*John Wall at home in Quin. Photograph: John Mangan
QUIN’s John Wall has been celebrating an “extraordinary” few days with a bone scan showing no signs of cancer, the results of which were obtained days after partaking in the ‘Climb with Charlie’.
In 2017, John received a terminal diagnosis for stage four prostate cancer, during this period he has become a leading health advocate in the country campaigning for the distribution of medical cards for terminally ill patients and also the administration of the HPV vaccine.
On Monday, he was informed that his bone scan was clear. A bone scan can show whether any cancer cells have spread to your bones, which is a common place for prostate cancer to spread to. “After a few bumps over last several months, life’s looking mighty fine for the next several. Cancer has knocked, but no one’s at home,” John stated.
His terminal diagnosis remains but as ever John remains determined to live his life to the full. He recently made the decision to come off his hormone treatment, “I wanted a bit of me back, I was missing the person, the energy and the voice. I had a bone scan and it came back as clear, I’ve increased energy and normality back in my life. Carpe Diem has always been my motto as you know and I’m sticking with it”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, the air traffic controller admitted that his news has been an uplift for many people. “There are a lot of people waiting for results, it is important for those of us that want to talk and shared our lived experience that we share this news. It shows we can live with a terminal diagnosis, where there is a heartbeat there is life and where there is life there is hope. We are all living our best lives”.
He paid tribute to his family and friends for assisting him to get through the dark days as they now have a more positive view ahead. “It allows me to look past the horizon, cancer is not an issue this summer. I never felt an abnormality in my head but in reality, physically I wasn’t myself. I now recognise the person I am”.
His outlook on life has not been altered by this week’s developments, “The smile on my face is maybe bigger but I will still live my best life. Regardless of good or bad news, I would still be trying to be the best person I can, I won’t let this define who I am, I want to be remembered as a person and not for a diagnosis. I’ve got the person I used to know back”.
While in Westport over the weekend, John made a decision on a whim that he wanted to be involved in ‘Climb with Charlie’. Thousands took part in the fundraiser for motor neurone disease led by former RTÉ broadcaster, Charlie Bird with over €2m raised. “It was one of the most difficult and emotional things I’ve ever done in my life but one of the most rewarding,” John reflected.
“Vicky Phelan and Brian Lynch were it not for them, I wouldn’t have got to the top, I had no training done whatsoever, I was in Westport with a group of friends for the weekend and decided to do it. I walked to the top with Daniel O’Donnell and Vicky’s sister Lindsey, it was literally one step in front of the other”.
Across the country, people know of Vicky Phelan, Ennis native Brian Lynch who resides in Gort is a personal friend of John’s with whom he is eagerly looking forward to walking along the Flaggy Shore with. “He is a personal inspiration for how he has been dealing with his diagnosis. The inner strength he has really puts the rest of us to shame”.
He continued, “I don’t think too far ahead. I never had any intention of climbing Croagh Partrick, even in the top of my health it wasn’t something I would do and I’m from Mayo, it just happened. For the latter third of the climb, it was literally one step in front of the other. It reinforces to me, that a prognosis or diagnosis will not define me”.
