#1 Luck

I've thought about luck a lot in the past few weeks - I've always been slightly uncomfortable with quotes such as 'you make your own luck' or 'the harder I work the luckier I become'.  I like the principle in that the quotes empower people to feel like they are in control of their destiny - but as an example think of the people in the World Trade Centre attacks on 11/11.  Did they make their own luck in being in that building on that fateful day under those circumstances?  Did the person who called in sick and survived that same attack make their own luck?  What about the emergency service personnel who fought bravely to save the survivors of those attacks, only to come down with killer diseases years later as a result of it?  Slightly deep for my first paragraph...but please bear with it :)

For me I sit on the fence - you can control a lot and its important to believe that you can - but there is that invisible force that can be on your side or it isn't.  I do think there is alot to be said (and as yet undiscovered by Science) in the power of the mind, so believing you are lucky can and will help you.

Turning to myself I could reflect on whether I been unlucky because I have just been diagnosed with bowel cancer despite being 40 (the average age of diagnosis is 75; 95% of people diagnosed are >50), having no family history of bowel cancer, having never smoked and led a very active and healthy life - all factors impacting its likelihood.  Have I been unlucky that its due to its relatively low position in my bowel (only a third of bowel cancers are in the rectum), it has made a (relatively) straightforward operation risky that might have resulted in no need for chemo/radiotherapy.  Have I been unlucky that if I do require surgery that there is a fairly high chance that I will need a colostomy bag for life - and having had radiotherapy also have an increased risk of secondary cancer in the future?

Well taking all that into account my view is that I have been lucky - lucky that it has been diagnosed so early.  Lucky that it doesn't appear to have spread.  Lucky that I have the best most amazing wife and children who give me the love and motivation to fight this evil disease, and in recent weeks lucky to have so many amazing supportive friends and family and colleagues in my life who give me strength.  Lucky that my doctor didn’t dismiss me as not fitting the bowel cancer profile as so many people <50 are - and putting me forward for a colonoscopy.  Lucky that bowel cancer is one of the most treatable cancers - on initial diagnosis the doctor said 'if you are going to get Cancer, this is the one to get as it is so treatable'.  I understand that if caught early 98% of bowel cancers are treatable. Lucky that given my age and health I have the option of chemo / radiotherapy first to try and rid this - with an operation as a fall back plan.  Lucky that Nestle provides private health cover that meant I got seen in weeks rather than months - and lucky that I have amazing doctors and an oncologist who are so positive and encouraging and inspiring.  Lucky that Nestle really values its staff and have been so incredibly supportive that I haven't had to worry about work at all. 

I have Cancer - but I felt it was always coming for me - yet I was ready and somehow we (or luck?!?) caught it.  Fighting Cancer seems like a war and I will always respect it as it can be relentless regardless of how positive the prognosis - but I am ready for the first battle with it feeling positive and strong.  

If the above sounds naive or deluded - in this war the glass always needs to be half full or I suspect you're losing before you begin.  My Mum faced into cancer for 17 years with the most amazing positive mindset and she remains an inspiration to all her family and friends and especially me.

But if Lady Luck is a significant factor, I hope she looks kindly on me and our young family along with everyone out there fighting this desperate war for survival.