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So, as an aftercare precaution Rich was given a C.T scan of his whole body to check for any signs that the cancer had spread.
Whilst we were sat in the waiting area of the C.T unit, there were some lovely people also waiting for the same thing. One of them was a lady that had been diagnosed with breast cancer three weeks before and had not yet had any treatment although she had just been advised that the cancer had spread to her bones. Whilst chatting with her she said that her husband had cancer...
On 24th May this year (2019) we arrived at Birmingham City Hospital for Rich's surgery. The whole transition from admittance to bed was seamless and at 9am I was allowed in to sit with him. He was so nervous but the McMillan nurse Emma put his mind at rest and talked him through the whole process, being sure to answer any questions we may have. She then left her number if we thought of any questions afterwards. Obviously in that moment, you forget the 300 questions you had carefully prepared in the...
So on the 22nd of May this year (2019), our worlds were turned upside down. After attending a GP appointment two weeks before, for a swollen testicle, my partner Rich (Stricky1979 on here), was referred to the Birmingham City Hospital Urology department. Upon arrival he was given a hospital gown, a consultant examined him and immediately gave him forms and asked him to go down to the x-ray and blood test departments.
This was at 9:15am and by 11am, we were in the consultants room hearing those dreaded...
Well I had my mastectomy on 10th May which went as well as can be expected. Turns out me and general anaesthetic don't mix!
Onwards we went - now had two aspirations for seroma but otherwise everything seems to be going okay.
Had my first meeting with my oncologist on 25th May, was told of the chemo treatment plan being either a) 6 cycles over 18 weeks or b) 4 cycles over 8 weeks followed by 4 cycles over 12 weeks.
But then, at the follow up meeting on 31st May, the treatment changed. Now "signed...
I'm a few months into my single drug immunotherapy treatment with Nivolumab and my most recent CT scan back in April showed further reduction in size of the growths I have. I'm told they've all reduced by a third from the previous CT scan, and that scan had shown some had reduced by a half, whilst the others had stabilised, compared to the one before that. So it seems like good progress.
It's a very positive sign and I've been lucky to respond well to the treatment with very little side...
Debbie, our resident ‘chef to the Ostomates’, is back this month with another tasty and nutritious recipe she’s been making following an ileostomy earlier this year. This week’s recipe is a tasty looking butternut squash and sage risotto.
“Squash is easily digested from early on as an Ostomate, and makes a nice change from carrot or parsnip!”
Debbie
The health benefits of butternut squash are pretty well documented – they’re rich in fibre, vitamins (including...
Off the back of rily’s Bladder Cancer Awareness Month piece last Monday, I thought I’d also throw a spotlight recognising the cancer by highlighting a few positive, helpful and interesting bits and pieces from our Bladder cancer group, as well as a little feedback received for the group.
If you’re affected by bladder cancer, go ahead and share your tips of thoughts with us using the comments section below.
Discussions:
An Introduction – nickfreckle was diagnosed at the start...
After my quarterly check up early March, everything was hunky dory. I came back to Scotland for 3 months. I started making plans for the future. Trip to Canada in July, Tenerife with my sister in September, even thought about throwing myself a 60th birthday party in November! Funny how life has a way of kicking you in the teeth when you least expect it. Beginning of April started to feel unwell with lower back and abdominal pain. Thought I'd just overdone things at the gym. GP said he wasn't worried...
“What happened your nose?” The Big Issue seller’s question still runs through me. Mid April I had surgery to remove an infiltrative basal cell cancer from the tip of my nose. The 28mm wound was repaired using skin from my clavicle – now a lump of pasty looking skin on the tip, with two large blood crusts where necrotic tissue was cut away.
Today is the first day I am out without a dressing. Writing this is part of trying to make sense of what I’m feeling, much of which feels...
May marks Skin Cancer Awareness Month, so to recognise this I thought I’d put the spotlight on our Skin cancer and Melanoma groups, and highlight a few really positive, helpful and interesting discussions that have been going on in the groups.
I’ve also put together a few ‘top tips’ that members of these groups have been sharing – but if you’re affected by skin cancer, go ahead and share your tips of thoughts with us in the comments section below.
Discussions...
