Celticfc
Acrobat
My thoughts are with Mike & his family.
A Personal Message From Mike Peters
Hello my friends,
I hope you are all enjoying the best of times as the holiday season
approaches.
I have some very difficult news to share with you. Last Thursday on
the 8th December, I was diagnosed as having cancer. I have been told
by my consultant, Dr. E that I have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
(CLL). The good news is that although my illness is not curable, it
is treatable and, in the words of Dr. E, it is a disease I will
probably die with, rather than of.
Obviously, this has come as a massive shock to me and my family,
especially as it is almost ten years to the day that I was
originally diagnosed with cancer (Non Hodgkins Lymphoma). In 1995,
no one really knew what had happened to me and how I had come to
be 'cured'. Now, with the breaking of the DNA code and the huge
leaps in 'understanding cancer', that have happened since, I now
know far more about my situation. Ten years ago, it seems that my
own immune system supressed the cancer and I was able to go
into 'remission' for ten years. (A 'good deal', according to Dr. E!).
Today, modern science has unlocked some of the dark secrets of
cancer. The one thing about me that is different today from ten
years ago, is that my white blood count is extremely high. A normal
reading would be between 5 and 10. My count last Thursday was 482!
This was the main indicator for my particular form of cancer - CLL
(which is almost exactly the same as Non Hodgkins Lymphoma). The
team at my local Hospital / North Wales Cancer Centre have been
absolutely amazing. I have received only the best, in terms of
treatment, care, reassurance and honesty. Last Friday, they sent me
to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital in Bangor for a treatment known as
Leukapharesis. I was wired up to a machine and my blood was drained
off a litre at a time, separated by a centrifugal force and put back
into me, minus the white blood. It was a long and arduous procedure
lasting over four hours (and not without a considerable amount of
discomfort!), but it has brought my white blood count down to 380.
On Monday, I was back at the Cancer Centre to see Dr. E who had
arranged for me to have a biopsy under general anaesthetic on
Wednesday. The Biopsy is to confirm Dr. E's diagnosis of CLL and to
rule out any other form of cancer such as Mantle Cell Lymphoma. The
biopsy was performed by Dr. Z, who successfully removed an enlarged
lymph node from my neck. (The other good news is that I was out in
time to see Man Utd v Wigan on T.V. that evening!).
At the hospital during the afternoon, I was again visited by Dr. E,
who indicated to me that with my cancer being at CLL Stage 1, he
feels I should begin a course of chemotherapy starting next Friday
the 22nd December. He has also told me, that, subject to my
response, he should be able to work the chemotherapy around my
desire to perform at The Gathering in January. I am starting out on
the mildest form of chemotherapy and providing it is timed
correctly, I should be in an 'up' part of my cycle and therefore fit
enough to perform.
I want to reassure all of you that I will be fighting this fight
with every ounce of energy I can muster. I have my wife Jules, and
son Dylan beside me and they are reason enough to live for. They
have both been incredible. Jules has embarked on a virtual degree
course this weekend. She has asked Dr. E a million questions and has
searched the web, devouring information to enable us both to deal
with the shock of this life-changing situation.
Be reassured, my outlook for the future is still the same as for any
healthy person of my age. The only difference is that now I have to
learn how to live with cancer. If I respond well to the
chemotherapy, I can hopefully put the cancer into remission for
another ten years or even longer. That is the only uncertainty, how
long will my body keep the cancer at bay before having to start all
over again? My immune system will never be the same as it once was.
against infection. The biggest threat to my life is not from cancer
but from infection. A common cold that, if not treated immediately,
could turn nasty and become pneumonia. This is the mantra that has
been drilled into me by the medical team - to protect myself against
illness.
I know all of this will be a massive shock to you but I want you to
stay positive and focused. Life is for the living. The Gathering is
going to be extremely special this year and ironically, the new
album could not be more aptly titled. 'Under Attack' has taken on
new meaning for me, my family and the band. I believe it is the best
album I have ever had the pleasure of recording. Some of the songs
came to me on my iPod whilst I was in hospital and they gave me a
big lift. I am so looking forward to next year because of the music,
you would not believe. I will still be able to make music and
perform concerts (although I think it's safe to say I won't be
traveling abroad until I have got this thing under control and there
may be two bald guys in the band come January!!!!!!). I also hope to
take a full role in the promotion of the single and album.
At times like this you need your family and friends around you and
as you are all part of my family, I aim to keep you as informed as
possible. I'll be running a detailed diary on the website and keep
you posted with regular updates. I will be trying to live my life as
normally as possible and I have to say that I feel incredibly
positive about the future. I will see you all at The Gathering or at
a show in the U.K. Until then, keep me in your thoughts, you will be
in mine.
