Check out my interview in which I discuss how I dealt with pancreatic cancer on the @projectpurple podcast! You can watch on Youtube or you can download from your favorite podcast platform: Youtube
After 29 years working at an international organization, I retired and was looking forward to travel and quality time with my wife, Laura, and adult daughters. Then I started having stomach problems and after a year of pestering my doctor about tests, he ordered a CT scan which reveals a mass in the tail of my pancreas. A biopsy showed it was cancer.
Fortunately, I lived an hour away from Johns Hopkins University Hospital, which is a high-volume center, and I was scheduled for surgery to be followed by 6 months of chemo therapy.
Because of a life-long interest in health, fitness, eastern medicine, and homeopathy, I knew there were Eastern therapies that, though not scientifically studied in the US, are widely accepted and practiced, for example in Chinese medicine. So I decided to approach the cancer with a strategy to:
- Get cancer treatment from western doctors
- Seek out and employ therapies that take more holistic or integrative care approach
It’s almost four years later and I’m still here. The last CT scan showed the cancer has not returned. However, because of the 5 year average return rate of 90%, I still use many of the tools.
Today, I’ve chosen an exquisitely beautiful choral piece by Thomas Tallis, Miserere Nostri.
According to sheet music I can find online, the text is “Miserere nostri, Domine” which translates as “Have mercy on us Lord.” Supposedly, this text comes from a Psalm 123: “3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.”
I’m not a fan of self-loathing, but verse 4 seems to be a plea for solace when in the midst of adversity. I think we could all use a little solace from time time to.
There’s a ton of recordings of this piece on Youtube, and I’m choosing one by The Tallis Scholars. I think it dates from around 2004. The soprano voice will pierce your soul.
Here’s AllMusic description of this piece.
Project Purple raises money through events for pancreatic cancer research and to provide assistance to people diagnosed with this disease. Please consider donating.
My interview on Youtube
My interview on Soundcloud
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Kurt Nemes' Classical Music Almanac 
A really enlightening and interesting podcast Kurt, thank you. May you continue to stay healthy, and enjoy a long and happy life with your family and, yes, the soprano voice is sublime!
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