Andrew Jolly: My 10 Years Living with Cancer
Awareness
This year marks 10 years for me in the battle with Multiple Myeloma, a type of blood cancer similar to better-known cancers like lymphoma and leukaemia. We all think we are invincible, and are hopeful that these troubles will never happen to us. That’s certainly how I felt, especially as a 38-year-old reasonably fit and healthy person. But unfortunately, these problems in life don’t select you based on such criteria. My diagnosis shocked a fair few people and most began to think “if it can happen to you, then it could happen to me!”.
My message here is to get checked out if something is not right and to not put it off like so many do. Timing is everything! Timing could save your life just like it did mine…
Mental Health
The last 10 years have been a challenging journey with lots of ups and downs, many tears and questions regarding life. Strong mental health has allowed me to persevere through this battle as positively as possible. Over the years I have seen and acknowledged that we are all dealing with personal issues at different stages of our life. Prioritising the correct mental health tools is paramount when faced with adversity.
Exercise and meditation have become a huge part of my life for that reason, and when I don’t make time for these, I can see a vast difference within my mental state. I am also extremely lucky to have the amazing support of my wife, family and friends. I have worked for 3 companies since my diagnosis and the support that I have received throughout this journey has also been truly amazing.
Stay positive and use the tools that suit you, it’s not one size fits all when finding your own coping mechanisms. You can still have an amazing life, even with heavy weights on your mind and body. Life’s too short to not to enjoy it.
Hitting your Goals
Laying in a hospital bed 10 years ago after being told I have cancer, my spine re-built and a cricket ball size tumour removed that had been eating my spine, it’s safe to say I was not in the greatest of places! But I said to myself ‘I WILL beat this’ and set two goals for myself…
- Surf again. This is my passion and something that makes me extremely happy.
- Cycle again. Specifically, if I was able to, ride from London to Paris for the Myeloma UK charity.
At this stage, walking was a challenge… so the thought of being able to ride or surf again felt unreachable.
However enduring multiple courses of different chemo, two stem cell transplants and fighting the disease for the third time, I am still here living the fight!
Since being diagnosed ten years ago, I have managed to surf quite a few times and for the first time in 20 years bought a new surfboard last year. Slowly cycling has turned into a passion of mine and I now ride 4-times a week in the Surrey Hills where I live.
To commemorate my tenth year surviving cancer, I wanted to do something memorable. So finally, this September I am hitting that 2nd goal I made and participating in the Myeloma UK charity ride to Paris.
This is 500km over 4 days; my colleague Rob Harris and friends Florian Ferreira and Andrew Baker are teaming up with me to smash this challenge. However, a minimum of £6,000 in fundraising is needed to take part in the ride. Any support you can give is greatly appreciated, not only so I am able to fulfil this ambition but to also support research into finding a cure for so many people in my situation. My real hope is to raise £10,000 (£1000 for each year I have been living with the disease so far).
[Andrew with Rob Harris]
For more information on Myeloma:
https://www.myeloma.org.uk/understanding-myeloma/what-is-myeloma/
You can donate to my JustGiving page by clicking here: