The last few weeks many of my thoughts have, for several reasons, turned to the hideous cruelty that is cancer. I have lost too many friends, been to funerals that have managed to make me laugh and cry at the same time, accompanied one of my colleagues on her training sessions for a climb of Kilimanjaro raising money for cancer research, attended briefings on melanoma and am supporting Rachel Cardy's Staying Strong event at Bradbeers next month.
Much of focus is on research, and whilst new treatments and drugs can do brilliant things, there are still some cancers which have very low survival rates. One of those is pancreatic cancer, which tragically killed Romsey's Nathan Sessions, whose funeral was last week. The Abbey was packed, and it is fair to say there were more than a few laughs. But it brought it home that more research is needed, because whilst there have been massive strides forward in the treatment of some cancers, in others progress has been stubbornly slow.
The melanamo briefing this week was a very timely reminder about the importance of sunscreen, just as the weather is getting sunnier. I hope this Bank Holiday weekend gives us all a chance to get out in the sunshine, properly protected. But before that I am off to Southampton University, a visit to Nightingale Lodge and going to one of Hampshire's veterinary hospitals. Friday looks very busy!
