Lucky or not-so-lucky

Hi All

Well, like many, I never thought I'd end up here. A forum for those affected by cancer. Or more precisely, here as a recently diagnosed cancer patient. But here I find myself at 66.

Why lucky? Well that's due to my lung cancer being picked up early and by what is know as "an incidental" apparently. The cancer (or "Murray" as I named the initial mass!) is 3.5cm and technically an adenocarcinoma T2BN0M0 (I think I got that right!); the prognosis is good and I'm awaiting my first post-diagnosis oncology and surgeon appointments prior to treatment. The NHS staff here have been fantastic during the roller-coater two months I have been "in the system". My thanks to them all.

I don't feel ill at all and mentally/emotionally I'm in a good-ish place, although I accept that might change over the months that follow. The thought of surgery is a tad scary though. Then again, at 66, I do count myself as lucky at having avoided any major surgery so far in my life.

Or not-so-lucky? I don't feel angry with anyone or anything, but six decades of non-smoking and getting lung cancer doesn't sit well as being "fair". But whoever said cancer was fair to anyone? Far too many people much younger than me have had a visit from Mr C, haven't they. It also doesn't feel lucky in that I'm likely to miss much of the autumn photography season, my favourite time for taking snaps. Ah but, there is always next year!

Not-so-lucky for my lovely wife either. She has enough caring to do without me adding to her "to-do" lists, and I don't like sitting still so I'll hardly be a good patient!

Enough waffle from me, maybe I'll do a blog on Murray, or maybe not, who knows. I'll likely join the lung cancer group. Whatever, I am lucky that Macmillan is here for us and I pass my warmest thoughts to those with cancer and those caring for them.