Cancer, career and life

Cancer has been a part of my life for many years (spoiler – I don’t have cancer).

After completing my Chemistry degree at Edinburgh University, and looking for an interesting outlet and next step, I took the advice of my supervisor there, Dr Hamish McNab, to join the Cancer Research Laboratories (funded by CRUK) at Nottingham University to do a PhD under the supervision of Professor Malcolm Stevens. It was a great lab to be in, a multidisciplinary group with teams led by Malcolm, Mike Price and Charlie Lawton, and it was applied research, that really mattered. And I met some really lovely and talented people there, including Andy Westwell, Ian Hutchinson, Kevin Farnell, Claire Turner, Marianne Wells, Tracey Bradshaw, Graeme Denton, Markus Julino, Geoff Wells, Kevin Brady, Eftichia Petrakou, Elena Giminez-Arnau, David Langnel, Charlie Matthews, Chetna Modi and many more. Many continued to work in cancer research and others went on to forge (mainly fabulous) careers in other areas. It was a really good, close team. Coffee breaks were religiously observed. The ethos was good - our work was a part of our lives and not a substitute. We were, although we often forgot, doing an important job. This was brought to mind in particular when we had annual open days where volunteers and fundraisers would come in to see how the money was being spent (!) and see our progress. I recall how grateful people were for our work and that really hit home.

It was also my first direct experience with patents as I had the opportunity to accompany my supervisor to visit his patent attorney in Birmingham. In the office that day was trainee patent attorney, James Peel, although he does not remember that now. (James was the first trainee patent attorney I met and he was sporting a black eye. A patent attorney with a black eye. This was edgy stuff).

Fast forward twenty years and I’m a patent attorney, based in Edinburgh, with a small, dedicated team and, I hope, some of that same positive ethos. In 2017, I had the opportunity to travel to Tokyo with my family having agreed to work in the offices of Ryuka patent firm for a period of 6 to 8 weeks (thanks to Aki Ryuka and Adam Langley). I was also to participate in the meetings of the International Liaison Committee of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys in Tokyo, Osaka, Taipei and Seoul as well as enjoying a few weeks’ holiday. Immediately prior to leaving Edinburgh, my wife (and our PR and marketing advisor) Isla Aitken had cause to visit her GP, suspicious about a dimple in her right breast. The GP recommended a mammogram and as we were just about to head to Japan, suggested getting it done out there. After about two weeks, Isla had an appointment at the St Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo and she was promptly diagnosed with breast cancer. A biopsy and a further appointment later (between which we cycled in Nara, visited Hong Kong and Taipei, and snorkelled in Okinawa), the breast cancer was confirmed (oestrogen receptive) and we returned earlier than planned to Edinburgh.

Three surgical procedures, 16 sessions of chemotherapy and 19 sessions of radiotherapy followed and Isla is essentially cured (if I can dare say that). The cancer is removed (a lumpectomy!), the cancer cells attacked with a cocktail of drugs and the affected tissue zapped. The important work of cancer researchers hit home again.

Cancer is common. One in four or maybe even one in three or more will be directly affected by cancer. So, most of us experience it one way or another, whether that’s related to work colleagues, family members or friends. We at Ellis IP are no different, I am sorry to say.

Isla is now actively involved in supporting a cancer support group in our home town, which simultaneously helps her and others. Always a writer and journalist (and already part way through her first novel), Isla took to writing a blog relating to our travels in Japan and then her experience undergoing cancer treatment. Then, she decided to write a book, both about her cancer experience and those experiences in her life that go toward making her who she is. It’s called Making Pearls From Grit. I’ve read it. It’s honest, brutally honest at times, it’s engaging and it’s funny.

It seems so appropriate, and kind of like we’ve come full circle, that in this month, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Isla is donating a portion of the sales of her book (whether paperback or ebook) to various cancer charities, starting this week with supporting (with ￡1 from each sale) the very important work of Macmillan Cancer Support.

So, take a look at the reviews, support a cancer charity by buying Making Pearls From Grit during October and support a new writing talent by leaving a review (on Amazon). It’s available here: amzn.to/2kg1biZ.