Love and life,
Mike Peters
A Personal Message From Mike Peters
Hello my friends,
I hope you are all enjoying the best of times as the holiday season
approaches.
I have some very difficult news to share with you. Last Thursday on
the 8th December, I was diagnosed as having cancer. I have been told
by my consultant, Dr. E that I have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
(CLL). The good news is that although my illness is not curable, it
is treatable and, in the words of Dr. E, it is a disease I will
probably die with, rather than of.
Obviously, this has come as a massive shock to me and my family,
especially as it is almost ten years to the day that I was
originally diagnosed with cancer (Non Hodgkins Lymphoma). In 1995,
no one really knew what had happened to me and how I had come to
be 'cured'. Now, with the breaking of the DNA code and the huge
leaps in 'understanding cancer', that have happened since, I now
know far more about my situation. Ten years ago, it seems that my
own immune system supressed the cancer and I was able to go
into 'remission' for ten years. (A 'good deal', according to Dr. E!).
Today, modern science has unlocked some of the dark secrets of
cancer. The one thing about me that is different today from ten
years ago, is that my white blood count is extremely high. A normal
reading would be between 5 and 10. My count last Thursday was 482!
This was the main indicator for my particular form of cancer - CLL
(which is almost exactly the same as Non Hodgkins Lymphoma). The
team at my local Hospital / North Wales Cancer Centre have been
absolutely amazing. I have received only the best, in terms of
treatment, care, reassurance and honesty. Last Friday, they sent me
to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital in Bangor for a treatment known as
Leukapharesis. I was wired up to a machine and my blood was drained
off a litre at a time, separated by a centrifugal force and put back
into me, minus the white blood. It was a long and arduous procedure
lasting over four hours (and not without a considerable amount of
discomfort!), but it has brought my white blood count down to 380.
On Monday, I was back at the Cancer Centre to see Dr. E who had
arranged for me to have a biopsy under general anaesthetic on
Wednesday. The Biopsy is to confirm Dr. E's diagnosis of CLL and to
rule out any other form of cancer such as Mantle Cell Lymphoma. The
biopsy was performed by Dr. Z, who successfully removed an enlarged
lymph node from my neck. (The other good news is that I was out in
time to see Man Utd v Wigan on T.V. that evening!).
At the hospital during the afternoon, I was again visited by Dr. E,
who indicated to me that with my cancer being at CLL Stage 1, he
feels I should begin a course of chemotherapy starting next Friday
the 22nd December. He has also told me, that, subject to my
response, he should be able to work the chemotherapy around my
desire to perform at The Gathering in January. I am starting out on
the mildest form of chemotherapy and providing it is timed
correctly, I should be in an 'up' part of my cycle and therefore fit
enough to perform.
I want to reassure all of you that I will be fighting this fight
with every ounce of energy I can muster. I have my wife Jules, and
son Dylan beside me and they are reason enough to live for. They
have both been incredible. Jules has embarked on a virtual degree
course this weekend. She has asked Dr. E a million questions and has
searched the web, devouring information to enable us both to deal
with the shock of this life-changing situation.
Be reassured, my outlook for the future is still the same as for any
healthy person of my age. The only difference is that now I have to
learn how to live with cancer. If I respond well to the
chemotherapy, I can hopefully put the cancer into remission for
another ten years or even longer. That is the only uncertainty, how
long will my body keep the cancer at bay before having to start all
over again? My immune system will never be the same as it once was.
against infection. The biggest threat to my life is not from cancer
but from infection. A common cold that, if not treated immediately,
could turn nasty and become pneumonia. This is the mantra that has
been drilled into me by the medical team - to protect myself against
illness.
I know all of this will be a massive shock to you but I want you to
stay positive and focused. Life is for the living. The Gathering is
going to be extremely special this year and ironically, the new
album could not be more aptly titled. 'Under Attack' has taken on
new meaning for me, my family and the band. I believe it is the best
album I have ever had the pleasure of recording. Some of the songs
came to me on my iPod whilst I was in hospital and they gave me a
big lift. I am so looking forward to next year because of the music,
you would not believe. I will still be able to make music and
perform concerts (although I think it's safe to say I won't be
traveling abroad until I have got this thing under control and there
may be two bald guys in the band come January!!!!!!). I also hope to
take a full role in the promotion of the single and album.
At times like this you need your family and friends around you and
as you are all part of my family, I aim to keep you as informed as
possible. I'll be running a detailed diary on the website and keep
you posted with regular updates. I will be trying to live my life as
normally as possible and I have to say that I feel incredibly
positive about the future. I will see you all at The Gathering or at
a show in the U.K. Until then, keep me in your thoughts, you will be
in mine.
Love and life,
Mike Peters
