18 months ago I was diagnosed with #BowelCancer #ColonCancer aged 38 - having had #RectalCancer age 26.
I have damaged lungs from #PulmonaryEmbolisms, #HearingLoss from a ๐ง #BrainHemorrhage, #CrohnsDisease, #Hepatitis from ๐ญ๐
But for now, CT & MRI show no #cancer. Lucky boy.
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Neil Walsh
@NeilWalsh_UN
Neil Walshโs posts
Great to see El Salvadorโs new Ambassador @egrygl in NY presenting her credentials to SG
#DYK Global Prog on #cybercrime is led from #ElSalvador by ?
The relationship between ๐ธ๐ป & ๐บ๐ณ couldnโt be stronger ๐ช
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Este dรญa, presentรฉ las Cartas Credenciales al secretario General @antonioguterres en las que el Presidente @nayibbukele me designa como Embajadora y Representante Permanente de #ElSalvador ante @ONU_es en Nueva York.
After a long operation and full laparotomy, Iโm lucky to be given good opiate pain relief. So lucky to live in Austria ๐ฆ๐น and pay into its wonderful healthcare system ๐
Well after 4.5 years, 15 CT scans, 5 PET-CT and 6 MRI, with good bloods too, we can say that the last cancer is gone.
Iโll have the lasting side effects forever, and be on meds for life, but Iโm ok with that.
Lucky boy.
Onwards ๐ช
0:14
To the ๐ฉ who criticised me for using a disabled loo: not all #disabilities are visible. If you had any idea what was going on under this jumper it would make you pale. Donโt make assumptions that only a wheelchair validates the need. #bowelcancer #colectomy
Survived (just) my first run since cancer treatment & 4 abdominal ops. I feel like Iโve been hit by a bus.
But itโs a start.
Thanks to & for influencing me!
๐จ Some personal newsโฆ
After 6 years and Iโm honoured to be moving on to lead UNODCโs ๐บ๐ณ presence in Eastern Africa ๐ in December.
Iโve worked with the most inspiring people ๐
Delighted that will be transitioning the team!!
So...back into ๐ฅ for surgery tomorrow (02/12). Multiple #BowelCancer ops have wrecked my pelvic floor. Tomorrow my #colorectalcancer surgeon will try to fix it. Bring it on.๐
0:57
Due to my #BowelCancer history I have to have a colonoscopy every 6 months.
Todayโs the day: sedation administered 11:20; out of the hospital 12:20.
No cancer, no lesions, no bleeding.
Whilst the bowel prep can be daunting, itโs really not bad & the scope can save your life
Delighted to say that my scans are all clear. Love to fight another day....
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Today Iโve had my 6-monthly 
PET CT scan to check for any #colorectal #cancer recurrence.
โฌ1500 is never spent so willingly! Now the mental rollercoaster of hoping for good news but always preparing for bad. #scanaxiety
PET CT scan to check for any #colorectal #cancer recurrence.
โฌ1500 is never spent so willingly! Now the mental rollercoaster of hoping for good news but always preparing for bad. #scanaxiety
It's my first day back at work after #BowelCancer #BrainHemorrhage #PulmonaryEmbolisms. It's great to be back, especially with my amazing team.
Thanks to everyone for their support during the past four months. Onwards.
1:27
Tonightโs questions from my kids about gravity, black holes and space led to an overuse of cling-film, marbles & an onion to curve #spacetime and discuss #gravity.... this is your fault ๐
Bigger victory. Iโm home ๐ in my own ๐
Massive thanks to everyone on here for carrying me through a tough few days. 4-6 weeks recovery at ๐ now.
Wish you all a lovely weekend.
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0:05
Little victories.
Why does #SocialDistancing matter in the #COVIDใผ19 #coronavirus fight? On a personal level, itโs simple.
You might kill me.
1:01
This morning I said goodbye to a doctor who has been a stalwart in my life over the past 3 years.
The tears flowed freely for both of us.
To all who work to keep people like me alive; thank you.
And to you Dr Bรคrbl, I owe you my life. ๐ค
Thank you everyone for your very, very kind messages. Iโm truly humbled ๐
Itโs been a tougher-than planned week as I got #sepsis from an infected IV which then gave my kidneys a bit of a kicking.
Seem to be on top of it now and I walked and ate today for the 1st time. Onwards
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After a long operation and full laparotomy, Iโm lucky to be given good opiate pain relief. So lucky to live in Austria 
and pay into its wonderful healthcare system 
and pay into its wonderful healthcare system 1/ Almost two years to the day since I was last diagnosed with #cancer.
Whilst I have no current evidence of cancer, my body hasnโt recovered as well as weโd like.
So itโs back to ๐ฅ for me, now, for a large operation tomorrow, Friday 17th July 2020....
1:12
So itโs been a tough week with surgery, a heart that wanted to stop and some complications.
But Friday ends with good news.
My #colorectal #cancer has not spread outside of the colon. Nor to any lymph nodes.
Now to focus on surgical recovery and recovery from spinal fluid leak
This day last week I was really unwell after #laparotomy from #sepsis & renal failure. Today, with corset in place and appropriate morphine, I walked 2km with zero pain. Still some way to go but feeling vastly better. ๐
0:51
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Bigger victory. Iโm home 
in my own 
Massive thanks to everyone on here for carrying me through a tough few days. 4-6 weeks recovery at 
now.
Wish you all a lovely weekend. twitter.com/NeilWalsh_UN/sโฆ
in my own
Massive thanks to everyone on here for carrying me through a tough few days. 4-6 weeks recovery at now.
Wish you all a lovely weekend. twitter.com/NeilWalsh_UN/sโฆ5 years since the tweet below.
5 years since my second cancer.
5 years since pulmonary embolisms, cardiac arrest, brain hemorrhages and more.
Still here.
Thanks to everyone who has supported me on this journey.
Is my cancer journey over? Who knows. Every day is a bonus.
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1:05
What links #cybercrime, #TerroristFinancing and #cancer? Turns out, itโs me.
My journey to fight #ColonCancer, for the second time, starts now
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorecta
Love this . Mrs W and I met in London, spoke a mix of ๐ซ๐ท & ๐ฌ๐ง ๐ฎ๐ช. Kids born around the ๐ had ๐ณ๐ฑ as 1st language but now itโs become ๐ฆ๐น ๐ฉ๐ช.
I love leading a team with massively diverse languages from ๐ช๐ธ dialects ๐ธ๐ป ๐ฌ๐น ๐ฒ๐ฝ to ๐ท๐ด ๐ณ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ฟ ๐น๐ญ ๐บ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ด ๐บ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ผ & more!
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This weekend, we're celebrating @UN Mother Language Day. London is a global city - where over 300 languages are spoken. As Mayor, I would invest in language education because it enhances our culture and creates economic opportunities.
1:32
As my immune system is bit screwed post-op, my docs want me to double-mask. #N95 & 3-ply paper. Simple.
You keep me safe, I keep you safe. How anyone objects to #WearAMask is beyond my ๐ง .
So my fortnight:
#Colon removed #cancer gone๐ค
#Ileostomy formed, all well ๐
#cardioversion to fix โค๏ธ ๐ฉ
#PulmonaryEdema in my lungs ๐จ
#SubduralHeamatoma in my ๐ง
Apart from that, itโs all fairly quiet...
Huge ๐ to my ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ & friends for carrying me
1:18
.Excellent work Alex. In addition to physical danger, the inherent risk of โnormalizingโ sexual violence and mysogyny has to stop. Agree ?
Thanks to cabin crew Lisa from Hexham on BA0064 NBO-LHR last night. I tore the coat hanging tag on my coat about 20 years ago - and Lisa went a sewed it for me!
So unnecessary but enormously kind. Thank you!
Thanks to my wonderful team for welcoming me back today ๐ I really am lucky to work with the best people in the ๐.
The kitchen becomes the . The VIC office may be limited but we are still here for you 24/7.
