So, in early december I went to the doctors with a lump in my neck. Ordinarily I would have thought nothing of it, but I remembered my dear old dad having similar lumps before he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma 22 years ago. Putting aside my manly instinct to avoid the doctors at all costs,and after some gentle persuasion from Keeley I made an appointment and was scuttled off for blood tests straight away.
At this point I felt sure that I just had a virus, and sure enough the tests came back clear. Hurrah! Thanks to Dr. Williamson's thorough approach he decided that, because of my family history, I should be referred to the ear, nose and throat department at the UHNS. Good job.
So, before christmas I had a series of CT scans, ultrasounds, needle biopsies and X-rays which revealed that I had some 'suspicious'cells in my neck. We then had to wait until after christmas to find out more.
It was a long 2 weeks.
Christmas came and went and we went back to ENT on the 6th of January to get the results. The tests revealed that the lump in my neck was the secondary site and that I had what was called a Squamous Cell Carcinoma, which was probably in my tonsil, neck area.
Bit of a shock, but at least we now had a better idea of what we were dealing with.(info)
On the 15th of January I had a PET scan to establish the exact location of the primary site. The scan itself was 30 minutes of being strapped down to a plank and passed though a huge donut. Absolute torture for a claustrophobic lump like myself. Keeley says I was as white as a ghost when I came out, and having had to fast for 8 hours previously I was a quivering wreck. An hours nap, a bar of chocolate and a bottle of pop later I was fine.
The PET scan and panendoscopy (camera and biopsy thing down your throat)revealed that the primary source was indeed in my right tonsil. Good news. Bad news was that having a tonsil removed as an adult is just about as painful thing as you can imagine. Imagine having the worst sore throat you've ever had x 100, add in ear and tooth ache and you've got it. Suffice to say that the tablets I took meant that I couldn't drive and that The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour film suddenly seemed like a good idea!
The 3rd of February was the day we went in to have the results of the panendoscopy and to have confirmed that the tonsil was the primary site. This done, we then had the treatment plan explained to us.
Wowzers. This is when it really hit home what was about to happen to me. Five days of chemo in the cancer unit of UHNS (to start on 19th feb)followed by a couple of weeks break, followed by another 5 days in and another couple of weeks off. This to be followed by 6 weeks (an hour a day for 5 days x 6 with weekends off or 30 (30!) doses of radiotherapy
Quite a lot to get your head round, and obviously all of the side effects are quite daunting but a really good chance that all of this treatment will make me better. The irony being that most people feel poorly then go to hospital to get well. I feel absolutely fine and have no symptoms at the minute, but I'm going into hospital to get much worse, but ultimately better, hopefully.
So that is the story so far. This week I have been to nuclear medicine (who knew?) to check my kidneys are functioning properly. For four blood tests. To the orthodontists to check my teeth are strong enough to take the treatment (they can fall out apparently)and on the 18th we will go to ward 202 to be shown round and have the treatment and side effects explained again before starting chemo in ward 201 on wednesday the 19th.
I should say at this stage that the treatment and care we have had from everyone in ENT at the UHNS, especially June and Wendy has been absolutely fantastic, and has been a real comfort to all of us.
The reason for starting this blog is to, hopefully, keep all of my friends updated on what's happening. I will share my thoughts and as much detail as is appropriate ( I will spare you if I have to start wearing a man-nappy!)More than anything it is so that I can try and make sense of things and occupy my mind. Eight hours a day attached to a drip is a long time to fill in, and there's only so many episodes of Homes Under The Hammer and Dickinson's Real Deal a man can take.
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