I’d just finished battling stage three cancer. Then, COVID-19 hit
Last September, Simon Jarosz was diagnosed with cancer, a rare junctional tumour of the worst kind. He survived a gruelling treatment plan, and had just come out the other side when COVID-19 hit. And suddenly, just like his stomach, the industry was cut away at.
Can we have your liver?
Having someone express an interest in removing your organs while you’re ‘still using them’ may sound comedically surreal, like something from a Monty Python sketch. But it was the reality I had to face.
Pre-COVID-19, in September last year, after literally just a few months of symptoms and a referral from my GP, I was diagnosed with cancer. A rare junctional tumour of the worst possible kind had grown 8cm in length from my oesophagus, down into my stomach. It was the kind that spreads like wildfire.
“You’re losing half your stomach and oesophagus”
After diagnosis, what followed was a week in hospital filled with further tests, scans and exploratory surgery to better understand the rate the cancer had spread.
Was I terminal or treatable?
“So, we think you’ll live, but there’s a minefield of treatment you need to get through”
After the longest week of my life making plans, writing my bucket list, and arranging for my ashes to be scattered in Scotland, I was given the diagnosis of stage three cancer and a treatment program that would put me through hell and back.
It was overwhelming. Thinking back now, as I write this, I still can’t believe the journey I’ve been on and the strength of support I’ve had from family and friends. I listened intently as a plan of chemotherapy and surgery was explained, along with the risks of actually dying from the treatment, and the less than 40% success rate I was facing.
This was going to be the biggest fight of my life, for my life.
Within weeks of diagnosis, I was starting chemotherapy on four times the dosage given to regular patients, and twice as often. I had all the symptoms I might experience explained to me, from nausea to nerve damage and even heart failure.
I was asked to sign that I understood the risks and told to hold on, as some of the most powerful drugs were pumped into me.
Following two months of chemo and days before Christmas last year, I went into theatre for a nine-hour operation that involved my lungs being collapsed, two major insertions into my chest and back, over 50 lymph nodes removed along with half my stomach and oesophagus.
I awoke to find my hands tied to the bed, a tube down my throat breathing for me, one up my nose draining my stomach and over 50 internal and external stitches.
But I’d made it
After surgery, I had six weeks to recover before going straight back into chemo for more of a battering.
Finally, in early March, after eight rounds of chemo and a total of ten procedures, I was given the all-clear.
And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had gained some control over my own life.
Then COVID-19 landed.
After seven months of isolation and with no immune system, I was forced into further isolation, along with everyone else.
As the crisis unfolded, I watched how people reacted and followed their plans, when in reality, all we could do was sit tight and await further instructions, something all-too-familiar to me.
While we all self-quarantined and saw the damage COVID-19 was causing to lives and industries, the sense of being powerless hit everyone. It reminded me of the journey I’d been on with cancer and how I kept my focus on the end of treatment and being cured.
I never let any news or set-back change my focus. The absolute determination to reach that end goal kept me going.
Like my stomach, what’s left of our industry may have been drastically reduced in size, but to enable it to survive, it has to be filled with a positive, fighting, can-do attitude.
This is our industry, it’s up to us to make it what it is.
If there’s one thing this whole ordeal has taught me, it’s to not think ‘why me?’ and instead think ‘why not me?’
As in so many great comedies, I was the guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or was I the guy in the right place at the right time?
Simon Jarosz is a freelance ECD, and a cancer survivor
Simon, having walked alongside you through this I have been constantly blown away by your positive outlook on life. Amazing story that brings life into sharp focus. Tim and the team at Mumbrella, thanks for bringing some humanity into our lives.
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Inspirational!
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Wonderful attitude Simon. All the best to you as you carry on beating this.
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Mate you are an inspiration to us all and a reminder not to take this gift of life for granted. Now let’s find you a brief! 🙂
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Simon, thank you for sharing your story.
It was extremely moving, and extremely inspirational. God speed.
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Kudos to you Simon – I am very sure, there is not one person, other than another survivor, who would understand how alone you were in your fight to survive. I wish you all the very best in your future endeavours.
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Simon, I had no idea, but am so glad that you’re on the up-and-up and on the mend. Big love from Singers.
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Lovely words Si. Great to hear such a positive take on all this. You’re an inspiration.
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Simon l love you to bits and SO proud to be your mum. You are an inspiration to us all.
With all my love x
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Thanks for sharing your story Simon. It sounds horrific but I’m so glad that you are here to tell the tale.
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Simon – hero
X
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Simon you are a legend. Great positive attitude and fighting spirit we can all learn from. Glad to see you getting back on your feet. Stay strong and healthy mate.
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Hi Simon,
Just letting you know that I you have been in our thoughts since we heard about your diagnosis.
Well done you!
Keep trucking. Xx
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Thanks for the share Simon. From going through a cancer diagnosis myself over a decade ago, I understand that you get used to being dealt terrible news every day month-on-month and it seems endless. I wish you well on your recovery and your outlook on the future.
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Mate! What a fight! I’m glad you got through it all. Inspirational.
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Truly inspirational mate. So happy that you’ve made it out the other side. Wishing you only the best health for the future!
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Inspirational read, amazing stuff. Onwards and upwards Simon! Wishing you all the best, Gary
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Absolutely incredible Simon. The most inspiring story I’ve read in months. Take care and hope we cross paths again.
Love you, Simon.
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It has been quite a ride, Simon. Your positive outlook is inspiring and I am so happy you are still with us. Shine on. Xx
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You’ve always been bursting with energy positive mate, so bloody annoying and infectious at the same time. It’s was a privilege to work with you and even better to call you a mate. Big love.
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A true fighter. Wish you the best
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Dude. You are an inspiration. When we caught up after finishing chemo and pre-covid I was – still am – beyond inspired by you brother.
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Simon, my good golly gosh! It is so very f*!king unreal to have you still with us! My heartiest love and you go you good thing to you! Marti.
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What a read. Amazing spirit and resilience. Well done brother
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This is such an amazing story of hope and strength. Beautify written in a way with compassion , strength and a very powerful piece on survival. With all my heart I thank you . Stay well Simon.
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Not just inspirational mate…. Legendary stuff Si. Hope your journey gets easier and better and better.
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Wow ! I absolutely adore your positivity.
Brought tears to my eyes. A great living inspiration indeed. Kudos for sharing ❤️
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It’s an unimaginable fight for life that you’ve been battling, Simon. As my mother’s oesophagectomy surgeon said, this operation is up there with a heart transplant. And that’s just the start, before the barrage of chemo and endoscopies and balloon dilatations. You have an amazing spirit, and I wish you all the best. Stay strong.
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The consummate inspiration’alist…thanks for your perspective and infectious passion mate
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Thanks for telling your story and so glad to hear that you are doing well. Perhaps rather than making our industry what it was, we can make it stronger and more enlightened like yourself. Anne