"Never Give Up"

Hi all,

Just want to share my story with you.

I was diagnosed with kidney cancer after 8 months of blood in my wee - I didn't shy away from it, I went to the GP's constantly but kept getting told I must have injured myself (I gave up sports years ago and my only strenuous exercise was just going to work). eventually another GP sent me for scans and 6 weeks later I was relieved of my left kidney.

After the operation and recovery I had a cystoscopy and even though the 9cm tumour in my kidney was removed along with my ureter, it had spread to my bladder #devastated. I underwent many surgeries and flexi cystos along with mitomycin and after that didn't agree with me, a long 18 sessions (with breaks) of BCG.

I am currently on my 3rd all clear with nothing of concern in my bladder, albeit my cysto before my 3rd all clear showed areas of concern - when I woke up after the subsequent operation to investigate these concerns, I was surprised to find I didn't have a catheter and got the news later that it was just redness from the BCG.

My treatment has, I have to be honest, been hell - lots of problems including bypassing from a catheter through bladder spasms and having to self cathertise due to a restriction in my urethra. It has been one hell of a journey but to hear that 3rd all clear and that I don't need any further treatment via BCG or chemo... wow, that means so much. I may not be at the end of my journey but I don't have that fear looming over me now. As you all know it is not just a physical journey, it is a very emotional journey.

I know I am one of the lucky ones, but wanted to share this with you and the message as Mo Salah (yes, I'm a Liverpool fan lol) told the team and the world the other night.....

NEVER

GIVE 

UP

All the best to you all.

Andy.