I doubt anyone truly expects to get cancer. However if you do, and many will face it at some stage in their life, you would want the reassurance of knowing  that an organisation like Macmillan is there for you. And frankly until this dreadful cancer paid me a visit, I had little or no knowledge of their existence. Why would you? 

The Oncology team at Broomfield Hospital are extremely supportive, clear about the sort of challenge you face and experts in their field. My diagnosis came toward the end of the second Pandemic Lockdown - following a period when I was treated for arthritis by my GP Practice.

 At one stage they even prescribed Voltorol cream as the powerful analgesics were having no impact on the rapidly spreading pains in my hips, back, ribs and then shoulders. The first blood test
when it came, was off the scale at 13,350 - it also confirmed the cancer was incurable. My family and I were devastated.

However, faced with this dreadful news, you must pick yourself up, decide with expert guidance which treatment route to take and get on with it. In my case I opted for the hormone route - and currently my PSA at time of writing, is down to 0.77. 

Naturally, I hope it will continue to follow this downward trend. Throughout my treatment, Macmillan have been extremely diligent and their expert "light touch" guidance has been wonderfully positive. 

Meanwhile, I wish to give something back by participating in the half-marathon Dedham Vale Mighty Hike - to support the wonderful work of Mamillan - and help other people I will never know or meet. This is important to me - and I hope you, for you never know what's around the corner. I certainly didn't!

So please give generously if you are able to support Macmillan especially at this particularly challenging time. 

Thanks for supporting my fundraising. At Macmillan, we give people with cancer everything we’ve got. If you’re diagnosed, your worries are our worries. We’re doing whatever it takes. But without your help we can’t support everyone who needs us.Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs.