Me and My Shadow – memoirs of a cancer survivor

“From a death sentence to a life of purpose - John Walker Pattison's journey defies the odds and inspires the soul.”

At just eighteen, John Walker Pattison was handed a death sentence: cancer. The words still resonate “… You will not survive…” But against all odds, he did. What followed was a gruelling journey through failed treatments and near-death experiences. 

Eight years later, life struck another cruel blow—his four-year-old daughter was diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Like her father, she would endure the ravages of chemotherapy, and like her father, she would defy medical expectation— going on to represent Team GB in the 1998 World Swimming Championships in New Zealand, where she won two silver medals.

For Pattison, survival was not just about beating cancer; it was about purpose. Recognising that he wasted his school years, much preferring to play the practical joker, he returned to education, determined to make a difference. With hard work and perseverance, he qualified as a nurse and quickly rose to the top of his field. In an incredible twist of fate, he found himself walking the very corridors of the hospital that had once prepared for his final days—not as a patient, but as a senior clinical cancer nurse specialist, guiding others through their darkest moments.

Now, fifty years after his initial diagnosis, Pattison is one of the UK’s longest-living cancer survivors.

Throughout his traumatic journey, Pattison’s inspirations were the space rock legends, Hawkwind. He would join the band as a member of the road crew and get to play on stage with his heroes at the Donnington Festival in 2007.

But Pattison’s greatest source of inspiration came from an unexpected place—the Lakota Sioux Nation. Throughout his cancer experience, he found solace in their history and spirituality. In 2018, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by visiting Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, where he was humbled to be declared an honorary member of the tribal council, and presented with a star quilt.

Forced to retire in 2022 due to ongoing health complications—including another cancer diagnosis caused by the harsh treatments of the ’70s—his journey, he believes, is down to fate.

His award-winning memoir, ‘Me and My Shadow – memoirs of a cancer survivor,’ has already inspired thousands, earning recognition as a runner-up in the New England Book Festival 2024. And understanding that one in two people will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, Pattison is determined to be a beacon of hope for those undergoing treatment.

Now sixty-eight years young, he has also established himself as an award-winning children’s author. Through every challenge, his philosophy remains unchanged: “Never look back on your life unless you are prepared to smile and be reflective. Never look forward unless you can dream. We all need dreams and we all need hope.”

John Walker Pattison’s story is one of survival, resilience, and inspiration—a testament to the power of hope, determination, and the unbreakable human spirit.