I’d like this to go on record: I HATE cancer. (I refuse to dignify it with a capital letter.)

I’ve recently been inspired by two young men: Shane Crawford and Samuel Johnson. Shane, a retired footballer, recently rode his bicycle from Melbourne to Perth – the same distance as the tour de France and in less time – to raise funds for breast cancer research. He raised over $1 million. What a champ! Samuel Johnson, an actor, is riding his mono-cycle (the strain on his back must be killing him!) all around Australia, also to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. His sister has it and is not going to get better. He’s called his venture: I love my sister. What a guy!

The more people I meet in the cancer world, the more inspired I am. The strength of the human spirit, the humbling generosity and kindness of the medical profession, the courage of those who can see the end approaching, is overwhelming.

I wish I could do something for the cause. I’m not able to ride a bike any distance worth doing (not even down our street), I can’t do marathon running, or jogging or even walking. I’m not famous. I have no media presence. I don’t have much money. Even my cancer is pretty wimpy. Okay, it’s not curable, but for the last two years it’s just sat in the same spot barely doing enough to earn it’s keep. (I know that’s a good thing but I sometimes feel a bit of a fake.)

So far this year I have had two friends diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and it looks like they might not see Christmas. Another friend has bowel cancer and is in the middle of treatment. Another has had his brain tumour reappear…again. Another was diagnosed with cancer in the gall-bladder and is halfway through chemo. Another has breast cancer and is also on chemo. And now I’ve heard of an ex-brother in law who has it in his pancreas, liver and kidneys. FLIPPING HECK! What’s going on? This blasted disease seems to be spreading like the flu virus.

Then again…the common denominator is me. Would it be too paranoid of me (or too egocentric) to wonder whether I’m like a cancerous Typhoid Mary? Am I polluting the people around me? (After all, it’s all about me.)

Thank the Lord for the boffins who are working on finding a cure. In my life time we have seen the death rate drop dramatically for many types of cancer, especially if diagnosed early. But it still takes a terrible toll on patients, their families and friends, even when the outcome is good.

Take care of yourselves out there, if only so I don’t have to worry about you. Meanwhile I’m thinking about what I can do to make a difference. Why don’t you give it some thought as well? Cheers.