Iโll be posting soon on how we can counter #cybercriminals who exploit #COVID19. So watch this space! Stay safe #SocialDistancing #COVID19 #coronavirus #Vienna
Huge thanks to everyone around the ๐ for helping, challenging and supporting all of us & this year. We can only do what we do because of you. Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings and wishing you a super 2020! #cybercrime #AML #CFT #cybersecurity #UNODC
1:26
Thanks for all the lovely messages & comments - they really lifted my spirt. The #laparotomy went really well and I just got ๐ก. The pain is challenging but Iโm on #fentanyl, #morphine and loads of other drugs.
๐ again everyone - really appreciate you. #BowelCancer #Colorectal
0:34
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0:57
So...back into 
for surgery tomorrow (02/12). Multiple #BowelCancer ops have wrecked my pelvic floor. Tomorrow my #colorectalcancer surgeon will try to fix it. Bring it on.
for surgery tomorrow (02/12). Multiple #BowelCancer ops have wrecked my pelvic floor. Tomorrow my #colorectalcancer surgeon will try to fix it. Bring it on.366 days ago I was 12 years post-#bowelcancer. But then that clock reset to zero.
Thanks for all the support over the past year ๐ #colorectalcancer #cancer
0:46
Itโs #WorldCancerDay, a day to shine a light on the ๐ cancer care gap.
And as someone whoโs had cancer twice so far, I realise how lucky Iโve been to have amazing care.
Learn more about the signs & symptoms of Colorectal (bowel) Cancer here: bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-ca
1:42
My๐ฉโโ๏ธ has released me from wearing a corset (will be kept for special occasions ๐) and as Iโm free of opiates, Iโm good to start back to work next week.
Happy Boy #Cancer #Crohns #Colitis #Sepsis #KidneyFailure #BrainHemorhhage #PulmonaryEmbolisms
In recent weeks Iโve turned down two invitations to speak on all-male panels. Itโs not hard. And it forces change. Simple.
Itโs the ๐ party...and ๐ฅ ๐ช ๐ฉธ ๐งฌ โข๏ธ ๐ prevented me from going.
But that didnโt stop my wonderful friend - who ๐จ me!!! ๐๐๐๐๐๐
So Iโm there in spirit and blessed to work with the best ๐บ๐ณ people on ๐!(๐ Riikka & screw #BowelCancer #Pain!)
Another colonoscopy done. Due to my ability to grow tumors very quickly, I have to have one every 6 months.
Apart from slightly sore skin from the bowel prep, midazolam & fentanyl meant that I didnโt feel a thing.
All clear, and I can forget about til the end of the year.
So during a team meeting my wifi died and I WhatsApped my lovely people to explain why Iโd vanished. The typo did the rest....... #fail
Thanks so much for all the messages throughout my #cancer journey.
My bowel is now reconnected & #ileostomy removed. Despite fentanyl, morphine & ketamine, itโs a painful night: but your support truly helps.
Check out the symptoms of #ColoRectal cancer: bit.ly/1UG9gXR
I go to bed tonight in #Vienna ๐ฆ๐น at the โค๏ธ of Central #Europe. Iโll wake up tomorrow with Europe still at the centre of my โค๏ธ.
The #EUโs principles & funding, supported #peacebuilding in my childhood home #NorthernIreland. Iโve lived in 4 ๐ช๐บ countries.
I remain European ๐
Replying to
Iโm not sure that โlikingโ this is correct Patrick. Iโm so sorry for you, your family and friends.
Thank you for doing what youโve done - and no doubt will continue to do.
I wish you a pain-free and comfortable next stage. Know that youโve made a difference that outlasts you.
Hard to find the words to describe the strength that Dr has to do this. To call it โnecessaryโ is a gross understatement.
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Sneak preview of my module on having sex after sexual violence and sexual abuse
This module will be free to everyone.
1:44
If the bleeding stops and itโs not a huge lump, she can self-treat. Signs of infection that require assessment inc redness, pain, discharge, throbbing etc.
Check last tetanus.
