I wish to bring you up to date on progress and to apologize for not having
completed the book yet.



This has been in the writing for some time, but I started the book in
earnest in December but then both my father and mother were admitted into
hospital and each had critical conditions. Both are alive, but their
situations have each remained precarious - such a parallel!



Because of this, the book partly stalled until a few weeks ago when I went
away for a few days and mostly finished it off. However I became very aware
that in repeatedly tweaking earlier parts whilst writing new chapters I was
at risk of repetition? - so, having largely completed my first draft, I
decided to put it down for a few weeks and then go back to it afresh - which
I hope to do shortly.



Meanwhile I also invited a number of people who have been close to me, or
who have helped me in various ways, or who have 'touched' me deeply with
their own stories, to also write a page or two of nuggets of their own
wisdoms and learnings. This book is not just about 'survivors'- but it is
written in the deepest respect for all those who have cancer - and the
experience of it. For instance, Erika in Australia lost her little son
Shannon and has written a delightful and moving piece about those wonderful
moments achieved in his final months - what an inspiration!; Lori in the USA
has written of the hurts and bravery of her beloved husband Alan (S) and of
her life beyond him; the founder of one respected national cancer charity
and the co-founder of another are also contributing; Angela here in London
has written of the love and courage of her dear daughter, Helen; Alan (R )
in the USA has also survived but has a very different view of things to me;
and there are others. Personally I have found each account both deeply
touching and also informative and arousing both thoughts and questions - all
helpful to me personally. I feel, and hope, that such words will indeed
'touch' many others deeply, sensitively and wisely and help them in their
journeys - both to a greater appreciation of their time, maybe inspiring the
creation some more of those most beautiful moments that make life worth
living, whilst life is here - but maybe for some also helping some towards a
longer life. Can I really say that? Well maybe for some - since starting
this book I have read several other books and attended a lectures and have
spoken with several senior professors and oncologists whom I respect deeply
- so may things we have shared in our emails during our journeys - well some
seem to be proven as having helped- OK maybe just a small statistically
significant people - but SOMETHING WORKED for those individuals - in many
cases in tightly moderated and regulated studies. Why? Clearly I do not
know, but surely until there is a 'cure', for those of us with cancer, our
best approach is to take the medications or surgeries that the experts
prescribe and ALSO to make lots of those small changes each for the better
that others who have succeeded have done - and that have and can make the
difference - each to a few. To me, pulling this together in this book
'feels' so right. Maybe through viewing the subject from widely different
perspectives (lateral thinking, and deeply), much of which I initially
picked up in desperation - then much I thought was maybe unfounded,
challenging or contentious - but I have been lucky enough to have lived now
for over three years with a terminal diagnosis and a prognosis of months,
maybe it is just the medicines - but science is about precisely the same
outcome every time - so maybe I have made my own luck? but I am alive, and I
am fortunate to have had the opportunity to listened and learnt and have
spoken often informally with doctors and senior oncologists -and to
challenge much of this, only to find that much IS endorsed by their own
comments and experiences, and often their own 'questions' are the most
revealing - but whilst being both hesitant and questioning, the book gives
HOPE, it gives the opportunity for each one individual to adopt and adapt
modestly-costing complementary strategies - strategies in which they can
adopt after discussions with their own oncologists and in which they can
truly believe. But the book goes further - with specific referral to expert
sources where I have found what I believe to be the best courses, meditation
CDs, advice on foods,sources of research project information, information
on the outcomes of drug trails, etc. Hence it is intended as a handbook - so
cancer patients and their relatives can dip in, find information, hope,
ideas, questions and help with their strategies for living above cancer



Once my initial edit session is complete, I propose to circulate the draft
firstly to the contributors inviting their reading, comment and criticism,
improvements etc. I have never written a book before so this is a hugely
important step. Once done, I then will forward the draft for medical
inspection/criticism/contribution.



This work is important - only yesterday a friend of a friend visited me to
ask questions - he has distant mets and starts chemo on Friday - his life is
in a turmoil, and meanwhile he juggles trying to balance the stresses of
diagnosis, an understanding of the medical challenges, with his old
lifestyle, job-stresses and personal aspirations, desperately hoping for a
'cure', struggling with the potential impact of his situation on his family,
in deep stress, brave, looking for HOPE - and seeking a sensible strategy
and calm. There is so much we know and can give to help - from our unique
experiences- hence my invitations to a few respected contacts for their
contributions. In some cases even the fact we are alive and our advice may
be nothing more than we look to win the most from our moment - gives an
important message, initiates a thought process or helps to calm. Be it the
truth of grief, opening to Grace, Source, stripping away the superficial to
move towards authenticity, meditation, prayer, diet, vision, inner strength,
immune system honouring, or accepting the love from family, each helps us
just a little bit to tip the balance - and with conventional treatments as
well - we improve our chances - and be at peace with ourselves.



Furthermore, I am pleased to tell you that one of the charities has already
offered to put me into touch with a publisher, an individual has also
offered moderate funding and another has kindly offered to translate the
book into Spanish.



Hopefully all this will be achieved in the next few weeks/months? I hope
that you will bear with me a little longer.



Love and Healing



Ian





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