John D. Edwards: Cancer saved my life

John D. Edwards after his Outlook interview

John D. Edwards has a rare form of cancer, cancer of the penis.

John came on Outlook to tell Fred Dove how having cancer completely altered his life, prompting him to create the book How Cancer Saved My Life.

Listen Hear John D. Edwards on Outlook

Particularly because his cancer was so rare, John realized that Cancer comes in all forms and there was no guarantee that he would survive. He found himself deciding to live with cancer: to be neutral, neither fighting nor giving in.

Knowing that the people treating him might not necessarily give good news or offer hope - John said that he found himself in a new position.

Before the diagnosis, John used to look up at airplanes, for example, and think about where he wanted to go. Now he looks at planes and thinks he is happy where he is: "I found that I was quite happy to be where I was."

John also found that whilst he was being treated he mixed with lots of people who he only met through cancer, discovering "people had the most extraordinary approaches and ability to live with great difficulty."

John hopes his book helps people to discuss Cancer. John believes that we still don't talk about cancer, about illness. Similarly John noticed that some of his friends felt awkward talking about his cancer.

The consultants: a painting depicting surgeons offering amputation.

John was lucky in the sense that his cancer was diagnosed earlier- but it had spread and it took a while for Doctors to find the source of the cancer. John admits it was the secondary's that nearly killed him.

John was told that one option available was amputation "I didn't really like the sound of that." In the end John took the decision not to take this course of action - even if it meant risking death. John decided to undertake radiotherapy.

John told Fred Dove that says that when you have cancer you have a lot of time to think about the treatment that you are going to receive. One of the aspect of the book is wondering what other people do in the time between these important appointments.

'Out of this World' A painting by John D. Edwards

After his diagnosis, work took on a greater significance. The paintings in his book are like beacons of light that guided him through the illness, throughout the dark and not so dark times, the images gave him hope. Also, in painting John was able to express himself: "I felt that I was free. I needed to see how I was feeling."

One of John's paining is called 'Out of this World,' it's on the front cover of his book. John told Fred Dove after a hospital exhibition patients have told him that that's how they felt. The painting reflects that "the spirit is still there but you don't know what's going to happen to this body.

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