Kilted Cancer Survivors?

[Riverkilt]

Another thread made me realize I've managed to accumulate four Kilted to fight Cancer type t-shirts.

Three years ago I was doing chemo kilted. I also went for my radiology work kilted and to my biopsies kilted. Today the cancer is gone - not in remission- but gone.

I had hairy cell leukemia - one of the cancers medical science can cure now. I do think my wearing the kilt to various procedures helped me keep a positive attitude during the scary ordeal. I think it boosted the morale of other cancer patients sitting with me while we got our chemo drip. Oncology staff always had positive comments about my kilts - wore a different tartan each day.

I know there are other kilted cancer survivors on this forum. I'd like to hear how you kilts helped you make it through to the other side.

Thanks

[Bernie]

Riverkilt

Hamish would have a lot of experience of this subject and he is still dealing with health issues relating to his cancer, which is why he does not post very often on this forum, but obviously he would need to reply to your post in person. I hope to be seeing him soon and I will ask him if he would write here about his experiences. I am sure he will have some good uplifting advice for anyone in such a situation, which in the long run could be any of us.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks Bernie,

Ham, more than anyone, embodies the spirit of the kilted warrior against cancer. Please say hello for me and give him a long hug for me.

[Bernie]

Thanks Bernie,

Ham, more than anyone, embodies the spirit of the kilted warrior against cancer. Please say hello for me and give him a long hug for me.

Ok, will do

[GG]

My very best wishes to Hamish!

[Orionson]

I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma nearly 2 years ago. The two tumours in my neck were deep Stage 3. The NHS and The Beatson Cancer Centre jumped on it straight away. The radiation and biotherapy treatment (chemo was out of the question as it would have worsened my pre-existing hearing impairment) was severe to say the least. 35 treatments M-F over 7 weeks "the largest dosage of radiation I have ever prescribed, a hairsbreadth shy of killing you" was how my brilliant Oncologist put it.

Among other things, my sense of humour got me through. "Cancer is the new Liposuction" was my Mantra. I had gained a shed load of weight after a head on car crash in 2006 hammered my back and put paid to an active sporting life and I piled on the weight and hadn't been able to get in to my kilt for years. The week I discovered the tumours, my only daughter announced her engagement and set a date for June 2013. We've always been close and it was to be a kilted wedding in Edinburgh. My cancer and the recovery from the treatments melted the weight off me and I was able to easily get back into my kilt to properly fulfill my Father of the Bride duties. I'm now back to wearing the kilt several times a week again thanks to the cancer.

Cancer is the new liposuction worked for me and it's great to be back in the kilt regularly again. I'd grown up in the kilt from the age of 8 and I missed it a great deal. I had refused to have my only kilt, made for me when I was 21, let out. I always believed that one way or another, I'd fit into it again.

My cancer is gone - so far - but I'm still very far from fit. Radiation is a bitch. I seriously don't recommend it for weight loss, but it was my silver lining.

[Duke of Delrio]

I don't know. Cancer is a no-holds-barred battle royal no matter how you look at it. I've done nearly all of the treatments including surgery, chemo, and radiation with all the well known down sides associated with each of them. I was fortunate in my doctors, but was blessed by the nurses and med techs who shared those times in the trenches with me.

I do not wear my kilt on a daily or even on a regular basis. I reserve it for special family and formal occasions. However, when a catheter became necessary during one of the rounds of treatment, the kilt accommodated it as trousers never would or could. The result was that I stood out as a kilt wearer and not as a catheter carrying, cancer victim who needed muted voices and kid glove treatment. That helped more than I can say. It lifted my spirits dramatically as well as the spirits of those with whom I shared many anxious minutes and hours in waiting rooms and treatment alcoves. I know because they told me.

No matter how I was feeling physically, I always felt better about myself while kilted during treatment. When you deal with cancer, anything . . . .anything at all that makes you feel better and keeps your attitude positive is pure gold. Not being a doctor, I cannot prescribe kilts as a adjunct treatment, but I can and do highly recommend them.

[GG]

Orionson, reading your story really touched me. So good it is to know, however, that your cancer is in the past. May your positive approach be a help to others; and my best wishes to you.

[Southpaw]

Mine was a simple and extremely early diagnosis of testicular cancer. The nurses laughed as I left from surgery in a kilt and a shirt that pictured a confused squirrel and said "it's all fun and games until someone loses a nut"

[Jerry]

I am going through my second battle with cancer The first was before I discovered the kilt and, I lost so much weight (45#)this time that none of my kilts fit anymore. I do now have a USA casual that I can wear, and I'm starting to gain back some of my weight back