Taking life one day at a time has been a helpful approach to dealing with cancer for local man Andrew Thompson, who spoke to the Wānaka App on the eve of the Cancer Society’s annual Daffodil Day appeal.

The Wānaka resident was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February 2020 and bluntly told he would be “dead in a year”.

After an emotional evening, Andrew decided: “I’m going to roll with hope, even if there is no hope.”

“I said I’ve tried the despair thing. It gives you nothing.”

Andrew is an occupational therapist (OT) who works with people with chronic pain and head injuries, so he already knew that mental outlook plays a role in health outcomes.

Andrew 

“We’re taught that what happens to your body just happens to your body. But how we think about our lives can also influence our bodies.”

As soon as he was able to undertake voluntary work after his diagnosis, he did. He also got back to his OT work in August 2020.

Despite the prognosis for people with pancreatic cancer being around 12 months, Andrew has mostly thrived for the past two and half years. He continues to go snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking and doing things with his kids.

The doctor’s told him he’s an outlier - a statistical anomaly.

“For some reason or other it’s not happened to me yet,” he said.

“The term cancer is such a powerful, emotive word in our society and often has many negative connotations.

“I have a few mantras I say to myself to bat it all away. I have a faith in a higher power, a belief that we’re spiritual beings. If you look at research on whether a belief system helps, it does.”

Andrew has had “some proper ups and downs” too, including losing about 17kg before having an operation which enabled him to build up some nutrition and start chemotherapy.

At the end of September 2020 an important health marker was high and Andrew’s doctor told him: “it’s just a matter of time”. Andrew spent the weekend praying and crying, and the following week his health marker dropped significantly.

In April this year he started to lose weight again and has suffered stomach pain. He has gone back into chemotherapy and started to put weight back on.

“I refuse to let it dominate my life. Bugger that,” he said.

Andrew continues to focus on family, taking care of his usual clients, and voluntary service.

“I’m certain I’ve grown from it. I’m more open to other people, less judgemental, more accepting. I listen to my 16-year-old daughter now.

“My approach is to lead with hope even when there seems to be none, and this gives me courage and relative peace of mind.”

Andrew will be at Mitre 10 today (Friday August 26) from 11.30am to 12.30pm collecting for the Cancer Society Daffodil Day appeal.

The Cancer Society helped his wife in the early days, he said, and it offers access to a psychologist or someone to talk to.

Andrew has also raised money for the society by taking part in the Relay for Life in March last year; he also jumped out of an airplane in May to fundraise. 

Donations to the Cancer Society help fund vital research, education and a range of support services for the one in three New Zealanders affected by cancer.

You can also donate online.

PHOTOS: Supplied