In April 2023 I was diagnosed with stage 3 testicular cancer. The good news was that nearly all men (98%) survive their disease. The bad news was… the diagnosis was wrong.
I didn’t know it then, but I had all the common symptoms of oesophageal cancer (difficulty swallowing, weight loss, persistent indigestion, pain behind my breastbone). Not only that, but doctors were unable to find a tumour and yet, they were convinced it had spread to nearby lymph nodes from cells that mature into sperm.
When I later obtained a copy of the histopathology (biopsy) report, however, this possibility was described as unlikely. That didn’t stop my then Oncologist starting me on a high-dose chemotherapy regimen which involved staying on a hospital ward for five days at a time whilst they injected a combination of drugs into my bloodstream one after the other.
By the end of the third month, I felt broken and exhausted. I had lost all of the hair on my head and body. I was sick and having problems with my memory. Despite this, I kept pushing for further tests and they eventually arranged an endoscopic ultrasound. The results changed everything.
In July 2023, I was diagnosed with stage 4 oesophageal cancer. There wasn’t any good news. I was told to plan for the worst and, whereas the outcome had previously been hopeful, my cancer was now expected to result in death. It was as though my life had been fast-tracked!
Hearing that my cancer couldn’t be cured was unbearable. Hearing that I might only have two months to live was unthinkable. I was 42 years old. A husband, and a father to a five year old daughter. I couldn’t give them up.
At first, I didn’t know how to cope with all the conflicting things I was feeling. It was so overwhelming; it was so painful that I just couldn’t accept what I was being told. Desperate to stay alive, I signed the consent form for a palliative chemotherapy regimen (this one would be less brutal at least) that was only expected to extend my life by around six months. If it worked.
That was 20 months ago. My last chemotherapy treatment was in October 2023. My tumour load has decreased dramatically, and my oesophagus now looks normal on the scans. I receive immunotherapy every six weeks, and I’m symptom free. I also have a good quality of life.
Now I want to share my unique story to help and inspire other cancer patients to neet the challenges of cancer head-on and live well with cancer every day by shining a spotlight on what it’s really like living with cancer and sharing the things I’ve done and learned on my own journey – including simple diet and lifestyle changes you can all make.
I believe that cancer has made me a better husband; a better father… a better person, and there are some common principles I’ll be discussing to help you find your own path. After all, it’s your cancer journey and behind every diagnosis is a unique story. This is mine. And it’s one full of hope.
Join me on my journey
If you’re living with cancer, a loved one or someone caring for someone with cancer there are many great reasons to subscribe to my blog and I’ll be sharing regular updates about my unique story and the things I’ve done to live well straight to your inbox. Don’t worry though because I won’t be doing subscriber-only freebies so even if you don’t subscribe, you’ll still get the same great content as everyone else!
Jim
A few people have contacted me to ask questions about me and my diagnosis and I’ve tried to answer some of the common ones, which you can read below. Or, if you prefer, you can just jump straight in at the start of our journey and read all about my first reactions here:
What type of cancer do you have?
I have stage 4 gastro oesophageal junction (GOJ) cancer (the junction where the oesophogus joins the stomach).
When we’re you diagnosed?
I was diagnosed with stage 4 gastro oesophageal junction (GOJ) cancer in July 2023, however, I was first diagnosed with cancer in April 2023. This is because they originally (mis)diagnosed it as stage 3 testicular cancer.
What was the prognosis?
My Oncologist told me that there was no cure and surgery was not an option. My life expectancy was 2-3 months if I did nothing or chemotherapy didn’t work and possibly 9-12 months if I had chemotherapy and it worked.
What were your symptoms?
Lower back pain that wasn’t get any better over time (caused by enlarged lymph nodes) plus difficulty swallowing, unintentional weight loss, persistent indigestion and pain behind my breastbone.
Did you have any conventional treatment?
