Man with Coolbawn Kilbarron roots writes his memoir

A MAN with roots in Coolbawn and Kilbarron who is now living in Canada is selling his memoir to raise funds to fight a deadly form of cancer that is now threatening his own life.

Michael Cormican, who emigrated to Canada many years ago, is also making medical history in his adopted country, being the first citizen in Canada to receive a new form of treatment for brain cancer.

Prior to his illness, Michael wrote a book on his life, aptly titled, ‘A Long Way From Tipperary’, which is now available online for sale, with proceeds going to Brain Cancer Canada to help other families who have loved ones battling brain cancer.

Michael’s initiative has been making headlines in Canada where The Lethbridge Hearld, the leading daily newspaper in Alberta, published a story about him last week.

The Hearld revealed that Michael has made Canadian medical history by becoming the first citizen with his form of brain cancer in the country to receive an innovative immunotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiform.

This is a deadly form of brain cancer, with the result that Michael was given a low chance of surviving beyond 14 months when he was first diagnosed in February 2022.

LARGE TUMOUR

Michael, a retired community nurse and a champion for people suffering with their mental health, discovered that he had a life-threatening tumour roughly the size of a sliotar and that his form of cancer had one of the worst outcomes.

He and his family could have lost hope as Michael had previously battled cancer. But instead, they delved in researching the disease and his daughter, Dr Aileen Cormican, knew there were options beyond the standard care offered by Canada, which typically includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

“Often, a lot of it is actually being massively proactive yourself,” she told The Lethbridge Hearld.

“So, once you become diagnosed with cancer, all I can say is do your research, be your own best advocate… because at the end of the day, it’s your life,” Aileen was quoted as saying.

After his diagnoses, Michael’s doctors removed the tumour, taking with it roughly one quarter of his brain and he underwent chemotherapy.

Consulting with her colleagues and research papers, Aileen found a trial in the United Kingdom that uses immunotherapy.

The big obstacle was that the treatment was still in the trial stages and wasn’t being offered in Canada. But after months of travel between Alberta and London Michael eventually received the innovative treatment.

However, due to the advancement of the illness, travel was becoming increasingly difficult. But then earlier this year Michael got approval from health authorities in Canada to have the vaccine administered to him in a clinic in Lethbridge – the first time such treatment was given on Canadian soil.

Michael’s son, David, told the Hearld: “We’re feeling very fortunate, very blessed to be able to participate. But I know, it’s really important and meaningful for my dad. The fact that he’s able to make this milestone and be around for us and hopefully be able to push the bounds of what’s possible within the Canadian medical system.”

MICHAEL’S MEMOIR

Michael, a former federal Liberal Party candidate, has lost his ability to write since beginning his treatment but his memoir, written before his illness, is already preserved for all to read.

His book, ‘A Long Way From Tipperary’ was inspired by his granddaughter who asked him what he was going to do during the Covid lockdowns.

Memories of his life were pulled together and evolved into the book that is now being sold to raise funds for cancer research.

To get involved and help fight the battle against brain cancer, google Home - Michael Cormican Memoir (akaraisin.com)or donate directly to Brain Cancer Canada.