Austin Birks
The Noble Art Of Comedy
I was once told that only 1 in every 10,000 people would actually have the courage to walk onto a stage and try and make complete...
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Austin Birks
Jun 14, 20223 min read
Reflections On Life And Death In 2022
So, my dear chums, a new year is already upon us and can you believe it, we are already in February. Not sure where January went, but hey...
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Austin Birks
Jan 19, 20223 min read
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...
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Austin Birks
Oct 21, 20214 min read
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...
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Austin Birks
Oct 21, 20213 min read
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...
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Austin Birks
Jul 25, 20213 min read
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...
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Austin Birks
Jun 29, 20214 min read
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...
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Austin Birks
Jun 27, 20214 min read
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...
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Austin Birks
May 8, 20215 min read
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...
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Austin Birks
Apr 25, 20215 min read
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...
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Austin Birks
Apr 9, 20214 min read
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...
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Austin Birks
Apr 7, 20213 min read
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,...
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Austin Birks
Mar 5, 20211 min read
The Power of Friendship
Time spent with dear friends who are supporting my third battle with cancer is absolutely priceless.
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Austin Birks
Mar 3, 20211 min read
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...
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Austin Birks
Feb 26, 20214 min read
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...
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Austin Birks
Feb 24, 20211 min read
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....
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Austin Birks
Feb 21, 20211 min read
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.
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Austin Birks
Feb 14, 20211 min read
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...
82 views5 comments
Austin Birks
Jan 30, 20214 min read
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...
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Austin Birks
Jan 2, 20214 min read
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....
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