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It seems to be good news now - all the test results are in. My chemo started on Thursday 7th October, 2 courses over a six week period. Four weeks ago the Surgeon told me in his opinion I was not considered as a "suitable candidate" for surgical procedure. After my second fitness test, he and his whole team seemed to have changed their opinions, maybe that Angel had a word with them. They want to go ahead with the op as soon as the chemo is over, and all have faith I will make a full recovery.
That second fitness test was really hard, up at Royal Marsden in London. They had me doing a virtually impossible breathing test whilst being monitored, and then had I to pedal like Billyo on a workout bike. It's the eqivalent of a 5 mile bike ride, uphill and down. That was on my Birthday 27th September, and thought I'd rather be doing better things. After it was all over I went along to Bill Wyman's Sticky Finger's Restaurant, to look at all The Rolling Stones memorabilia on the walls and treated myself to the BIGGEST steak burger money could buy, then thought to myself - who's got a problem swallowing?
I know the op is going to be unpleasant, with them having to remove the top part of my stomach and the bottom part of the oesophagus, finding a new home for all the bits and pieces and sowing me up again. Funnily enough, it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I am looking forward to a few weeks in hospital, surrounded by all those pretty nurses, they are pretty too. As far as the team goes, how lucky I am having maybe the best in Europe with a world leader in his specialist field helping me.
Not so long ago, I had so many questions I wanted to ask and was well prepared but then slightly shocked when told I might not be suitable, in the end I didn't ask any. It’s different now and I found out everything I needed to know regarding chemo, surgery and recovery, before signing the consent forms. The tumour is a stage T3 contained, although it's perforated the gullet wall it hasn't penetrated and is surprisingly small. If the chemo doesn't work, they will still be willing to operate on me. The hardest adjustment so far is having to change my lifestyle, slowing down a bit, less gallivanting and having to quit cigarettes .
We are all given a "second chance" in our life and this one I won't abuse, that is a promise I have made to the team.
