Illness in the Family

As if coming home from travelling and being laiden with university worries wasn't enough, I was also welcomed with the horrific news that my Grandad has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

He has a tumour which stretches from the top of his left lung to his bronchiole. It's also incurable and the only treatment recommended is radiotherapy which, if successful, could prolong his existence by 12 months, if not 5 years.

Of course, this was bound to happen sooner or later, with him being a smoker since his teenage years. At the moment he is really positive and upbeat, not leting it get him down, which is a great attitude to have and I'm proud of him for that. I do feel for my aunt and uncle though, his daughter and son, living in Wales and the USA respectively, they don't really know what's going on and can't appreciate his optimism.

To be honest, I'm not really sure how I feel about it. I feel really angry, but I'm not sure whom to direct this anger at. At times it makes me so sad, and I see people smoking and just think, "You stupid fool". The smell knocks me sick, the sight of smokers irks me.

So this is a call out to all you smokers out there... just pack it in, before it packs you in. The pain it causes yourself and your family just really isn't worth it.