THE BEAST SHOWS ME HIS TEETH AGAIN!

4 minute read time.
Hi to all you wonderful people out there. Well, as the heading suggests, it looks like the beast is about to strke me once more. I give you the story of how it happended; Found a very small lump on the side of my neck where the original cancerous tumour had shown itself, but decided to say nothing until the next day. I told my wingless angel Mick because he is ALWAYS my first priority, then I phoned the cancer care nurses at Bart's, and my appt scheduled for 14th November was brought forward to last Friday 7th. I turned up and was called in by a doctor I had never seen before - nothing new there, as I've lost count of the various doctors who have examined me, told results of scan, and even a lovely pesky little fellah, forgotten his name, who told me in the middle of a chemotherapy session that my prognosis was I had 6 to 12 months to live! I call that downright cruel! I hope he picked up a bedside manner - sadlly lacking in a lot of doctors today. Anyway, back to the unknown Dr who turned out to be called Dr Chan who gave me a thorough examination while my poor Mick sat in the other room looking absolutely petrified. Her conclusion was that it could be the cancer returning, so what she was going to do was book me in for a CT scan for two weeks' time when I should come back to the clinic for the results to be discussed with me. Ok, fine. We go over to the receptionist to give her the slip so she can give me the appointment, when Dr Chan appeared again and said she had just spoken with Dr Wells - the head honcho - so, she would like us to go back into her office. In her office once more, she proceeded to tell us that Dr Wells had decided that the scan should wait for 4 weeks! By this time there were bells going off in my head, and the words; I don't understand, kept hammering on my head. Coming out of that office I felt as though someone had physically attacked me and punched me in the head, the rest of my body seemed to scream out in defence. I met Annie the cancer care nurse outside of the office who asked me if I was happy with what the doctor had told me!! In the middle of trying to tell Annie exactly how I felft, I found myself dissolve in floods of tears. She toook us to another office and I told her this; "I have repeatedly been told how they can prolong my life and enrich the quality of that life, but what they are doing now is downright cruel. First off, they want to send Mick and I away for TWO weeks where I can sit and worry myself sick as to whether this very aggressive cancer I have has now returned, now you want to prolong that agony by waiting us wait FOUR weeks! As far as I'm concerned, that's not just cruel, it's inhuman! You're not enriching peoples' lives, you are filling it with fear and causing them unneccessary stress. I'm shunted from one place to another, from one doctor to another, never being able to build any kind of rapport with these unknown faces, you change appointments with a wave of a pen, never evert thinking what effect all of this is having on US - the very people you claim you are helping to enjoy a longer life" Annie got Dr Wells, head honcho to come and see me. She walked in, sat down and took my hand - then told me why she had made her decsions. The thing I had found at the side of my neck was tiny - maybe the size of a small pea. The chance of there being any cancerous cells anwhere else in my body at the moment were negliglible. She told me how my body had been struggling to recover and had been running into difficulties towards the end of my chemotherapy in August. She told me that even if a scan did show the lump in my neck as being the cancer returned, she could not give me chemotherapy at this time - if she did, it would probably kill me. She did not want to give me radiotherapy to the side of the neck as it could cause damage to the nerves and other organs, So, she wanted to wait to see if the lump changed in size (I can keep an eye on it), and if I felt it had got significantly bigger, then of course she would have me straight away. If I had any other symptoms, loss of appetitie, dramatic weight loss, shortage of breath etc, etc, then again I was to contact the hospital straight away. I came away feeling much happier (well you know what I mean), and felt reassured that I was once again in safe hands. So, stick to your guns - don't come home from hospital to sit and worry yourself sick with questions you should have asked while you had the chance. We all have to stand our ground, and fight for everything we want, or they will walk over us all willy nilly. There are lots of people out there who have to deal with having this disease on their own, if you are one of those then ask if one of the cancer carre nurses can be with you when you have a consultation and they can speak up and ask questions on your behalf. Sorry this has been so long, but hope it may help someone (it certainly helped me get it off my chest LOL). Hope you all have someone who loves you, hold on tight with lotsa love kate xxxxxx
Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    My lovely lady Ill be thinking of you over the next weeks and keeping everything crossed.

    You are an inspiration my dear - faced with this yet your blog aimed at helping others yet again.

    Keep strong, keep happy and most of all keep smiling.

    Love Lesley xxxxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    I'll be thinking of you too Kate, and keeping fingers and toes firmly crossed.

    It is so easier to understand the medics plans for us when they explain why they are doing what they are doing, isn't it?  But why they all seem to think we have a 6th sense over these matters is beyond me!

    Take care and stay strong!

    Marsha xx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    It just goes to show that you have to let them know how you are feeling.  I bet your heart was in your boots to have to go back in there.  Why did they make Mick wait in another room?  I would have taken Bill in with me.  Anyway, it is highly likely that it is a benign cyst, and it will all settle down.  

    I hope you have both recovered from the shock, so don't dwell on it now.  Try and forget what you are waiting for.  Just don't miss the appointment.  Your last scan was fine wasn't it!  Just watch your hair growing back.  Be your lovely self.  

    love

    Rwth

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hiya honey, so glad you filled us in on what happened - I had to call an ambulance to take my mum to hospital today as she is severely anaemic and today was frightening with breathlessness and chest pain.  You're an amazing person who still gives us advice even when you're in shock!  I left my mum there tonight after explaining quite clearly that my mum is not to be made to stand up on any account, when taken to the ward (from the assessment unit ward) they need to move the bed and she must have her proper pressure relief mattress.

    Thinking of you and sending my positive vibe machine into overload pointed in your direction xxx

    Hannah

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    hi kate you are such a lovely person & you help so many people on here with your great advice &loving nature you have helped me so much over the past months my fingers toes & any other part i can cross will be crossed for you also you are always in my thoughts & prayers stay strong sweetheart lots n lots of love n hugs theresa xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx