First anniversary of IL surgery

To all friends, family & well wishers,

Praise be to Saint Anastamosis, on 5 February 2009 Lynne & I quietly celebrated one year since my Ivor Lewis surgery. All is going as well as I might hope. No issues, complications, side effects or recurrence. Last week I attended a NSW Cancer Council volunteer training for Cancer Connect volunteers. The two day course was held in Sydney at the Council HQ in Dowling Street with a group of 16 trainees. Brain, breast, prostate, lymphoma, stomach and bowel were all represented. Course leader was Maxine Rosenfield and the Cancer Connect coordinator is Lisa Humphries. Gary from Nambucca Heads was the one trainee with very similar cancer to mine, perhaps a bit more radical and with more ongoing side effects which he is learning to live with while still working as a full time banana grower.

Picture of group is embedded.

Once through the training, volunteers are matched up with cancer patients to provide one on one peer support via the telephone. I benefitted from my Cancer Connect volunteer, Marion from Central West NSW. It seemed a done thing that I should volunteer likewise.

Next week I report for a routine gastroscopy to see what is happening at the new junction [the old one was cut out during surgery!].

To be continued.

Canberra, Australia
snusher@gmail.com