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When faced with a stage 3 pancreatic cancer diagnosis at age 53, Martin Timmermans refused to accept the grim statistics often associated with this disease. His powerful conversation reveals how seemingly minor chest discomfort led to a life-altering diagnosis that forced him to reconsider everything about his existence as a father of three.
Martin takes us through his eleven rounds of chemotherapy—a process he likens to preparing for repeated "boxing matches" with diminishing strength each time. When conventional medicine reached its limits and surgery was deemed too risky due to the tumour's proximity to critical blood vessels, Martin channelled his energy into researching alternatives rather than surrendering to despair.
His journey led to discovering an innovative ultrasound therapy called histotripsy being trialed in Barcelona—a noninvasive approach offering new hope when standard treatments couldn't. The €62,000 financial hurdle for this experimental treatment revealed the extraordinary power of community support, with friends, colleagues in the events industry, and even children donating their savings through a crowdfunding campaign.
What truly distinguishes Martin's story is his philosophical approach to cancer. Rather than viewing his condition as something to "fight against," he adopted a perspective of acceptance without resignation. Drawing wisdom from Buddhist principles of impermanence and dedicated meditation practice, Martin found that facing mortality clarified his priorities unexpectedly: "I'd rather have half a year of super intense time with family than 10 years going on as before."
This episode offers crucial wisdom for anyone facing serious illness: question medical orthodoxy when appropriate, research diligently using modern tools like AI, listen to your body, and find a balance between head and heart when making decisions. Above all, Martin demonstrates that human connection and mindful presence can transform the journey from mere survival to profound living, even in life's darkest moments.
Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Histotripsy by HistoSonics
• NotebookLM
• Vipassana Insight Meditation

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