Hello all,
I've never joined a forum of any kind previously, but in the long days following waking at 3:30am after chemotherapy and the lack of reasonable communication in my home environment I guess I am seeking like minds.
I was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012, had a bowel resection and six months of chemotherapy. The support I received from Wrexham Maelor Hospital and the colorectal nurses was exception and certainly aided my survival up until getting the all clear after five years.
My wife was becoming unwell at the same time and in 2014 was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, with affects balance, incontinence and memory re3sulting in classic dementia symptoms. We manage well until 2020 but the lock down for six months resulted in a more rapid deterioration in her dementia symptoms.
I had surgery for a hernia in 2008 and identified a recurrence early in 2020 but did not go to my GP due to the Covid crisis although the hernia was growing in size and a second mass had appeared lower down.
I was managing a care home and to cut a long story short, I got in a dispute with a director regarding profit and ethics with a director and got suspended in June 2020. I then decided to go to my GP. who was concerned about my hernias so sent me for a CT scan. The hernias needed surgery but the CT revealed a 3.5cm mass and a 10mm mass in the upper lobe of my left lung. This was biopsied as bowel cancer and I had a lobectomy in September 2020 I was recovering well but in January 2021 I tried to turn our mattress and pulled my ribs at the wound site and was in agony. I ended up in hospital. All was checked as OK but I was given pain relief to come home with. Instead of getting better the pain got worse. By May I had been to my GP several times and was put on stronger pain killers. In June I saw a locum who called my surgical nurse specialist who arranged for another CT scan. It found a tumour on my 9th rib that was causing the pain and a 2.5cm mass and fluid in my right lung. I had radiotherapy on the rib and started chemotherapy in August. By November the mass had reduced to 1.4cm, the fluid was gone, my rib was clear and my CEA levels had reduced from 129 to 12. In my first consultation I was informed "years rather than months." I was not confident at the time but now I am determined to see my first grandchild grow up who was born on the date I started chemotherapy.
I have just had my 9th chemotherapy yesterday and am looking forward to my final session on 18th January 2022. I am not sure whether I am looking forward to my final scan and consultation with confidence or trepidation. I guess I will apply Prieto's Law and say 80% Confidence and 20% trepidation.
