Yesterday I had yet another hospital appointment, this time at the Guy’s Cancer Centre at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup, Kent. The Centre opened in mid 2017 and has two new linear accelerator machines for radiotherapy treatment, fourteen chemotherapy treatment chairs, and the Dimbleby Macmillan Support Centre.
I was expecting to have a face-to-face meeting with the oncologist to see if I am suitable for radiotherapy, but due to an admin mixup, I had to have a telephone consultation.
This wasn’t as bad as it sounds, as the Centre organised it to take place in a private office using a loudspeaker phone so that Sue – who had accompanied me – could also take part. As a result, I will be having another MRI scan in the near future to help the oncologist make his assessment.
In the meantime, I will be referred to a dietician to help me lose weight as my current BMI is too high for radiotherapy to be effective. I am also being put on a course of treatment to correct my under-active thyroid as this may be contributing to my recent weight gain as well as exacerbating some of the side effects of my existing hormone treatment.
Things are still moving forward, and with luck I will be able to undertake a course of radiotherapy in the not-too-distant future.
Good luck on losing some weight there Bob so that you can start your treatment. My Dad put on weight post his cancer ops, due to a mix of a long recovery period plus the meds he was on too. Now he's got it all under control but could do with do some more walking, but he is 85 afterall.
ReplyDeleteThe Macmillan team have lots of good pamphlets on diet etc which might be worth checking out too in advance of your call with the dietician. Just a thought.
Steve J.,
DeleteThanks for the words of encouragement and advice. I think that it is a Macmillan dietician that they are going to get to see me. In the meantime, I’m looking at their website.
All the best,
Bob
Best of luck, I'm hoping for a speedy, successful outcome.
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteCheers! I’m hoping that the Centre will be able to help me get rid of my cancer.
All the best,
Bob
Me too!
DeleteMark Cordone,
Delete👍👍👍👍👍
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob
ReplyDeleteGlad to see that you are keeping positive, despite the long drawn out assessment procedures. I remember when I was diagnosed (18 years ago) that the worse part was the waiting to see doctors, waiting for assessment and waiting for treatment. It may have been only weeks, but it seemed like months. Knowing what is happening and when makes it much easier to adopt to. Try to not let it take over your life completely, try to find distractions and keep busy. I personally found walking was a great comfort, both physically and mentally. I also took a holiday just after the initial diagnoses (as you have) and found that helped to lighten the mood. I appreciate that we all have to deal with these things in our own way, and you seem to be doing very well.
Sending you best wishes for a very speedy recovery
Paul and Jan
Thistlebarrow (Paul and Jan),
DeleteThank you for you kind words of support and advice.
The NHS (with the exception of my GP) seems to be dealing with my medical problems with commendable speed. I am getting ongoing follow up support with my colostomy from the team at University Hospital, Lewisham, whilst the urologists and oncologists there and at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, are taking the lead in dealing with my prostate and its associated cancer. I now have a consultant from Guy’s at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, investigating my suitability for radiotherapy. The respiratory specialists at the QE are fitting me with a CPAP machine for my sleep apnea in January, and it now appears that I have problems with my thyroid … which the oncologists have asked my GP to deal with … with singular lack of success!
There are times when I don’t know whether I am coming or going … which is why our latest break was so reviving.
Luckily, my wife and my wargaming are keeping me sane, but I can see why people find the whole ‘dealing with cancer’ thing very difficult to cope with.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Good for you Bob, here's to a good outcome, glad you are getting good treatment. I suspect losing a little weight would do none of us any harm... :)
ReplyDeleteDavid in Suffolk,
DeleteThings have moved on since I wrote this blog post, and my MRI scan is scheduled to take place in early December.
As to losing weight … well, I’m trying, but not finding it easy. That said, I’ll get there as quickly as I can because I need too!
All the best,
Bob
Sounds positive Bob, all the best mate
ReplyDeleteGeordie an Exiled FoG,
DeleteI feel that I am moving forward, which helps to keep my spirits up.
All the best,
Bob