.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35930906 .

G4ILO's brain tumour

Several readers of my blog also read Julian G4ILO's interesting blog. You may, or may not, be aware that Julian has recently been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour known as Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade 4 and he is just about to start treatment to slow down its progress. A complete cure is unlikely but modern treatments can certainly help to slow the tumour growth. I'm sure you all join me in wishing Julian every success in beating this. Julian and his wife Olga have a new blog tracking his treatment progress called One Foot In the Grave which I commend to you.