The Adventures of Me and Patrick: A Cancer Journey With a Difference

Patrick was the name I gave to my cancer.

Patrick became my unshakeable companion. He taunted, bullied, harassed, embarrassed, and dominated me constantly. However, we formed an alliance, a partnership, albeit a tortuous, surreal and painful one. We became a carcinogenic Ant & Dec. He was there every minute of every day with his running commentary on my treatment and opinions of how ‘we’ were doing, and I loathed him. I hadn’t asked for this to be part of this adventure.

When and how would our adventure together end? How could I rid myself of him? He When would it end? How would it end?

When we are given those three little words – ‘You have cancer’ – we are expected to gird our loins, fall into battle formation, ready to fight this insidious enemy. I did not want it to be a fight. I didn’t have the energy to fight. This was a journey. A journey I needed to endure and complete successfully … if only to shut Patrick up.

Author Ian Fry provides a painfully honest account of the turmoil that followed his diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He talks openly about the effect on his life, his mind, his children. He shares the moments that had him laughing about the sheer helplessness of his ‘broken’ body: the insurmountable staircase; the overwhelming school run; the daughter stuck up a tree who he didn’t have the energy to rescue.

In short, he tells it how it was for him so readers can relate to how it was – is – for them, and to extend the hand of comradeship unique to those who are on, or have experienced, their own adventure with their own Patrick.

Click on the 'look inside' feature now to sample the opening pages of this heartfelt, unforgettable real-life story.