My Cancer Diary

[Longsocks]

29/09/2018
CAT scan following 6 chemo sessions.

[Longsocks]

01/10/2018
Chemo session number 7.

[Longsocks]

15/10/2018
Scheduled session postponed for 2 weeks due to agglomeration of platelets (red blood cells). They have to be careful with this since sticky platelets can give rise to thrombosis. I am prescribed a one-month course of injectable blood thinner administered daily at home. Mrs LS seems to quite enjoy jabbing me in the belly with a needle and has taken to amateur nursing with gusto.
We also go over the CAT scan results, which indicate that the liver tumours have neither shrunk nor grown and that the tumour in my colon may have grown slightly since June but it was difficult to tell exactly. There was also some evidence of lesions in a couple of vertebrae, which is not such great news. I am booked in for an MRI to get a better look.

[Longsocks]

24/10/2018
Back to the hospital for an MRI scan, which took the best part of 2 hours.

[Longsocks]

29/10/2018
Chemo session number 8, in and out in 3 hours. The results of the MRI weren't ready so will have to wait until the next consultation.

[Longsocks]

That brings my story up to date. I will admit to disappointment that the first 6 sessions of chemo did not appear to achieve very much, but the whole subject of cancer treatment is enormously complex and it would be unreasonable to expect them to find the magic bullet at the first attempt. There is a group of oncologists at the hospital who meet weekly to discuss their current patients' progress & treatment, so I am confident that they are being proactive. In addition, the cancer nurses are first rate and the hospital facilities are excellent.
Above all, I am so fortunate to have met and married such an extraordinary woman. She combines compassion with internal fortitude and a can-do attitude that inspires me. I would not have been able to deal with my current situation without her, of that I have no doubt.
To hell with cancer - we have lives to be getting on with.

[kiethton]

Wow, all the best in fighting it off - it’s a total of a disease

Fingers crossed all improves from here

[rustyuk]

Wishing you and your wife all the best. Good luck with the next set of results!!

[robinh73]

Not really sure what to say, but very inspired of you to do this diary. I can only send out my best wishes and hope that things move forward for you both. Good luck and please keep the diary going.

[toddler]

Good luck OP. I've had cancer twice myself so have some understanding of what you're going through.

[ForZiE23]

Great diary and keep strong. Fingers crossed for good news and updates along the way

[SoovyAvant]

I've retired these days, but jut to say there but for the grace of God go all of us.

I wish you nothing but good luck, sir.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Hard read, all the best OP

Threads like this should be shown to people who winge and moan about inconsequential stuff in life

[lrdisco]

Good luck.
My thoughts are with you.

[B17NNS]

Sending positive vibrations your way OP.

[bludger]

As someone who is currently undergoing treatment for prostate cancer I understand something of what you are going through and sympathize very much.

Thanks for sharing this and, as they say in polite circles: nil desperandum.

[Kev_Mk3]

I hope you well in your situation.

for me this is very raw as 48hrs ago I was advised that my mum (who has terminal cancer) will not be here much longer and to inform relatives to say farewells.

I really wish you well.

[Frrair]

Bloody hell, I step away from Porsche and Supercar forums and the first world problems of overs etc to this.

My oh my, you have widened my view of Pistonheaders.

I really wish you and your other half all the best.

[Longsocks]

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement.
They say that cancer affects everybody directly or indirectly at some point in their life.
It's a beautiful sunny day here today and I don't have to think about cancer or hospitals for the next 11 days. After lunch we will go for a walk in the countryside before meeting up with some chums. There will be banter and laughter. Life is good.

[Sebo]

Cancer is a . Thanks for sharing your experience - it made for difficult reading but it's good that you are sharing this. Hopefully it also helps you to order your thoughts!. Enjoy the gaps between Chemo sessions when you feel "normal".