viz so-named bcz it affects bagpiping families*
also known as VIKINGS DISEASE because bagpiping is when im a viking**
anyway the specialist concurred that this *is* what i have: the plan is two blasts of focused radiotherapy (1 hr a day for a week in probably oct, and again in jan). i will need to find somewhere to stay in bristol for those two weeks (airbnb probably, since driving that far is a bit nuts). the specialist believes this will stop it and with luck even cause it to retreat, as it's at an earlyish stage
*i am not from such a family
**i am not a viking
― mark s, Monday, 21 September 2026 14:45 (one month ago)
Some fellow sufferers:
Chelsea Handler (born 1975), American comedian, actress and writer[88][89]
Dennis Dougherty (born 1971), Physical Education Teacher/Driver Education Teacher. Became a professional billiards player after treatment.
Tim Herron (born 1970), American golfer[90]
Prince Joachim of Denmark (born 1969)[91]
Joanne Harris (born 1964), British author[92]
Tommy Lee (born 1962), American drummer[93]
Ally McCoist (born 1962), Scottish footballer[94]
Dave Mustaine (born 1961), American guitarist[95]
Jonathan Agnew (born 1960), English cricketer[96]
John Elway (born 1960), American football player[97]
Nanci Griffith (1953–2021), American singer, guitarist, and songwriter[98][99]
Bill Murray (born 1950), American actor and comedian[100]
Bill Nighy (born 1949), British actor[101]
Mitt Romney (born 1947), American politician[88]
Misha Dichter (born 1945), American pianist[102]
José Feliciano (born 1945), Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer[103]
Bill Frindall (1939–2009), English cricket player and statistician, who had a finger amputated[104]
David McCallum (1933–2023), Scottish/British actor and musician[105]
Paul Newman (1925–2008), American actor and film director[88]
Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom[106]
Ronald Reagan (1911–2004), American President and actor[106]
Andrew Wyeth (1917–2009), American visual artist[88]
Frank Sinatra (1915–1998), American singer, actor, and producer[107]
Samuel Beckett (1906–1989), Irish novelist, poet and playwright[88]
Max Planck (1858–1947), German theoretical physicist and Nobel Prize laureate[88
― Happiness is a warm gurn (Tom D.), Monday, 21 September 2026 15:58 (one month ago)
Chuck Eddy mentioned that so far it bothers him mainly(?)in cold weather (mentioned in a post, so I'm not outing him). Hope the treatment does help, Mark.
― dow, Wednesday, 23 September 2026 02:56 (four weeks ago)
three weeks pass...
just in bristol for five days low-dose radiotherapy at 30 seconds a time
early effects will be dry & itchy skin in a couple of weeks maybe, and possibly the relevant benign nodules getting even more inflamed
but nothing at all yet (the second five-day course, which is in jan, is when they start reducing if it works as hoped)
― mark s, Friday, 16 October 2026 15:32 (five days ago)
pleased to discover that the nurses call it DOOP
nurse one: "mark can you flatten your palm a bit more?"
nurse two: "to be honest that can be tricky with doop"
― mark s, Saturday, 17 October 2026 09:00 (four days ago)