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upthealbion1970

bring on the trumpets....
NSC Patron
Jan 22, 2009
8,887
Woodingdean
3 points from the boys in the old Brighton blue tomorrow should lift your spirits chap. Stay strong mate :thumbsup:
 










A quick update from me on the results of my back from hols CT scan last week.
The marker cancer nodule in my peritoneum has grown about 0.5cm all round and is now about the size of a thumbnail. No signs of aggressive disease there or any disease elsewhere so no more chemo just yet. However, I'll be having a complete day out on the NHS at the Royal Surrey in Guildford next Tuesday; initially about a post-surgery abdominal hernia I've developed, followed by some nuclear medicine/radioactive fluorine (ie positron emission tomography or PET scan) to have a look for any cancer signs elsewhere at the cellular level. If there's none (and that's a big IF) then they want to have a look at removing the nodule surgically next year. Apparently this is largely to do with surgical technique development - it's a 10 hour operation!
Millwall in the evening might seem a bit tame after all this - any pregnant women or children near WSUD, Row O should avoid the old git in a flat cap surrounded by a green glow.

The PET scan was a like a slow CT scan from the patient perspective. You're given the radioactive isotope iv and then have to lay down for an hour to let the radioactivity spread throught the body; then it's into the scanner, laying down again, for about 25 minutes - I went to sleep beforehand and during the scan.
Results were very surprising (to me anyway) - initially the oncology consultant advised (somewhat sceptically tbh) that the radiologists had reported there was no detectable cancer activity anywhere! This begs the question that what is this node/lump in the peritoneum that I've had since 2010 but during subsequent review of all my scans etc, etc by the multi-disciplinary team at the Royal Surrey the conclusion they've come to is that there is some low level activity there due to a very slow growing (indolent) cancer and that's all I have. Anyway, the knives are being sharpened again and it's going to be removed surgically. I've had a prelim chat with the surgical team in Guildford and they joyously want me to have to have a half course of chemo (ie x6 fortnightly doses) beforehand to "soften" the surrounding tissue to help the surgery. I'm back in the cancer unit there on monday to discuss/agree the chemo strategy, treatment dates etc, have a medical and get my PIC line fitting booked. I guess I'll be back on the pickling sauce during w/c 18 Feb with the surgery probably in late May-early June depending on how I stand up to the chemo. Best wishes to all, and the BT'trees fan club down the Loxwood Road in Wisborough. Our son played rugby with his three elder brothers, particularly Johnny, whilst at the Weald. TTFN. N.

An update from me now I'm halfway through the current course of brain pickling.
Have been getting very tired but that's largely down to some drug (irinotecan) induced anaemia. As a result I require a 2/3pt transfusion of the red stuff in what should be my week off during the fortnightly chemo treatment cycle. Unfortunately, this requires a blood cross-match followed by the transfusion on the next day - ie it's another 2 days at the Royal Surrey in Guildford so I'm there twice a week, every week now. Also have to be home one day waiting for the community/district nurses to remove my chemo pump and/or flush the line that's in my right arm. Talk about taking over your life!
Pre-surgery CT scan is being booked but don't know when I'll be under the knife just yet; late June or early July I expect so should make the play-offs if we get there and be fit(tish) for the new season. ST in WSU has been renewed (of course).
Bye for now. N.

I hope the treatment's going well Cornish, let us know how you're getting on.

Anyway, here's a brief(?) 'Spanish Eve' update from me:

The coleorectal (guts) surgeon/consultant at Guildford has decided, after getting me to have a 3 month course of chemo to soften the tissue for surgery and thereby screw up our entire family life for the spring/summer, that it's not such a good idea after all. Nothing's changed healthwise to provoke this; no new scans or invasive tests, just a physical examination after (his words) 'I've now read your notes in detail'. Indeed, the peritoneal marker tumour has been shrunk by the chemo as you'd expect, so we were left puzzled, bemused etc and my oncology (cancer) consultant is very pissed off. Apart from the fact that my immune system has had an unnecessary hammering, he (the oncologist) wanted me referred in the first place to Basingstoke where there's a renowned surgical team who specialise in this type of cancer related abdominal/peritoneal surgery.
I asked for a 2nd independent medical opinion and surprise, surprise have been referred to the Basingstoke team, albeit six months late! That's all gone very well so far - they seem moderately mad, as are the oncology team at Guildford, and I feel really comfortable with them. Had a laparoscopy (keyhole look 'n see) two weeks ago which confirmed the CT/PET scan profiles that there is no widespread abdominal disease and a colonoscopy yesterday (Friday) which seems to show only scar tissue damage (ie from previous surgery). Provided the histology on this scar tissue is cancer negative then the operation is booked for November 5th. 12 hours of cytoreductive surgery whilst they delve around and remove any cancer in/around my abdominal wall/muscle followed by a 90 minute hot chemotherapy solution wash of the abdominal cavity whilst I'm pinned out on the operating table. A total of three weeks in hospital I think but I'll only miss the Blackburn game (and that's no loss is it?). TTFN.
 
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Brovion

In my defence, I was left unsupervised.
NSC Patron
Jul 6, 2003
19,864
"I've now read your notes in detail" Is that when you strangled him? Jeez. You are remarkably sanguine about it, dismissing a three week hospital stay and a lengthy operation as little more than being forced to stay for the same amount of time in Bognor. Needless to say I wish you all the best. Obviously you too Cornish if you're reading this.
 




Since1982

Well-known member
Sep 30, 2006
1,618
Burgess Hill
I have suffered and continue to suffer with some some modestly serious medical stuff but the courage and commitment to life and loved ones I read about on this thread never fails to make me feel grateful and uplifted.
 


Spicy

We're going up.
Dec 18, 2003
6,038
London
Very best wishes to all chose fighting this terrible disease. My cousin has started her chemo and is looking at wigs and is being really positive about the future, and living life to the full.
 


Cornish seagull!

New member
Nov 18, 2010
872
Cornwall
Sounds like a complete cock up N. I had my PET scan on Thursday and should get the Tuesday if there is complete remission then they will start planning the stem cell harvest if any cancer shows up then I'll have another cycle of chemo. I've been very up and down with this treatment I'm on platinum based chemo. The worst is the bloody steroids I have to take 20 tablets of DEX in one go for 3 days after the first day of chemo, I don't seem to get many of the good side effects of the steroids I just become an agitated mess lol.
 












Cornish seagull!

New member
Nov 18, 2010
872
Cornwall
Got some good news today the PET scan showed no signs of cancer, so I'm just waiting now to hear from the transplant specialist to arrange the stem cell harvest.
 














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