Nineteen years and still here!

[Billcul]

In 2000, I was diagnosed with inoperable NSCLC. A devastating thing for anyone. I was treated at the Beatson in Glasgow, with chemotherapy and radiotherapy over the next months.

Eventually, the large tumor in my right lung began to shrink and I decided to return to work. My wife and I had been with Roy Castle, almost since the start of my treatment, and still are. I am an Advocate and Reader with the organisation. I am also a research assistant with the Cancer Care Research Group at Stirling University, having worked at the Uni for about 14 years. In 2011, I received an Honorary MA degree from Stirling University, mostly for my work in helping to promote cancer care research.

I was also involved recently in promoting the Detect Cancer Early Campaign, which Sir Alex Ferguson fronted.

[Billcul]

I made a mistake in the heading - It's SEVENTEEN Years and still here!

[hedgehoggy in reply to Billcul]

17 or 19 it's marvellous and you look very well too. You give hope to everyone reading this.

Very well done Billcul. Keep up the good news.

Best wishes

Hoggy

[Billcul in reply to hedgehoggy]

Thanks Hoggy,

I think the reason for 19, is that we’ll be 19 years married later this month. Shows I’m thinking about it. 😀

Bill

[hedgehoggy in reply to Billcul]

Hi Billcul

I came across our conversation a year ago I think my phone has been doing funny things but how are you doing?

I'm doing well except for a rotten cold. I have a few scans to have this month but still being monitored which is good and have the results by Xmas.

Best wishes

Hoggy

[Billcul in reply to hedgehoggy]

Hi, I am well thank you. My laptop is playing u and my phone isn’t helping much. Didn’t recognise my password. I forgot I’d rectified the 17 or 19 years thing, so glad I did. Must have been thinking of my marriage, which celebrates 20 years in a couple of weeks.

Health wise, no trouble at all with cancer, just getting old man’s arthiritis. I’m still a research assistant/patient adviser with the Cance Care Research Group at Stirling University, so keeping busy st 75. Hope you are keeping well?

Bill

[hedgehoggy in reply to Billcul]

Hello Bill

Nice to hear from you. Since a year ago there seems a lot more people on the forum. I'm not up to date with most but remembered your photo with you and your wife in your lovely photo.

I'm keeping well thank you all considered with a lung operation and two brain ops and I think it is good for others on the forum to see that there is hope.

Best wishes to you and yours and keep up the good work.

Hoggy

[Anniecat]

Well done you, I am just entering my 9th year. There is hope all keep on fighting this awful disease

Anne xx

[Tcam]

A lovely positive story 😊

[Billcul in reply to Tcam]

Thank you, and best wishes, Bill

[Bow-19]

Thank you for posting. That’s great news and very inspiring. Keep well. Thanks for all the good work that you are doing. It is appreciated X

[Billcul in reply to Bow-19]

Thank you and best wishes, Bill

[kennetti]

Wonderful news ...there’s hope for everyone

[Billcul in reply to kennetti]

Thank you. Best wishes, Bill

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

We at the Roy Castle have had the privilege of meeting Bill at many events,he is truly inspirational.What a lovely photograph.

With best wishes Bill from all the team at the Roy Castle Helpline.

[Billcul]

Thank you for your kind words. Sorry I messed up the 17 and 19 years. It’s an age thing. Xx

[patricia218]

Brilliant news and hope for all of us.What a good man you are! Happy Anniversary x

[Billcul in reply to patricia218]

Thank you! Best wishes, Bill

[Dismal]

Great to hear a positive story.

[Billcul]

Thank you. Best wishes, Bill

[livvyloot]

Well glad I logged on today, been feeling a little down and unwell (could be the new immunotherapy) but reading your news has bucked me up no end - thanks for posting a very positive note. x

[Billcul in reply to livvyloot]

Thanks Ivyloot. I'm embarrassed now that I made the typo of 19 instead of 17 years being cancer free. The 19 is how many years we will have been married later this month, but it might be bad luck to change it!! It's certainly not unusual or strange to feel down or unwell. Cancer is a horrendous thing for anyone to have and sometimes the treatment is tough-going. The whole thing seems to take over your life. One of the benefits of groups like this is that you're among friends who have often gone through the same thing, Not being a medic or cancer specialist, all I can suggest is try to stay positive. Not easy, but it helps.

Best wishes, Bill x

[Mikest1]

Really positive. Is there anywhere we can read your full history of treatments? Did you try any special diets etc? It would be useful to be useful to hear from you to see if we can all learn anything from you. I have recently been diagnosed non smoker with stage 4 NSCLC ALK positive aged 55 but fully fit with no pain.

Regards

Mike

[Billcul in reply to Mikest1]

Hi Mike

Most of my history is on my initial post. It's so long ago now that my treatment will be old hat. Because the tumor was inoperable (due to its size and location) my specialist used a cocktail of drugs she hadn't tried before. Luckily for me I had stopped smoking a couple of years before diagnosis, so the treatment had a better chance of success. If I hadn't, I doubt if things would have gone as well. I was lucky too, in having positive folk around me, and trying to keep everything as normal as possible. I had great support and advice from the Roy Castle CNS who worked at the hospital at that time. I think the CNS is seriously valuable - often more knowledgeable than the doctors (sorry Doc). Sorry I can't be more helpful. All the best, Bill

[JanetteR57]

Inspiring stuff, Bill. Keep up the good work.

[Billcul]

Thanks Janette. Best wishes, Bill

[macmeg]

And very nifty on the football pitch as well Bill. A lovely photograph and an inspiring journey.