Stay on hold with 111
Good luck (former medic and Thumb-top chopper-offer)
Managed to get a few days off soโฆ..hereโs some adult and baby elephants in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro on the ๐ฐ๐ช/ ๐น๐ฟ border.
Youโre welcome!
0:07
A week ago I had my annual #colonoscopy. It discovered that, in a year, I had grown three new tumours in my remaining 20cm colon.
They were all removed immediately.
They were NOT malignant.
So no further action beyond an iron infusion.
Colonoscopy saves my life again ๐
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8 hours into bowel prep for Monday morningโs colonoscopy & gastroscopy.
Kebab anyone...?
My brain hemorrhage is gone!!! Best CT scan yet ๐๐๐๐๐ช๐ช
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CT scan receptionist asked me today โwhy do you want a scanโ? (apparently I looked ok today)
I told her politely that I had #BowelCancer, a brain #hemorrhage, Colitis, pulmonary embolisms and Iโd like very much to know if my 
is getting better.
Seems these were acceptable.
is getting better.
Seems these were acceptable.After 8 days in hospital, Iโm glad to be home. #Ileostomy gone. No crazy life threatening stuff after this operation.
Onwards to recovery and settling into the new normal (again).
Next #BowelCancer staging CT in January and begin #MonoClonal #Antibody treatment in Feb.
๐ all
Home from hospital
Still challenged by #BrainHemorrage & #liver disorder
The colon #cancer is, for now, in remission. Onwards towards recovery
๐ to my family & friends esp #Embassies for carrying me through this. Youโre amazing
#NotDeadYet ๐๐ช
1:11
Here we go with my first long-haul #cybercrime trip since returning to work. Really happy to be getting on plane - #cancer, #BrainHaemorrhage, #PulmonaryEmbolisms and all the rest of the nastiness havenโt stopped me.
20hrs to go....
So this wasnโt my Friday night plan.
Impacted by all the cancer stuff and meds, my gallbladder is necrotic and will be leaving me tomorrow morning in an open cholecystectomy.
Once more into the breachโฆ
Today, collecting my 6 y/o from school he said โDaddy I wear my mask all the time in school. I donโt have to, but I donโt want you to get covid and dieโ. ๐ข
Screw this disease.
Screw the impact it has on everyone.
Wear a mask
Wash your hands
Keep distance
Get a vaccine
๐
Spent the morning with orphaned baby elephants in Nairobi.
Most are orphaned by poachers, and thatโs why we work with to help bring them to justice.
Stop the demand, stop the crime, save our elephants.
0:05
I think I may work in the most beautiful place on earthโฆ.
From me, to you, ๐ for everything youโve done for me in 2019. Hereโs to 2020 and a new decade. #HappyNewYear ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ฅ
0:39
After cancer surgery to remove most of my colon & relocate part of my small intestine, I developed Crohnโs Disease & colitis.
The disease & treatment has caused me to develop severe osteoporosis of my spine, pelvis & femurs. So begins the next challenge... Onwards.
Closing up shop ๐บ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐น for a little while. But weโll still be working to help ๐ counter #cybercrime #AML #CFT.
Look after each other, #BeKind & have a sense of #perspective. And please....donโt panic. Take care! #COVID19
1:00
So I go into hospital again 2moro for surgery on Monday to remove my #ileostomy, a portion of my #SmallIntestine + reconnect my ass.
My 8 year old drew this to explain #BowelCancer & #stoma takedown to the 6, 4 & 2 year old. My 4 y/o son gave my #Lovenox injection!
Onwards!
And so begins the long journey to ๐ณ๐ฟ New Zealand. Really looking forward to briefing Prime Minister โs Government on all the work done by my remarkable people around the world on #cybercrime, #cybersecurity, #AML & #CFT. ๐ซ VIE-DXB-MEL-WLG ๐ฅฑ ๐
2020 has been a crappy year.
But those of us lucky enough to survive, to have a job and to have a home, will continue to work for those who donโt.
