Had the most recent appointment with the Oncologist out here in Doha. You know that feeling you get that someone really can't be bothered..? Yep, well he's that someone. I honestly think that he should have retired before he started working! He once again came out with the gem of ,"Ah yes, Mr John...you can get on and live your life."
Umm, yep...that's kinda what I am doing...but maybe now would be a good time to discuss how my symptoms are?
So, not receiving any obvious prompt from him that he was going in that direction, I told him how my neuropathy was improving etc. He seemed pleased (actually I have no idea if it even registered with him).
Decided that I should mention to him that I appear to have an ongoing issue with strange electrical pulses in my lower legs when I bend my head forward. After all, he didn't bother to ask me if I had any specific symptoms or concerns. His response, "Oh, umm, that might be a disc issue perhaps. Let's get an MRI sorted." Now, fortunately my father is a Dr and when we spoke after the appointment he said that the symptoms seem consistent with Lehermitte's Sign (a myelin issue with the nerves) which can be caused by a previous history of playing contact sports BUT also H&N radio and chemo (cisplatin). Hmm...a disc problem or that..? Disturbingly, the Oncologist didn't even mention Lhermitte's.
As you will gather, I am not one to want to ever bash the medical profession as I have been around it all of my life with my father being a Dr. However, the Oncologist I have does seem a little disconnected...
So a potentially pointless MRI awaits on 10 June. First MRI identified a couple of sub-centimetric lymph nodes bilaterally, but the view was that these were simply post-treatment reactive.
At least tomorrow I have a follow-up with the surgeon; a rather more confidence-inspiring chap I have to say. I anticipate that he will schedule my first PET CT scan, probably for July or August as that will be 1 year post surgery.
Watch this space.
Oh, as for other things, I am regularly back in the gym and lifting some reasonable weights again. Did make the mistake of going for a run the other night. Yep, that was a great idea...high 30s, humid and with no saliva to speak of. Decided after about a mile and a half that it was probably worth binning it for now!
J.
