12th April
I'm pretty conscious that this blog may look like attention seeking and I have pondered what people may think to the point of considering deleting it, wondering that going public was damaging my standing and respect as a senior manager. My reasons are such that I'm wanting to be informative on a condition that affect thousands each year and also I thought it might be a way of communicating my progress to all those who have have supported me, which is shown in the amount of visitors, emails and get well cards. I'm truly humbled so thanks to everyone. I also want to show that I'm up beat and in a frame of mind that is not not wanting tea and sympathy but just to get back to enjoying life.
I've just returned back from the Halamshire Hospital after a consultation with the Registrar, the name of the lady I cannot remember. The consultant is currently on a well earned vacation skiing with his family in Canada.
Checks on my abdomen all seem fine, including a feel at Bob's pouch noting that the consistency of the contents feels nice and thick. Err that must be the liquorice that my sister Val bought me.
Now for the results.
Both Sue and I are expecting the all clear including a date for the reversal of my stoma.
"You will be pleased to know that ALL the cancer has been removed and the margins on either side of the sections are clear". "However we have tested 27 lymph nodes from around the 2 sections removed and have found 1 lymph node that has been infected with cancer therefore we are recommending chemotherapy just to make sure we get anything that has got into your blood stream" The doctor also informed us that there would be no reversal while chemo was taking place since it would affect the healing process of the reversal operation. So it could be another 6 months until that time comes.
The news was not what we were wanting to hear but there was only 1 node affected and at least that is better than 2 or more. Leaving the hospital Sue was grasping my hand hard so I knew she was upset. Graham and I bantered whilst he was driving us home "There's no point in doing things by halves. If your going to have cancer then lets have the chemo too". "Its too easy just to get rid of it just like that" This reaction would sound very strange to many but knowing each other for so long and being best mates it was our way of dealing with the negatives, just as we have in tough situations whilst on a our hardest climbs. I don't think that Sue was too impressed with the light hearted comments. I feel sorry for her more than me. She is the one that will do all the worrying.
So now I'm awaiting an appointment with the Oncology Department so as to get the treatment underway.Anyway let's look on the bright side. The big positive is that last night I re-read my information pack for post operative iliostomy and it says that I can resume sexual activity as soon as I'm ready and feeling up to it, so I have just informed Sue that I'm feeling well enough NOW! There is obviously some disagreement on this for the time being and the other massive plus is that my mate Bob will be with me for a while longer. I do hope his gas production eases though.
