The second the word Cancer is mention it is amazing what it dose to you, your family, your friends, work colleagues and people around you. All people react in different ways some become very quite, some overprotective, some will hide their heads in the ground, others go into a worldwind of needing to know every in and out, some even roll over and start putting nails in coffins, me personally feel that fighting is a very good way ahead this is not a new thing and things are always improving, and if you look at the word it's self when broken down tell's you it CAN-Cer(ie Bob) be beaten.
When I got the conformation I had throat cancer I had a hold rush of thought's and feelings, and if you are reading this you or someone close to you are probally having much the same thoughts now. For me this worldwind has had only three weeks to sink in, and one of the hardest things has already happened telling people, and it dose get a tiny bit easier each time for you to except what is happening to you, what was daunting for me was the first meeting after being told. We were ushered into a office and sat down in front of a collection of specialist from a handful of different sections, One bit of advice I will pass on is Have a least two other people with you when have to go through this part, because each of you will phase out (and you all will at one point in the conversation which will follow) but not all at the same time we hope. Also the addage a picture paints a thousand words comes to mind my Consultant drew a picture of where the tumor was and what it was doing (this works well when telling people especially younger children because they will want to know everything). I was also informed what the immadiate treatment was going to entail, in my case the incetion of a PICC and the type of Chemo I was going to receive.
When we heard about the PICC no one knew what it was, but one of the specialist helped here, he phoned down to one or the Wards and spoke to somebody who had one fitted and they were happy to let us come down and see it. When you first see one it is not as scary as it sounds, all you will see is a small piece of clear piping coming out from the arm with a small clip, and a slightly larger collar at the bottom it will dangle down your arm though. One of my worries was that if you had young children or babies they may be able to grab or you catch it easy remedy tubeiler bandage, old cut off sock/thights, tape, the possibilities are endless.
Fitting the PICC is unbelieivable simple but never the less it is classed as a Minor Opperation done under Local Anaesthetic in a sterile area with whoever doing in full Opperating Scrubs mask and all. The nurse who did mine was great first he ultrasounds your choosen arm (usally the dominant one) and then they go looking for Mickymouse as he call's it this is three blood veins which are just above the elbow he let us watch him find them on the Ultrasound screen, and when they are found it dose look like Mickymouses head two small veins and a larger one just below (the ear's and head), he also pointed out the main artire in my arm as well, he did this by pushing down on it with the ultrasound probe when closed it pulsed. He then incerted the PICC this to me felt just like someone slightly pinching your arm, and it is slightly uncomfortable the line it's self dose go right into the hart though, which may be quite alarming when you are told it follows the picked vein all the way in, but this is done blindly so if it dose brush something it shouldn't you will get a tingling effect, I was told it was like getting a pin's and needles effect and all they will do is pull the tube back slightly and push on again. The other problem you may get ( even though it is quite rear) is just by the collar bone area the veins split some go to the hart some go up past the ear to the brain and the tube may go up that one if it dose all that happens is you hear a rushing sound like water, and if this happens they may just leave it ( it appears that the blood flow warms the tube up and it finds it's own way back down and into the hart though I not sure how) and if all else fails then the just pull it out and start again. You will be chest x-rayed after fitting and the person fitting it may tell you how it all went at a later date mine did. I was also given a log book which is to signed by whoever touches the line after they do what need to and infomation pack .
Next I have to mention " The Mustard Tree " I'm not sure if it is at every Hospital in the counry, but it is down here in the South West, it is run by " The MacMillan Trust", and an absolute must, it's a drop in clinic and a very good sounding board for ANY problems, we found I had a clot come lose a day or two ago and in dia panic phoned them along with one of the specilalist and they put me at ease and explained that as the biopsy was only done a few days prior, that that was probaly all it was and conformation from the specilist later that day proved to be correct. Most of the volenteer's there have lived through Cancer in varoius forms or through connection. They have a large and detailed list of contacts in finance, theropy, living aids for later on in treatments (if needed) and mountains of counciling one to one's and any other need's, and in our case a more comfortable area that a Ward waiting room for further treatment when needed. OH and free tea and coffee
