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Squaring up to death after my cancer diagnosis gave me a deeper appreciation of life
The Observer
|March 30, 2025
I'm with Lauren Laverne: surviving the disease can lead to a newfound resilience and love of simply being alive
Lauren Laverne says she loves her life more now that she's had cancer. I know exactly what she means. Imagine you're diagnosed with cancer. Do you think you'd look back on the moment as one of the best of your life?
It sounds bonkers if you've not been through it, but it's how I feel. My wedding day beats it. As does Stuart Pearce's penalty against Spain in Euro '96, Nottingham Forest getting promoted at Wembley and Oasis reuniting. But those are in everyone's top five, so let's set them aside.
Eighteen months ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. Awful nerve pain in my left leg, which I presumed was sciatica, forced me to see a doctor. An MRI scan revealed a tumour at the base of my spine. They knew it was cancer, but weren't sure if it was a primary tumour or had metastasised. It was bad news, but I didn't yet know whether it was bad-bad or just bad. I had no idea how much longer I had to live. That precise moment will stay with me for ever. Because now I know how I really feel about death. Obviously, I'm broadly against it. But being forced to accept that I may have a limited time left clarified the point of life. And it wasn't just to watch more football.
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