Hi Gang, Well the day before we went to Salou for a fortnight, I had my six month check after my spinal decompression op. They took an X-ray and the surgeon admired his metal handiwork which is now holding my spine together. He was very pleased and told me there would be no need to make a further appointment but I could phone his secretary if I started having problems. So off we went on holiday!
When we got back, there was a letter from him asking me to contact his secretary to make an appointment as he now had the written report for the X-ray. I phoned and was told I'd need a CT scan which they had already booked for me as well as a further aptm for his clinic to discuss the results. The latter was last Monday 28th! On the X-ray & scan there was a shadow just at the bottom of my right shoulder blade. The consultant examined my back and felt a lump. He explained that he was going to take a biopsy to be sent away but after the scan, he said it was too deep to do it with a local anaesthetic so suggested surgery to remove it with a GA then they will send it for biopsy.
Next he said he had arranged to do the pre-op assessment there and then, which came as a bit of a shock as you can imagine! However, that's it done and now it's just a case of waiting for a date to get it removed! I phoned his secretary once we got home, to tell here we had booked to go to Manchester from 5-10 Dec inclusive to see the Christmas Markets etc but I also said I didn't expect to get word as quick as that but was just letting her know anyway! We all know urgent can mean 6-12 weeks with the NHS, so I won't hold my breath!
So there you have it! I've had a few other lumps etc removed in the six years since stage4 dx but this is the first they can't do at the clinic with a local anaesthetic! Up until Monday we hadn't said anything about it to our son and daughter and to see "that look" again on their faces was heartbreaking! I'm trying to be upbeat about it, smiling and saying it could be nothing of course! Any prayers, I would be grateful for, they certainly can't hurt! This will be my eleventh surgery but you never get used to it! Take Care everyone!
Hi everyone
Positivity is paramount in our situation. I could choose to be miserable and negative but I wouldn't be allowed to get away with it. Like Annette and Daloni, I enjoy the Autumn, for example the leaves of my Virginia Creeper turning a great rich crimson, gathering up fallen leaves (my wife does that bit) and putting them in builder's bags because I can't bear to dump them in the brown bin as in two years they'll be rich crumbly leaf mould, listening to the noise that only crisp dry fallen leaves make, we have a cock pheasant that is strutting in and around our garden, red Autumn berries on many trees and shrubs, I could go on and on......
There are little (and large) diy projects and maintenance jobs that give me a great sense of fulfillment, even cleaning the guttering (lucky we live in a bungalow though).
On the subject of looking up the internet, my blood cancer is rare so it's hard to get much info but what we could find was an average prognosis of 6 months to 6 years which doesn't really tell me much. I wisely? thought to buy a few new big ticket household appliances to replace older ones that may break down shortly after my demise and give my wife extra worry, at this rate I'm going to have to start over again 
There are many ways to find happiness and positivity that amaze friends and family alike. Spending time with my new eclectic mix of friends after our Tuesday MacMillan exercise class is a bonus too, (are there any such classes run in GB or is it peculiar to NI?) Whatever your simple likes can be enjoyable.
Keep happy and remember to have time to put a smile on someone's face
Tvman xx
