Cancer 97
This is a two part piece, the first part is before meeting the consultant, the second is after. Are there differences between the two regarding the way.my mind is working?
Part One
I am sort of glad to be back to treatment, though it might be that treatment is not deemed appropriate due to bodily changes and that I just need to sit around waiting to die. If that happens then I don’t expect to just sit around. The world is my oyster and I am its pearl! It will be travel and write until I am unable to do so. Bedridden without hope of recovery seems a miserable existence so I might jump off High Tor instead, except I would be too much of a scaredy cat to do so.
Alternatively the treatment might be chamged to, for example, another form of chemotherapy. This might work well or the sude effects might be unbearable, in which case perhaps High Tor beckons again, or not.
I prefer the easy option that my bloods are fine, the last scan was fine, the cancer is being held at bay, and life will continue as it was last year, travelling around the country, trying to write my bloody book, and eating too much.
Yes, I am optimistic that the consultant will see me for a couple of minutes then tell me to clear off because I am boring.
A pearl is a sort of parasite, isn’t it?
Part Two
I am back at home. I thought cancer was supposed to be dead hard and lethal, like the Royal Marines, mine is more like the Italian army, 1939-45. Instead of just getting on with the job and killing me it is making very little effort. The biggest lump (peri-rectal) has, between my last two scans, gone from 2cm to just over 1cm, there is a 2mm lump in my lung that is unchanged (and may not be cancer, just an Italian civilian), and my blood marker is slightly up from 3.0 to 3.8, as is my white cell count, but it is suggested that I am recovering from an infection so that is normal. Finally, there are no further significant growths. A pathetic attempt at killing. Imagine if the German army was like that in WWII, they would have been beaten by Poland in a few weeks. We would never have had the Cold War, Israel would probably not exist, Churchill would not have been Prime Minister and the bouncing bomb may never have been developed.
I have been cleared to start treatment next week, so on Monday it is PICC line fitting (53cm as you are asking), and on Tuesday at 1000, the nurses started pumping me full of the same set of drugs as before. I was asked if I was ok with the same drugs. Yes I am, my side effects were not too bad, considering the stories you often hear.
I also have a hernia relating to my stoma. Perhaps it could be operated on, but I would rather not if it is not necessary. The disadvantages of having abnormal holes in the abdominal lining. Mine is more of a string vest than a nicely fitted shirt.
So, nothing to worry about then. I did remember to ask when I can take another break so we can book a foreign holiday – probably not Italy – I am waiting to find out the date. In the meantime, we have booked a short break in early February to celebrate my retirement.
Dr Nigel Hunt 
Hello Dr Nigel Hunt, I have engaged in your blog for a while now. I’m 20 years younger and in the same predicament as you with life expectancy and the Cancer treatment etc, just a quick hello with thanks your blog has helped me with my Journey..
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