I’ve now got a day off from hospital - the snow is so thick and heavy no buses are running and my bone marrow will take place sometime next week now. Putting my rubbish in the wheelie bin this morning, it felt like Siberia outside.
Hi Ffosse it’s good that you have a diagnosis and they can now treat it. I do hope it’s not too difficult to get to the hospital but it’s so reassuring that you have such a super GP. They appear to have a brilliant healthcare system in Scotland. Everything is being taken care of, even your mental health. You are in good hands and they are doing all they can to get you back to feeling yourself. It’s really good news that it’s around the spine rather than in it and sounds like they are doing the marrow check just to be sure. But best of luck today and maybe you can have a nice meal there!
Wow we posted at the same time! Well you can now relax today and maybe take some pics of Narnia. The world there must look really different.
The diagnosis and prognosis was a bit soul destroying last Monday (I think you missed that); it wasn’t good news; I’ve moved from curable to incurable cancer.
[QUOTE]
It’s not good news: my cancer has turned from Hodgkins lymphoma which was in remission into Non-Hodgkins which is far more serious. Tumours can pop up anywhere and my life will be shortened. It’s a cancer that can be treated but not cured, so I have incurable cancer for life. They did say it was fortunate the tumour was around my spinal column rather than inside it. I have a ton of literature to read about but have been warned not to go online too much about it - this I know is good experience.
There are still plenty of things they can do. Firstly, next week getting some bone marrow and starting on a new course of chemotherapy. Lots of hospital visits, overnight stays etc. My immune system will be compromised greatly again and I have to be careful about infections, but I’m determined to enjoy whatever is left. And there are always new treatments popping up, 3 this past year so far I am told.
Luckily I had a couple of good friends to talk to immediately afterwards. Tonight I’m telling my sister, her partner and a few other friends and family. Strangely, I went to Argos and spent a couple of hours mindlessly shopping, buying a few bits and pieces before walking home. I must have walked 7 miles today but needed it. I still visited my hospital friend - he and I have a lot in common and I have a nice tea - meatballs, vegetables and pasta for tonight. Took 2 codeine because my neck was aching.
I don’t believe I’m at the denial stage yet. Am booking a visit to Kirriemuir to see J.M. Barrie’s house and the Peter Pan museum/place - I had never got round to this before now, but a Spring visit should be lovely.
I want to thank you all for your heartfelt wishes - this thread has been good for me./QUOTE]
But you don’t have untreatable cancer. They will zap it with all they have. There is a proton beam NHS therapy unit opening in Manchester later this year. So you should have access to that state of the art treatment if you will need a more targeted approach.
No, you’re right - it’s not untreatable, this I must hold onto. And they’ve already made a start by zapping it with radiotherapy. I’m eager now for my chemo to start.
That is the right Dreamy.
I am back home now, and always here for you.
I do think that having a positive determination, is a really good thing.
I can follow your progress far better now I have my laptop.
Yes, it’s not so easy on a phone, is it? I’ve stayed in text touch with 2 chaps I met in hospital and it’s been great, bolstering each other for support.
Dreamy would Facebook messenger or Whatsapp be any help to you? All free.
I deleted Whatsapp to get rid of an unwanted American - she used to phone me up and talk constantly about herself - I’ve written about her elsewhere today.
Whenever anyone phones and their use of pronoun is always me, myself and I, then it’s time to move on. I hope she can reflect on the behaviours which have made her so unhappy.
Whatsapp is invasive and drained my phone battery, as did FB. I deleted both and don’t have to charge so often. The really alarming event that led me to delete facebook from the phone was when someone on my friends list phoned me via messenger! I didn’t know that was possible. People who you have not given your phone number to can call you. I think you can turn this off on some phones but not on my model.
Hi, Ffosse, though I know you can’t be happy about having the procedure still looming, I feel better knowing that you didn’t have to make a challenging trip to the hospital today. That gives you several days to rest up, eat well, and go in fighting. Enjoy sleeping in!
I slept well last night, and you’re right - I don’t have to attend hospital until my heart echo on Monday. Chemo starts again on Tuesday and I’m looking forward to it.
Whatsapp and especially Facebook destroy a phone’s battery as well as being too invasive (which you found out).
By the way did you delete your whatsapp account online? If you don’t people will keep trying to send you messages as you’ll be on their list.
No, I’ll give that a go right now. What got me the other week after setting up a phone with a new SIM card was immediately getting, “We hear you’ve been in an accident” calls. They must trawl for new activations.
I had to reinstall whatsapp on my phone to view the messages id missed. After that i deleted the account. People message and then think they are being ignored!
2 of my appointments have been merged into 1 hospital visit on Monday which is good news.
I get my ECG Echo done first, then go straight into another building and get my bone marrow done. This simplifies things greatly for me; chemo then starts on Tuesday.
That’s great news. They probably want it all done so they don’t make you feel worse when you have chemo.
That is good Dreamy. Sorry, I mentioned the phone apps now, I ONLY use these under a false name for friends, NEVER use Facebook, only messenger. Same with Whatsapp. Never had a problem.
Anyway, I am still here for you.