My consultant, Douglas Speake, seems like a fine young doctor. And I mean young, maybe early to mid thirties, long uncombed hair and fashionable unshaven look. A bit like my nephew Iain, for those of you who know that youngish man, except darker.
By the time I got to my appointment I had convinced myself that I was just one mass of cancer and the end approaching fast. I was seen on time which was just as well as I had run out of miseries to heap on myself. Douglas, and I'm sure he won't mind me calling him Douglas, as we were on first name terms by the time we parted, after an hour, put me at me ease very quickly. And as soon as I realised that he was not telling me of cancer in my lungs and everywhere else I was so relieved I could have kissed him.
The good news is that the cancer is confined to my bowel, though the CT scan has shown up a couple of lesions on my liver which will require further investigation by way of another MRI scan. But the tumour in my colon is just as Dr Sami said it was when I saw him four weeks ago. So good for him.
Douglas will go ahead and operate but I may require some radiotherapy before the operation to reduce the size of the tumour and make it easier to extirpate the nasty little so and so. I was planning to give it a name but I think that would be tempting fate, especially as I expect to be rid of it soon, and hope to have no further dealings with it or any mates it may have. So sorry little tumour but your life is going to be too short to warrant a name.
As I write I await a call from the hospital to let me know exactly what they decide is the best way forward. Apparently the team are getting together this morning to discuss my case. Though not, of course just my case. The team being made up of surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, specialist nurses and anyone else who feels the need to be present. It's weird thinking of them looking at my scans and photos of my intimate parts. Let's hope they like what they see.
I've just had the phone call from the hospital and things are not quite what we thought yesterday. It's now been decided that I will need the MRI scan on my liver first so that they can clarify what these spots are. Hopefully not cancerous, but if they are we are in a whole new game.
If I get the all clear on the liver front they reckon I will need five weeks of daily radiotherapy on the tumour in my colon before they operate. Douglas will call me tomorrow morning to talk to me about it all. So if you have any questions, now's the time to speak up.
This morning I felt relieved and confident that all will be well, but now I seem to be back where I began, waiting for scans and another appointment. I think my plans for South America by year end will have to go on hold. But lets keep it open.
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