15/7/13

15/7/2013

Hello.

So this time last week I was a big bag o’ nerves. Worried about what the next oncologist would have to tell me about the new sensations, the new lumps and bumps that I am feeling in my lower jaw. I say “the next” oncologist because throughout my 6 weekly check ups I had been seen by a different medical professional each time that I had arrived for the consultation. This very lack of continuity of Doctor had alone made me nervous as it created doubt in my mind as to whether the next guy would know my case as well as the first who examined me. (Obviously they do, but that didn’t help me and my pessimistic thoughts.)

But, they must have known, as when I arrived at my appointment time and sat down in the waiting area doing all I could to keep calm and collected, I received a lovely warm greeting from two of the nurses that have been with me all the way along this journey and they both had to comment on how well I looked, (as did they,) and how good my hair is looking, this was very polite of them as think I may have been sporting a hairstyle not too dissimilar from that of Vivian out of the 80’s show “The Young Ones” except mine is not orange, yet. This did have the desired effect though and it made me breath a little easier. I thanked them, let them get on with their duties and continued to wait.

Not for long.

My name was called and I was ushered into an examination room and although it sounds a bit “gay” to my delight was Doctor Davies my original oncologist dude. Phew. This man has been my point of contact all along this road and it was he that has suggested my course of treatment after his first examination my tongue.

As he greeted me with the usual questions of how are you? And how have you been? I broke down, my façade went, a tear rolled down my cheek and I let him know all, everything that you have read here and all of my anxious worries.  Within 10 minutes of listening intently to what he had to say, I was tranquil, calm and soothed.

“But, before I say anything else” he said, “let’s have a look” what followed was the usual examination, a feel of my neck and throat, a look inside my mouth, “tongue out and say ahhh” then the little camera on the end of a drinking straw rammed up my nose.

“Good, it all looks really healthy.”

Never have so few words meant so much. Delighted am I, still jubilant at this news a week later.  All the sensations, lumps and bumps have been caused by the radiotherapy and as I no longer take pain meds, it’s natural for me to feel them.

 I have to have another CT scan soon, this is just routine and maybe a camera up my bum, but that’s ok, apparently my PET CT scan showed a questionable area in my bowel and it’s “worth a look”.

But back to today and it is the turn of my beautiful wife to be at the mercy of the medical staff as they have “the power to rebuild her”, well her hand anyway, in six million dollar type way. She is in Salisbury hospital for the next couple of days having reconstructive surgery to hopefully improve the usage of her right arm extremity. Good Luck and Love to you my dear.

This is me Steve Royal. Looking really healthy (they tell me so).

Have a week.