Yes. I believe that conventional treatments still offer the best chance of survival and the first thing I did (each time) was sign the consent form for chemotherapy. My last palliative chemotherapy treatment was in October 2023 and my cancer was stable for 12 months before we started immunotherapy… Which brings us to the next question, why did I start immunotherapy if my cancer was stable? My Oncologist explained that for most cancers 12 months is the longest you can expect cancer to respond before it starts growing again. He asked if I wanted to resume chemotherapy, however, by this point I had become more interested in immunotherapy as the best treatment for me because it uses our immune system to fight cancer.
What are your thoughts on alternative and complimentary therapies?
Well first, there is a big difference between the two and yet people often think they’re the same. They’re not. I’m a big fan of complimentary therapy and I have made wholesale changes to my diet and lifestyle alongside conventional medical treatment. I find that many of these alternative therapies, which are used instead of medical treatment, have the potential to cause serious harm and often aren’t backed by any meaningful evidence. It is not for me to tell you which you should choose although I would urge you to consider all of the ‘facts’ (and not just opinions). There is no doubt in my mind that there are people who have beaten cancer, and I want to join them, but I don’t believe it was quackery that cured them. I do believe, however, that a lot of cancer cases could be prevented with only diet and nutrition.
Which diet do you follow?
I don’t follow any diet although a lot of the foods I eat can be found in Mediterranean diets. Almost all of the food I eat is plant based, however, I am not a vegan and I do eat poultry, eggs and fish in moderation (around 2-3 times per week). I don’t eat red or processed meat. My diet is filled with a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds. I drink either black coffee or coffee with (unsweetened) non-dairy milk and no sugar, syrup or sweeteners. I also drink green, rooibos and herbal teas with nothing added. For a treat I will usually pick something that is gluten free and plant based (there are some yummy deserts and ice creams) and I eat a few chunks of 100% cocoa dark chocolate every day. I reserve sugary drinks or snacks for special occasions and the same goes for alcohol. I don’t tell myself I can’t have something though and if I want to eat meat, dairy, gluten, cakes… I will so long as this is this doesn’t become a habit. It should be the exception and not the rule.
Why did you start this blog?
To share my unique cancer story (every cancer story is unique) and provide information that is hopefully helpful to people who either have cancer or know someone who is living with cancer. Even if you are neither of those people I still believe you can still learn a lot from my blog about living well. I genuinely believe there are things I’ve done which have boosted my immune system; improved my overall health and well-being; reduced toxins and, ultimately, given me some control in my fight against cancer and it’s treatment. I could’ve died within 2-3 months of receiving my original diagnosis and yet here I am, almost two years later, and I’m not just surviving; I’m thriving and I want you to too.
Why should I subscribe?
Well you’re gonna hopefully get helpful and informative posts about the things that matter most to you. You also get a promise that I won’t ever try and sell you anything and I will not be selling your personal details. There isn’t any subscriber-only freebies though. I believe that everyone should get the same great content. I’m not in this for the money and my posts will be open, honest and, more importantly, REAL.
Do you have a Facebook page?
Yes and I’d love for you to connect with me on Facebook. My personalised page link is
https://www.facebook.com/share/18kT3TmEC4/
please share this link to help me reach as many people as possible.
Have you beaten cancer?
No. But I want to. And until someone tells me that my cancer can no longer be controlled, I’ll never give up hope. I’ve adopted a positive attitude since the start, and I truly believe that the things I do have helped me to live longer than expected and have a better quality of life. That’s what it’s about for me, and I’m living my best life (and Im doing it with a terminal cancer diagnosis).
Are you really symptom free?
Well, in terms of symptoms from my cancer, then yes, I am living symptom free. I still struggle with other things, though. I have stage 3 chronic kidney disease, which comes with its own range of symptoms, which includes fatigue and trouble sleeping. I also have two urethra stents fitted, which can also cause muscle cramps, so I would say that sleep and tiredness and pain are the main things I deal with.
“Live Laugh Love”
Me, Myself and Cancer 