After my earlier blog, you might be wondering how things are going with us, so here’s an update. My old bloke saw the Oncologist on the 27th November. We knew by then of course (as per my previous blog) that he had lung cancer but were hoping that the prognosis wouldn’t be too bad and that treatment could be offered him to extend his time left with us.
Well we can hope these things but they don’t always turn out the way we would like them to.
The Oncologist confirmed what we knew but unfortunately had to tell us that without treatment my fellow might expect to only have 3 to 6 months of living to do. Have a feeling though that this is the standard prognosis given to most in this situation.
He was told chemo could give him an extra few months but it might be at some cost. Not monetary cost but at the quality of life. Being the man he is he said he would do anything to stay around as long as he could if it was only to torment me! That is the sort of torment I can take.
Following this meeting he had a biopsy to ascertain the type of cancer before treatment could begin. The Oncologist had shown us images of the chest and lungs and sure enough there were big problems by now on both sides.
Well he had the biopsy and today we went for the result to be told what we already knew – my Accrington bloke is a mystery man. My heart skipped a beat when we were told that the biopsy had shown no cancer cells whatsoever which is the mystery. However, I quickly came back to earth to be told irrespective of that finding the big C is there and there’s a lot of it.
By the way, our own doctor was more than a bit shocked and upset when we told him the prognosis – he’s kept us well for many years – and said to stay positive and that in his opinion Oncologists are inclined to be pessimists.
The Oncologist suggested that my man waits until after Christmas so that we can have a really good day with the family (just in case he has a bad reaction to the chemo) – he can’t promise him another Christmas but who knows. I said we are looking forward to having a good Christmas, then a good anniversary, then a good Easter, then a good birthday, and another, and so on. Positive thinking, and then more positive thinking.
We know he’s had a good innings but this man is not out yet. He’s still got a few runs under his belt – might even hit a boundary or two. He’s in there fighting.
So the chemo journey begins on the 29th December. A journey we never thought we would be taking (‘it only happens to other people’) but we’re in it together and somehow I am sure we will get through – and yes, we just might have another Christmas together. Then he really will have earned the mystery man moniker.
Well we can hope these things but they don’t always turn out the way we would like them to.
The Oncologist confirmed what we knew but unfortunately had to tell us that without treatment my fellow might expect to only have 3 to 6 months of living to do. Have a feeling though that this is the standard prognosis given to most in this situation.
He was told chemo could give him an extra few months but it might be at some cost. Not monetary cost but at the quality of life. Being the man he is he said he would do anything to stay around as long as he could if it was only to torment me! That is the sort of torment I can take.
Following this meeting he had a biopsy to ascertain the type of cancer before treatment could begin. The Oncologist had shown us images of the chest and lungs and sure enough there were big problems by now on both sides.
Well he had the biopsy and today we went for the result to be told what we already knew – my Accrington bloke is a mystery man. My heart skipped a beat when we were told that the biopsy had shown no cancer cells whatsoever which is the mystery. However, I quickly came back to earth to be told irrespective of that finding the big C is there and there’s a lot of it.
By the way, our own doctor was more than a bit shocked and upset when we told him the prognosis – he’s kept us well for many years – and said to stay positive and that in his opinion Oncologists are inclined to be pessimists.
The Oncologist suggested that my man waits until after Christmas so that we can have a really good day with the family (just in case he has a bad reaction to the chemo) – he can’t promise him another Christmas but who knows. I said we are looking forward to having a good Christmas, then a good anniversary, then a good Easter, then a good birthday, and another, and so on. Positive thinking, and then more positive thinking.
We know he’s had a good innings but this man is not out yet. He’s still got a few runs under his belt – might even hit a boundary or two. He’s in there fighting.
So the chemo journey begins on the 29th December. A journey we never thought we would be taking (‘it only happens to other people’) but we’re in it together and somehow I am sure we will get through – and yes, we just might have another Christmas together. Then he really will have earned the mystery man moniker.
