Friday, 16 August 2013

The black dog

I closed the Archive back in May and until a couple of weeks ago hadn't written a bloody word - you see, I've not been myself and after getting some bad news from the quack, a blackness came over me. I don't usually do depression but this was a bitch and I was unable to shake it off.

Until now that is After all things could be worse...much worse.

You see back in early May I decided to visit the docs because of a wound on my forehead that just didn't
want to heal - I wasn't sure how I got the wound, only that I'd discovered it around last Christmas. At first I thought I'd banged my head, or possibly even cut myself with a fingernail since it was only a tiny cut on my forehead. Still every time the cut healed it would open up again a week or so later, and each time it returned it was slightly bigger than before. Eventually I went to the docs and after tests it was confirmed as skin cancer - and that's what really fucked me up. That dreaded C word. As soon as you hear that word you feel your insides twist and its natural to fear the worse.

There's no such thing as a good cancer, my doctor told me. But if there was then my particular variety would be it.

You see my  form of cancer is Basal Cell Cancer - Basal-cell carcinoma (BCC), a skin cancer, is the most common cancer. It rarely metastasizes or kills. However, because it can cause significant destruction and disfigurement by invading surrounding tissues, it is still considered malignant.

I'm waiting for my date for surgery and I'm told that the success rate is really high, and I guess I'm starting to feel myself again, and  that means it is time to bring the Archive back and start pimping my books again.

8 comments:

James Reasoner said...

Gary,
Here's wishing you all the best. My father had a similar situation and recovered from it just fine.

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

Thanks James - I've actually had my date for the surgery in the post this morning. The 10th of next month and they'll cut it out and perform minor cosmetic surgery. As I say now that I know more about this particular form of cancer I am much more positive about things.

David Cranmer said...

And in a comment almost identical to James, my dad also had the same condition and recovered. Good vibes being sent your way, Gary.

(Btw I'm expecting you to return to BEAT to a PULP before the end of the decade.)

Seriously Though said...

I'm sorry you have to deal with this. I hope you do recover quickly and get the joy of life back!

Davieboy said...

I'm sure you've done the research and your mind is more at rest now. I wish you all the best - it's good to have you back. You're a writer and a fighter so you'll pull through stronger than you were!

Anonymous said...

As Gary knows, we've already corresponded about this privately. I was able to offer some reassurance based on a personal experience in 2010 which has had no lasting adverse effects. It's good to see James and David giving similar reports about their dads. I look forward to you making the score four out of four!

I.J. Parnham said...

I wish you all the best, Gary.

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

Thanks all - I'm feeling pretty positive about it all and just can't wait to get the surgery over and done with. But thanks for all the good wishes...they mean a lot.