Cancer Eight Years On!!

Day Out In London With The Kids

The idea was quite simple. I had a journey up to London on the train which meant I was going to be travelling for 4 hours.

Perfect for writing a blog.

I write a blog on the train, by talking into Otter software programme that turns speech into text.

I hadn’t taken one thing into consideration.

I have to come up to London, every four weeks for my cancer treatment. And normally, the train is quite quiet.

What I’d forgotten, was that this is August,  the children are off school, andwith their parents are visiting museums, such as the science museum or Madame Tussauds or whatever holiday attractions.

So the train was full of very noisy, happy, elated, kids.

Question;  how was I going to type on my phone because talking into Otter software was not going to work.

So I did as best as I could, just by typing with my finger on the phone

That was yesterday, and finishing it off today.

Three Years Of Treatment And Not Wilting

What I’m writing about very briefly today is my cancer treatment.

I don’t write about it much, because there’s nothing to write. It’s three years now since I started having immunotherapy treatment, and eight years since the start of my cancer treatment, which started off with the removal of one of my kidneys.

This is important, please take note of the fact that I’m talking about eight years ago.

Unfortunately for me the type of cancer cells involved were papillaryl cells which were not good for the treatments available.

However, there was a clinical research, just about to start. For treatments for my type of cancer, and I was offered the opportunity to join that clinical research programme, which I accepted as there were no other options.

I was not offered a cure. The whole plan was to control any growth or spread of the tumour, which has been incredibly successful.

Of course it’s not great to have a cancer, and I have to learn to live with the fact, as do millions of other people. You have a one in two chance of getting a cancer.  Yes, fifty percent!

Every case of cancer is specific and different for every patient, and the treatments and severity vary.

The IMPORTANT thing to get on board, is that most cancers, as long as you catch them early enough, can be treated with the scientific advances of modern medical technologies.

I Am Old Enough And Wise Enough To Have An Opinion

As best as I can I have everything under control.

I have the treatment every four weeks and I have a scan every three months to see what is going on. I had a scan yesterday, and in a couple of weeks time, I will go and see the consultant and chat about the latest scan.

Apart from that, I can just get on with my life.  If you’ve been reading my blogs you will know I’m looking forward to getting a motorhome.

This is my philosophy and I am old enough at 73 years of age to have an opinion or two.

Life is for living, every single day.

In fact, the most important thing you can do as far as I’m concerned, is stay positive. In my nursing days, I found that the people that thought negatively tended not to react to treatment, very well; whereas those that were positive, by and large, had recovered quickly and moved on. Just move on in life.

Oncology Department Newbies

OK – it is hard for the mind when you first hear that your diagnosis is a cancer.   If you or someone you know is entering the Oncology department for the first time there are inevitably some anxieties and apprehension.

I hope these two  blogs that I wrote three years ago when I was new to it all will  give you some encouragment.

Cancer Screening Not Keeping Track With Cures

Explosion and Shock in my Cancer Treatment

Public Thank You and Moving On

On the whole you will find that everyone is very supportive.  And the oncology nurses and doctors involved are incredible.

I admit though that I got concerned when the clinical research nurse that had been my support during the earliest days  of my treatment, was moved away from the department to help elsewhere in the hospital during the pandemic.  Anna had got to know me so well and had been the person to deal with all my questions and concerns.

However, what happened. The replacement nurse, Heather was also a gem.  Keep the faith.

I wish there was something I could do to reward them for their incredible help and support. I suppose that this blog is really a thank you.

Well – until I write about cancer again in three years time – I will move on and enjoy my life and have fun with my wife Babs, family and friends.