Blogs - Page 47

After diagnosis of stage 4 cancer last Sept, I was operated on in November and had a successful removal of the tumour. Then I was told that it had spread to my liver, so had 4 rounds of chemo. 6 weeks ago I had my gall bladder and half my liver removed, and the next stage will probably be more chemo. What I want to say to everyone suffering from this bloody disease is never give up, I feel that I can if not beat this, at least fight as hard as I can. I hope to report again in about a year, maybe 2 or 3. Cheers Dave

PSA at 4.9 dropping but still affected by remnants of cancers cells and Testosterone at 14.5 and I am not on any hormone treatments. Doctors in Perth say come back in 6 months. Seems I neglected to make an appointment as I headed back out the front door of said hospital for the grueling 2 hours of public transportation bus seats ride to the nights accommodation. Next morning's train ride back to reality lasted the usual 7 hours and was the worst trip so far.

On 8th July I was officially diagnosed with breast cancer and after a week of being sent off to have scans and x-rays, last Thursday I underwent a biopsy where I was reduced to a slab of meat. Today is the day I return to my specialist to be informed exactly what kind of breast cancer I have and what they propose will be the best course of action. However from last Thursday, I have felt as if I have been stranded in limbo land and it hasn't been a pleasant feeling at all.

I had an appointment with the oncologist on Tuesday and wasn't expecting anything really. She had a good look at my throat and after about ten minutes told me that there are no signs of any cancer. She said a PET scan would confirm this next month but she is satisfied that the throat cancer has been successfully treated. I suppose this means I am going to live. She told me to start thinking about returning to work after the scan. I now need to adjust to living again.

Having lived through a long and savage chemotherapy regimen as recently as just eight months ago, I often find myself reflecting on what this has taught me. From the moment my legs buckled under me at being told my diagnosis, it has seemed imperative to me that it held a lesson. This surreal journey into such a frightening disease and its treatment had to have some other meaning, outside “just one of those things”.

Blood test results show an increase in PSA and I sat there wondering why at the doctors office after a 2 hour wait to see what the results were/are. Walked back home after chatting to partner and called Cancer Nurse who relieved my anguish by telling me that is usual. The increased level is due to the Prostate cells dead/dying cancer giving off PSA. May be another 6 months before things settle down. Then why bother with getting blood work done at 6 weeks?