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The Bag for Life 

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    First Blog of 2022
    Austin Birks
    • Jan 19
    • 3 min

    First Blog of 2022

    Well, my dear chums, here we are and today was my first day back at chemo, having missed my last one and a half chemo sessions, which is...
    135 views0 comments
    A Milestone Is Achieved: 50 Doses Of Chemo - Not Out
    Austin Birks
    • Oct 21, 2021
    • 4 min

    A Milestone Is Achieved: 50 Doses Of Chemo - Not Out

    Well, my dear chums! Today is a landmark day in the life and times of myself, for today is the day that I attend the Rigby unit at...
    84 views1 comment
    Once More Into The Breach Dear Friends (Back to Chemo After a 2-week Break)
    Austin Birks
    • Oct 21, 2021
    • 3 min

    Once More Into The Breach Dear Friends (Back to Chemo After a 2-week Break)

    It was good while it lasted, I have to say, but it did not last long. My wonderful oncologist, Doctor Peter, had agreed to give me a...
    60 views0 comments
    The Long And Winding Road: A Journey With Cancer
    Austin Birks
    • Jul 25, 2021
    • 3 min

    The Long And Winding Road: A Journey With Cancer

    So, here I am, my dear friends. It is 02.45 on Thursday July 22. The daily temperatures have been record-breaking for 5 days solid and...
    144 views1 comment
    Six Degrees of Cancer Separation
    Austin Birks
    • Jun 29, 2021
    • 4 min

    Six Degrees of Cancer Separation

    It is a strange quirk of fate how we find ourselves drawn to music of different sorts. No rhyme or reason as to what we might like or...
    70 views1 comment
    Fear and Faith... The Cancer Conundrum
    Austin Birks
    • Jun 27, 2021
    • 4 min

    Fear and Faith... The Cancer Conundrum

    Truth be told, some days are frankly a bit frightening on this journey with cancer. And in truth, 9 days out of 10, I never bat an eye...
    125 views0 comments
    Reaching The Age Of 61. Not Out... Somehow
    Austin Birks
    • May 8, 2021
    • 5 min

    Reaching The Age Of 61. Not Out... Somehow

    Monday, May 3rd, 2021 saw me celebrating my 61st birthday on a day that witnessed some truly wild and inclement weather. Part of me...
    205 views0 comments
    Attention: Emergency Code 2 in Freezer Aisle 23
    Austin Birks
    • Apr 25, 2021
    • 5 min

    Attention: Emergency Code 2 in Freezer Aisle 23

    So, picture the scene: it's a lovely hot April evening and I am doing a spot of shopping in my usual supermarket. All is good. I've just...
    110 views0 comments
    Life is a Gift
    Austin Birks
    • Apr 9, 2021
    • 4 min

    Life is a Gift

    So, here we are, a day or two after the bank holiday that has celebrated the resurrection of Christ. For me, if honest, I have in the...
    104 views3 comments
    Writing Again: Reflections on my Journey with Cancer
    Austin Birks
    • Apr 7, 2021
    • 3 min

    Writing Again: Reflections on my Journey with Cancer

    So, here I am. It's been a long time, or so it seems, since I last wrote a blog. My world got turned upside down again on February 2nd,...
    107 views1 comment
    The Power of Friendship
    Austin Birks
    • Mar 5, 2021
    • 1 min

    The Power of Friendship

    Time spent with dear friends who are supporting my third battle with cancer is absolutely priceless.
    44 views1 comment
    Cycling 300 miles in 30 days - whilst on chemotherapy - to raise awareness for cancer research
    Austin Birks
    • Mar 3, 2021
    • 1 min

    Cycling 300 miles in 30 days - whilst on chemotherapy - to raise awareness for cancer research

    At the beginning of February 2021, I found out that my level 4a bowel cancer had returned for a third time. This was a tough blow, but as...
    58 views1 comment
    Cancer: the best of times and the worst of times
    Austin Birks
    • Feb 26, 2021
    • 4 min

    Cancer: the best of times and the worst of times

    There is a classic line in literature that says: it was the best of times and it was the worst of times. Yes, you get points if you know...
    99 views1 comment
    Living with a stoma bag
    Austin Birks
    • Feb 24, 2021
    • 1 min

    Living with a stoma bag

    I've had a stoma since September 2018, when I was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer and had to undergo emergency surgery....
    33 views1 comment
    Starting chemotherapy... again
    Austin Birks
    • Feb 21, 2021
    • 1 min

    Starting chemotherapy... again

    2 weeks ago I was diagnosed with bowel cancer for the third time. This week, I started back on the chemotherapy and medication regime.
    33 views2 comments
    When Cancer Comes Back a Third Time
    Austin Birks
    • Feb 14, 2021
    • 1 min

    When Cancer Comes Back a Third Time

    The Bag for Life saga continues with the very recent news that cancer has returned in 2 places and yet again, I find myself on the eve of...
    79 views5 comments
    Cancer, Cycling and Zwift
    Austin Birks
    • Jan 30, 2021
    • 4 min

    Cancer, Cycling and Zwift

    Before I was diagnosed with level 4a bowel cancer in September 2018, it would be fair to say that if truth be told, I was not a huge fan...
    125 views1 comment
    Cancer, Chemo and Corona: Campervan Contentment
    Austin Birks
    • Jan 2, 2021
    • 4 min

    Cancer, Chemo and Corona: Campervan Contentment

    Hello my dear chums, I recently wrote my top ten good and bad review of 2020. It was a challenging and enjoyable task in equal measure....
    126 views0 comments
    Review of 2020: Ten Good, Ten Bad
    Austin Birks
    • Dec 31, 2020
    • 11 min

    Review of 2020: Ten Good, Ten Bad

    Hello, my dear chums! Well, here we are on the brink of a brand new year, after one of the most challenging and disturbing years in...
    113 views1 comment
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