It is with much sadness that I have to inform our readers that the wonderful man who writes as ‘Dream Angus’ died a few days ago. He was such an amazing and caring person. We were privileged at The Orkney News to be able to publish his writing which is retained in our archive where we can always read it and remember him fondly. I speak for all of us at The Orkney News when I pass on my condolences to his family and his many friends.
Below I have republished one of the last things he wrote for us. – Fiona Grahame
How did I get here? by Dream Angus
By now people reading this will recall how I have been recounting my personal cancer journey involving radiotherapy and chemotherapy for a very specific type of brain cancer. Parietal lobe cancer, where the removal of a tumour on the left side of my brain will affect the right side of my body.
It all started with a tap on the shoulder in Glasgow Royal Infirmary Accident and Emergency on a Saturday night back in January. A scan had revealed a tumor needing to be removed immediately. Kept in for observation for 3 nights before getting home for preparation for another planned entrance to the hospital to have the tumor removed. It had to be one of the worst nights of my life. By the speed of the reaction, it was clearly in my best interests to cooperate fully.
After surgery, the chemotherapy started almost immediately alongside three 5 day blocks of radiotherapy and that is now finished. I am now officially in a kind of recovery phase.
The chemo drugs and radiotherapy’s side effects can last for 4-6 weeks. My own particular side effect ‘super power’ was having diarrhea in excessive amounts.
That word so difficult to spell when parents are writing notes for teachers.Different spellings exist.
noun: diarrhoea
- a condition in which faeces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form.”a range of symptoms including diarrhoea and vomiting”
Three days in the hospital to be exact. Other people get sick and all just get extreme fatigue and looking back I can see how I over-exerted myself and did not rest nearly as much as I should have. ( You were all right I was wrong) I really was in a bad state. I have a planned meeting soon before embarking on the next stage. Hopefully, find some answers. What has changed? Any improvements? Any impacts I had not noticed?
A blood test prior to the meeting should help and there may be other tests. The plan going forward may include repeating the whole process in another two blocks of 5 days, or just getting more chemotherapy. I did not know or fully understand about the potential 4-6 week side effect window.Every night at around 1.00 am I start to feel a bit of nausea. For me it went into tummy troubles and not sickness but I experienced severe fatigue also.
The chemo drug (Temozolomide) was described as so toxic that I was instructed to wash my hands after touching it. The constant among all of these has been steroids or dexamethasone. These are unpleasant drugs to take but thankfully they are being reduced to one per day during the recovery phase. Interestingly I found out that they can alter your vision. I had a pair of prescription sunglasses and was sitting trying to cope with low sun glare. I put them on and noticed how I could read perfectly with them even though my prescription had been updated. Weird. The drug distorts your vision.
I’m lying in bed feeling very sick. Ironically amidst all this expensive medicine, I’m sitting nibbling orange flavour antacid-Rennie. I could be saving the NHS a fortune.
It feels like my whole right leg has become paralyzed right up to the thigh. Yesterday a guy came from NHSGGC recovery unit to fit a support rail on my bed. It is marvelous. I can pull myself up much better now and feel more comfortable.
Freedom comes in small packages and that driver did as much to help me as the oncologist prescribing the expensive cancer drugs. Supreme team effort from NHS Scotland.
More anecdotal evidence from talking to carers and nursing staff that they feel misrepresented in the news.NHS services are running as well as can be expected. I have never felt that there is any barrier to my treatments.
It is business as usual and what we hear in the media certainly does not measure up to their daily experience nor mine as a patient.
As for now it is good to be home. Treatment and now dealing with the side effects has not been easy but now I feel a few days rest is coming. With travel restrictions easing it is easier for family to come and visit. Yesterday was a good day for that with grand children here all day.
Home is where I want to be……..here is another song from Dumbarton boy David Byrne.
Dream Angus
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What a lovely generous man. Thanks for sharing his courage and gentle humour. RosieH
I’m so sad to read this. I loved his writing, such a privilege to read it.
Sending condolences and deep sympathy to those he loved
Jacquie
My tribute to the man I call Mr. Angus….
Readers of TON will have probably gathered from my comments to his articles, that I thought well of him. I’d never met him, only seen what he wrote in TON – but – he came across as a kindly man. Thinking, and thoughtful too. Just – a good one.
The world has just lost another good one – and we need them now. Though – there will be others being born, or growing up now too.
We had some good exchanges – not always serious – for example when he answered me with “That’ll do, pig” from Babe.
I had wondered what was happening with him. He’d had his cancer treatments, and it looked like he was doing well. He had such a great attitude about that, too.
It seems a bit odd to be touched by the passing of someone I had so little to do with but, I am touched by his passing. I lit a candle for him – and sat and give some thoughts to him, and those attached to him.
And….raised a glass to him too – I have an idea he’d like that.
He really did come across as such a very good-hearted and solid, sound person.
When folk pass from this life – knowing how I am with the ‘dead’ folk, people tend to speak to me about what might be next. I don’t know – I think it’s probably different for everyone, as everyone is different and has been different in this life.
What I tend to think, and say something along the lines of is – if someone has done their best, been as best they can with the world and with those around them – they have nothing to worry about when it comes to……… whatever is next. I genuinely feel that Dream Angus will be OK.
It’s the twisted people that we need to have thought for when they pass, carrying their bad stuff with them. Enough of that.
I’m going on a bit.
His family are the ones I’ll be thinking of now. He’ll be fine – it’s the ones left behind that matter for our thoughts.
I had a wander round the garden. Sat on the bench. Closed my eyes. Listened to the birds – and let my mind wander to Dream Angus and his kith & kin.
I’m going to plant something for him.
So very much saddened to read of the passing of “Dream Angus”. His writings showed such courage and I hope his loved ones may get some comfort from knowing he is free from all pain and suffering.
May he rest in peace.