Iโm enormously blessed to work with some of the best people on earth
Happy New Year everyone ๐ฅ
The last time I was in it was Friday 13th March. Today, Friday 12th June, and itโs nice to be back (if a little eerie). And to friends from the office, donโt worry:
a. The coffee machine is still there
b. The elevators are still orange
#COVID19
I refuse to let #bowel #cancer, #ileostomy, ex-brain #hemorrhage, cardiac disorder, liver disorder, #DiversionColitis and #PulmonaryEmbolism stop me
On #worldostomyday Iโm out (first time since surgery) on my bike with two of my kids. For those of you want to and canโt ๐๐๐ช.
6 days later and I just got into my own bed
Enormous thanks to all of you for your messages, to my wonderful work family who carried me this week & to for their life-saving, world-class treatment.
A few weeks of recovery in front of me, but Iโll be back
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Thanks so much for all your lovely messages. My op went well and Iโm sure the pain Will much easier by Monday / Tuesday.
And what does a โcatastrophic gallstoneโ (surgeonโs term) look like?
Well, this: twitter.com/NeilWalsh_UN/sโฆ
I donโt care about a tennis player. I do care about Kazakhstan.
Refocus the newsโฆ?
It is a deep privilege, and enormous responsibility, to lead the women and men of UNODC in Eastern Africa.
Many met for the first time this week.
They are a remarkable group of focused, caring, skilled professionals. Lives in ๐ are better because of them.
We are your UN.
One year ago ๐. I no longer have the #ostomy and my body is a bit of a mess, but the message is the same. I refuse to let this stuff stop me ๐ช #bowelcancer #WorldOstomyDay #pulmonaryembolism #shortbowelsyndrome
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I refuse to let #bowel #cancer, #ileostomy, ex-brain #hemorrhage, cardiac disorder, liver disorder, #DiversionColitis and #PulmonaryEmbolism stop me
On #worldostomyday Iโm out (first time since surgery) on my bike with two of my kids. For those of you want to and canโt 
.
.
Best morning ever ๐
Danke sehr , ๐โโ๏ธ
Never comfortable seeing myself on camera but may have worked a small miracleโฆ Asante sana ๐
Waiting for #MRI #MRA ๐ง results really increases the #scanxiety. In #Wien, Iโm so lucky to have my results 18 hours later - no #metastatic disease - just the remnants of multiple subdural hemorrhages in 2018. Phew. (this is a 3 Tesla MR Angiogram of my brain)
Itโs day. Itโs tempting to thinking the UN as being a building - be it here in Vienna, New York, or around the ๐.
But COVID showed us that itโs nothing to do with a physical office.
The UN is an ideal.
People, United in peace.
We - all of us together - are the UN ๐บ๐ณ.
Thanks to my amazing team for coming to see me in hospital
Youโre the best
Iโm so lucky to live on the doorstep of #Viennaโs stunning #belvederepalace. What better place to walk off the morphine-withdrawal ( ๐คข ๐ ) whilst trying to rebuild my stamina! 90mins, 12 laps, 7km.
Huge ๐ to #Vienna #Wien #AKH General Hospital for looking after me tonight. No #PulmonaryEmbolism (yay) but an unhappy #pancreas & #liver (meh)
#BowelCancer #ColoRectalCancer survival keeps me on my toes...
07:00 - hospital
07:30 - #colonoscopy & #endoscopy (the human kebab)
09:00 - wake from Anesthesia
09:30 - home
10:30 - at work (in bed)
Austria ๐ฆ๐น & efficiency ๐
This was my 12th #colonoscopy & with #propofol sedation itโs so easy. #bowelcancer #cancer
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"At the age of 25.. I went back to secondary school, sitting in a classroom with 16 year olds"
@peterkyle on how he had to go back to school in his mid-twenties to get the chance to go to university.
On @GlobalPlayer
@lewis_goodall | @peterkyle
3:58
I didnโt get to say goodbye to my old team due to COVID lockdown in November.
Righted that tonight.
Thanks gang for coming together. Miss you all.
What a bizarre experience - being on a plane for the first time since Feb 2020!
