I’ll keep smiling because I need to be thankful for every day I’m still here
GARY’S POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO INCURABLE CANCER
A BUSINESSMAN has told what it is like to live with a rare cancer that has no cure.
Gary Shaw, from Swadlincote, was first diagnosed with the life-limiting illness polycythemia in 2019 and due to a lack of research around the condition, there is no cure.
The cancer is in his blood and it means it has an impact on his daily life.
Although symptoms of the condition can vary, Mr Shaw’s diagnosis was delayed due to him also suffering from Crohn’s disease.
The 51-year-old, who is the managing director of a recruitment agency in Swadlincote, said: “Blood cancers aren’t like normal cancers where you have a tumour, because the cancer is actually in the blood.
“It’s life-limiting but it is managed by treatment and medication.
“So that’s what happened and obviously when I got diagnosed it took me a little while to come to terms with the diagnosis obviously, and because at the minute there’s no cure.”
Mr Shaw explained how his symptoms could easily have been confused with his Crohn’s disease, including hot sweats, itchy skin, blood blisters in the mouth and mouth ulcers. He initially struggled with his diagnosis but tries to keep up his positive attitude.
He said: “My attitude now since my diagnosis is very much keep smiling every day and keep pressing on with things, because I need to be thankful I’m still here.
“But it is very challenging, every day is challenging, and it’s living with the uncertainty, you know?
“I don’t know what time I will end up with, and living with that uncertainty is a difficult thing to live with every day.”
Following his diagnosis in October 2019, Mr Shaw has relied on the support of his friends and family.
One of his methods of coping with his condition was to start fundraising for more research surrounding the illness.
Mr Shaw, who recently got married to wife Trish, frequently participates in fundraising events for Blood Cancer UK.
This has led to him to becoming an ambassador for Blood Cancer UK for the Derbyshire and Staffordshire area.
He said: “I started fundraising in the hope that I could raise enough funds for the treatment for other people and the next generation to hopefully try to cure the next generation.
“I fill my time up and my day up because if I’m not doing something I’m going to sit and think about my illness and I don’t want to do that.
“I’d rather keep myself busy so it does fill my time up during the week and during the day.
“It just gives me more motivation because I try to help other people because even though I have my own illness to deal with, there are still people out there who need help like I need help.
“It just helps with my motivation and my determination to carry on.”
Mr Shaw is now helping to organise a special Halloween event to raise money for the charity.
The Halloween ball, which is set to take place on October 30 in Findern, will include a live band, a threecourse meal and a scare zone.
More information about the event is available at www.facebook.com/ bloodcancernorthstaffs