Hi
I have been supporting my father since August when he was incorrectly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was not strong enough for chemo and although the gastro doctor put in a metal stent it did not clear the bile that had caused his jaundice.
He has now been referred to another hospital and a very good team that have biopsied his liver to try and confirm PSC a liver disease and they plan to remove the metal stent he does not need.
What a few months! I thought getting into a new year things would settle down but unfortunately I found a neck lump whilst in the shower early in January.
My GP referred me straight to an ENT consultant who confirmed that I had a 5cm by 5cm hard lump just above my collar bone in the triangle at the front of my neck on the left.
In the last month, i have had a chest xray, an ultrasound and needle biopsy, a CT scan from my nose to my thighs and on tuesday a sample of my lymph nodes removed for biopsy. I get my results and my stitches out next thursday.
I have been a little confused and uncomfortable because i have had a lot of swelling in my neck along my shoulder blade and into the top of my chest,the top of my back and down my left arm and hand.
Sometimes one side of me is a different temperature to the otherside which i assume is down to the inflamed lymph nodes in my neck and chest and the fact that my lump is deep seated attached to a vein .
I have felt fine and have not lost weight, if anything my weight keeps going up not down.
I am bound to be tired because i have spent the last few months sleeping between the bed and settee because of the shoulder and neck pain that i was being treated by a chiropractor for
There was no visible lump in December because my doctor checked my neck and glands then.
I feel positive and i am being realistic but not worrying unduly because that wont help me or anyone around me.
I am having to take a few days off work whilst my layered incision heals but I am keeping in touch with work on my blackberry and looking forward to having the opportunity to read a couple of books before returning to work next week.
This site has given me tremendous strength through my dad's illness and I wish I could wave a magic wand and heal everyone on here . I cannot believe the strength and character everyone on here has. I will be drawing strength from this site if i do not get a quick fix next week because you will understand the emotions that I will be going though and these can only be shared here with those that understand.
Love to you all
Kar
