Outspoken journalist Christopher Hitchens has lost his battle with this disease.
He has kept a good record of his fight & his writings are quite inspiring. Look him up on Youtube talking to Paxton. Not everyones ideal spokesman for a cause, but he was an interesting guy. No good wishing him RIP, he was an atheist. I will miss him.
Christopher Hitchens was quite controversial wasn't he! He was described as having a 'ferocious intellect' - I am not sure whether that is really a compliment or not! But I do think that anybody who can write about their cancer journey for the benefit of others does a good service. I remember him saying that he did not believe in an after-life but that he liked surprises, so perhaps RIP might be appropriate after all!
My sympathys go to his family as it does to anyone who looses someone they love, especially at this time of year.
At the risk of being considered cynical, maybe if "higher profile" figures are seen to be affected by OC then perhaps a little more publicity about this particular cancer might result in both earlier diagnosis and more effective monitoring. It seemed that bowel cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancers were all given a greater public profile after certain celebrity/public figures were diagnosed with those cancers. I have never heard of a run for OC, concert or any similar national fund raising effort for OC. and research into it.
Am I alone incidentally at disliking the emphasis and prominence of reports of the "hard drinking and smoking" lifestyle elements in Mr.Hitchens life? The implications that OC is a "well what did you expect, living like that" cancer offends me. Whilst not living like a nun for the last 40 years I stopped smoking 25 years ago, almost veggie, never touched shorts and only a social drinker. I am sure many others of us are moderate of lifestyle too. A similar attitude also occurrs with lung cancer I feel. While hard drinking and smoking will never contribute to health, neither will eating processed food, drinking fizzy drinks and being a couch potato! Many people also have compromised immune conditions that leave them much more vulnerable to cancers generally.The controversy about biophosphates, long term reflux etc. is also hardly every mentioned. I am feeling sensitive today, you may have guessed
Charlie
Reactive hypoglycemia
Swallowing difficulties 5 months post-op
Diabetes and oesophagectomy 