What a beautiful approach into Dublin ๐ฎ๐ช today! Thanks to those who have allowed me to safely reunite with my parents for the first time in 2 years ๐ - especially ๐
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5 yearsโฆfor the second time #NationalCancerSurvivorsDay
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National Cancer Survivors Dayโฆ whether youโre in treatment or in remission we see you 
#nevertooyoung #bowelcancer #nationalcancersurvivorsday #ncsd
#nevertooyoung #bowelcancer #nationalcancersurvivorsday #ncsdHappy New Year from all of us
Thanks for your support in 2018 and looking forward to even more in 2019.
Wherever you are tonight, stay safe and look out for each other.
0:53
Home from hospital (again)
Thanks everyone for all the support. ๐ค
#ScrewCancer #ScrewSubduralHaematoma #ScrewPulmonaryEmbolism
1:28
Whilst recording this, I lost my wallet full of ๐ต , ๐ณ, driving license, health insurance & diplomatic ID.
But I didnโt know.
Only when my ๐ฑ rang, and โHasanโ told me heโd found it, did I realize. Hasan, an unemployed refugee from Syria, kept it safe for me.
What a great ๐จ
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Whatโs happening at #UNGA this week? Follow @UN, @antonioguterres @UN_Spokesperson @MelissaFleming @HochschildF and find out what weโre doing to make your world 
a better place.
a better place.
0:52
Like so many, due to COVID, we couldnโt share Christmas dinner with friends this year so I cooked for them and Mrs W delivered!
After 9 hours of cooking Iโm opening the wine.... ๐ฅ Merry Christmas everyone!
The moment you realize that having four kids, in four different schools, in four different parts of the city is really, really, really dumb....
As some countries reduce covid protections, despite the growing pandemic ( ๐คฆโโ๏ธ ) Iโm enormously grateful that make it quick & easy for everyone to take a PCR test every couple of days, for free!
๐ท ๐ ๐งผ ๐ ๐
Only a few weeks since this pic but today we laid out brother Ulrich Haeussermann to rest in Mombasa ๐ฐ๐ช.
Humble, kind, gentle & committed to our work. Even more so to his wife and 4 children.
Uliโs tragic loss will be felt for years to come.
Rest in Peace our lovely friend ๐บ๐ณ
Itโs #SaferInternetDay
Take a moment today to review how you keep yourself & your loved-ones safe online - the power is in your hands.
0:55
What is #SocialDistancing? I just had to ask a man in the pharmacy to step back from being pressed against me. #Cancer & #Steroids have ๐ช my #ImmuneSystem. If I can put my arms out and reach you, Iโm too close to you (or youโre too close to me). It ainโt hard. #COVID19 ๐
Itโs #BowelCancerAwarenessMonth
I was first diagnosed at 26 and then again at 38.
Know the signs & symptoms. Itโs saved my life. Twice.
#BowelCancer #RectalCancer #ColonCancer #Cancer #ColorectalCancer
bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-ca
0:36
So, 1 week on from surgery and Iโm healing well (still hurts a bit and has a way to go) - but I was able to nip into briefly today and make sure that my desk hadnโt been used as firewood. Back to ๐ฅ tomorrow for some new stuff to try ๐ #pelvicfloor #BowelCancer #survival
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Whilst it mightnโt look like it, halving my fentanyl dose is a real sign of progress and, hopefully, I can be off it soon. Now to try and walk outside on my own for the first time 
Onwards!
#laparotomy #ColorectalCancer #BowelCancer #AbdominalWound #Fentanyl #opiate #opioid
Onwards!
#laparotomy #ColorectalCancer #BowelCancer #AbdominalWound #Fentanyl #opiate #opioidItโs #WorldCancerDay2020. Iโve had #ColorectalCancer #BowelCancer twice.
Donโt die of embarrassment - if you have ๐ฉธ in your ๐ฉ please, go and see a doctor. Itโs probably not #cancer, but why would you risk it? ๐ bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-ca for more info. ๐
0:59
After 2 challenging years of international diplomacy, the ๐ has reached a consensus conclusion of the OEWG on Responsible State Behaviour in cyberspace.
expert Chairing, and , & diplomacy led to success ๐
