OK so I had a tennis ball surgically removed at the end of May 2023 (after about a years toing and froing as to what was wrong with me). Started while in Spain with "acute runs to the toilet" trying to cross your legs and keep it in. Initailly diagnosed with reflux by local GP (who were excellent in relation to this hiccup in my life enjoyment as well as my 2017 prostrate escapade with the tattie (potato for people south of the border) peeler by the top prostrate surgeon. Went on the trial then and was sure I had got the new laser treatment as I had the op in the morning from 11:00a.m. - from best memory - and was sitting on the bed in the afternoon telling jokes (not my usual behaviour) to the long suffering inmates.
Anyway 5 years on and I get endoscopies and colonoscopies but the professional was not able to get all the way up becuase of (unexplained) scar tissue. CT and MRI scans followed with the (good) news that I had an operable tumour and I was category three. Surgeon was excelllent as was the oncologist and between them they decided surgery before chemo was the best bet for success. Sureon warned me that at that point it was probable that I would lose 67% of my bowel (along with the tennis ball tumour) and it could be that I would also lose part of my liver along with polyps and might need a stoma bag. I think the last item caused me most concern.
Blood drawn off by Dracula (absolutely brilliant nurse at taking blood in local GP surgery and he has seen me every 3 weeks since August to get a couple of phials more to make sure I'm up to the next chemo session))week before op and tested by "hospital". My blood levels were low around 60 for haemogloben instead of over 110 and they decided I would have to spend the weekend before the surgery in hospital getting blood transfusions otherwise the op would have to be cancnelled. Anyway surgery took place at end of May. Looking back it was a misplaced joke - but when the surgical assistants in the reception room asked if I knew what I was here for I replied "amputation of the identified limb". I immediately knew it was a misplaced bit of my type of humour but after I smiled so did they and I confirmed I was there to get a tumour out with other surgical necessities. I have to say that I did find it helpful to put a bit of humour into the equatiion and the funniest thing was when the surgeon got me in a sort of foetal position to inject my nervous system in the spine my toes curled upwards in front of my eyes. I must admit I had to laugh as I had absolutely no feeling in my lower body and limbs and it was slightly funny to see all my toes curling on opposite direction to normal downwards curling.
Role on a few hours (2 for surgery and rest for prep and recovery) the news was brilliant in that the surgeon (my guardian angel) said that they only had to remove the 67% of the bowel along with tennis ball (was never a tennis fan so don't know how it got in there); the lymph nodes and a sliver of liver to confirm that his view that the cancer had not spread to the liver. I have to say that I don't like hospitals and after 2 days in intensive care got on to the cancer ward. I then tried to get out as soon as possible by walking round the hospital corridors to get my fitness back out (and to free up a bed for seriously ill people). In all had to spend around 5 days in hospital but sure the walking in the corridors got the message to the nurses that I need to be out and back home.
Surgery was marvellous as although surgeon had to open me up all down chest to just below the belly button he had used staples in rejoining the bowel (no needing to revisit to get stitches out) and the surgery opening had been sealed with glue and had a cover to protect the would in healing. Again no stitches removal - the wonders of modern surgery.
Once healing has taken place I was put on a chemo therapy course of 8 sessions with two weeks on chemo and one week off to get blodd tests to ensure all ok for next session.
Chemo is something else and I have found that it is full of surprises. Because I had a "Special Cancer" the oncologist was able to agree chemo at home and in tablet form. First two sessions (over 6 weeks) were really just coping with the "brain fog" and lethargy. I found that if I sat down for any period I would nod off for up to 30 minutes then wake up as if nothing had happened. Additionally I was not up to doing my previous normal 10,000 steps for 5 days out of seven or do anything really manual or meaningful.
Now on session 6 and have had varying degrees of side effects from session 3 and if anyone is interested quite happy to discuss. Worst was like a dozen pins being shoved up my heel first time I put my heels on the ground in the morning but over the day you could walk them off. Mind you it gave me ballerina skills I didn't know I had walking on my toes. Having said that I havent lost any of my hair but the lethargy around thungs like shaving has seen the growth of a very attractive beard. Growing the beard is in defiance of the cancer and the losing hair syndrome. Apologies to anybody that has or is losing their hair but it seems that the chemo
One of the things I did find was people's reaction when you had to tell them you had cancer and were on chemo. Things certainly sometimes felt difficult but I found that embracing it and speaking positively about the cancer and the treatment people start to become more comfortable the more it is discussed.
Anyway thanks for reading this which was the only thing i could think of doing on the hello forum.
Anybody needs help or reassurance (or more about the side effects - thankfully no extreme diarrhea or constipation as its managed with diet) just get back in touch and I will see what I can do to help from my experiences. Thank goodness I didn't need the stoma bag even if one patient in the hospital explained it was great that he didnt need to go to the toilet as often. Not my cuppa tea but if it is needed I suppose I would have to accept it.
As I say I am "comparatively" tickety boo when anybody asks how I'm feeling. Additionally an experience like the one's we are going through certainly leads you to say it will be what it will be. Also I find that while I certainly know I have not had the difficulties other people have experienced it does help to look on the positive side.
