It's all out!

Hands up who’s happy! That’s me! They were my first words just a couple of hours after surgery last Friday. I can’t believe that I can put my hands up and wave them about in the air: I can’t believe that my putting is straight. I can’t believe that it’s better.

But my, what a week? And my, what a great NHS we have! Oh, it could be improved – Sister Suzy and Jean the Peg didn’t inspire confidence, but they did their job.

Friday 9^th: At hospital for 11, in theatre for 1pm asleep in minutes, under the knife for nearly 5 hours – teeth out, cyst gone, lymph nodes gone, muscle and jugular vein gone, nerves either gone or shocked into paralysis and to do all this, a cut from behind my ear to under my chin. In recovery for an hour. On the phone to Row in 15 minutes! Morphine every 5 minutes. My I was happy.

Saturday 10^th: I’m still happy, smiling, eating. A bit unsteady on the pins. But able to use my arm – which I’d not expected. Morphine all day. Great to see Row.

Sunday 11^th: Hmm, not so happy now that I’m on standard pain relief – oh, well. It’s for the best.

Monday: Strangely happy to know that the next operation is for this Wednesday.
Tuesday: Not a lot happened today. Except PING – there come another nerve back on-stream: Ouch – another: Oww – now stop it.

Wednesday: Breakfast at 5.45 (Weetabix). Operation at 1pm: Just sedation, but guess what – I fell asleep: Awake at 3pm – tube now in my stomach. Not much room in it for anything else as I haven’t ‘been’ since last Thursday.

Thursday: Instructions on how to look after the tube – I’ve decided to call it Me-Tube. No video available.

Friday: Why oh why did they need to do a test feed via the tube last night: Starting at 8pm (I’d already had my tea) and running through until 6am. Up every two hours for a pee as there was no room for anything else.

Still Friday: Looking forward to going home soon. But wait! The loo beckoned at 7am and the agony kicked in at 8.30 but no success despite a number of ‘procedures’ until 11.30 by which time Chris was on his way to pick me up. He got me home via Baldock Services at 1pm. I thought I’d made a BIG mistake – but at 3pm some relief – then some sleep – then Row came home from work. Got up at 7pm and we went out into the garden where tears of happiness flowed to be home.

Chicken is a wonder food and Row had made a wonder chicken casserole – which together with a beer made for a brilliant homecoming.

Saturday: What a brilliantly comfortable day. A shower. A shave. A shiver or two. And Liverpool won.

Next: A visit to hospital for progress check with the guy in charge of the Radiotherapy  on Thursday 22nd

Frank

The gore

First of all – THANKS! – I asked for some help and got loads of offers – you guys make life so much more bearable.

Things moved rapidly again this week – and it’s only Tuesday. I spent ages on the phone to the hospitals yesterday to find out what the schedule was for the next few weeks – here goes:

6^th August – I thought I was just going for a dental assessment, but in addition I met with the surgeon doing the operation. Teeth first – so now’s the time to ‘fess up that I’ve had dentures for several years, and just this year had a new set made up as I had two more teeth removed. So it was no real surprise to hear that all of my remaining teeth will need to come out. What was a surprise was that the two wisdom teeth have to go too – and one of them has a cyst on the root – and that is affecting a nerve – which when removed will cause a loss of sensation in my lower lip and part of my chin. And the next bit is very hard to swallow – I can’t have the dentures remodelled for 6 months at least ‘cos the mouth and jaw will continue to change shape throughout and after the radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Do you mind if I swear now? ‘struth!

7^th August – a trip to Luton for a pre-operation assessment – and we’ll make it a double header by nipping down to Mount Vernon cancer hospital to get a feel for the journey.

8^th August – I’m going to visit work – probably for the last time this year. Afterwards Row and I are joining some of my department for a ten-pin bowling session up in St. Neots.

9^th August – My last meal for a while at 7am then to Luton and Dunstable University Hospital at 11am. The surgeon will (hopefully after I’m anaesthetised) take out my teeth – and now the gore – he then cuts from behind my right ear down the side of my neck and round to the base of my chin – and perhaps a bit more down towards my throat – then the fun begins: First he removes the major muscle (sternocleidomastoid) connected to my right shoulder – this will prevent me putting away food onto the top shelf of the larder – it will also hamper my backswing, but should prevent the yips. Next he dredges the material between my skin and my arteries which is where the lymph nodes hang out. There are at least 30 nodes – but the surgeon says his current record is to find 86 of them. Apparently all 5 levels of nodes are to be removed. There’s more, that I didn’t know about before today – the cancer may have leached out of the lymph nodes into surrounding areas – in which case he’ll remove, I can hardly bear to write this – he’ll remove the jugular vein – luckily I’ve got another on the left side. And there is also a chance that he’ll remove either deliberately or by accident, the accessory nerve which is connected both to the muscle being removed and the trapezius muscle. There’s another nerve that might cop if – one that gives sensation to the ear lobe – so if anyone wants to buy me a 40ct diamond earring it won’t be money wasted.

10^th August – pain, pain, pain. Well probably morphine, morphine, morphine. The surgeon assures me it will be nothing like as bad as my tonsils out. Oh, he said, I forgot, you’re having a cyst and wisdom teeth out too – that hurts.

11^th August – Sunday – a day of rest – I’m really sorry to be missing the Silverado tournament at Crondon Park.

12^th August – I’m double-booked – I have an appointment for an operation at Lister Hospital called a PEG – which is a tube put through my belly into my stomach so that when things get worse, I’ll be able to feed through it. We’re trying to get this rebooked to happen preferably at the same time as the main op, but otherwise while I’m still in Hospital.

13^th-16^th – still in hospital – although hopefully I can come home on the Friday.

17^th – start of footie season – Come on you Reds!

18^th – Row’s birthday and hopefully we can have our punting trip on the Cam.

After that – well in another 3 weeks I should be fit to start the Radiotherapy journey – which will see some horrid side effects – of which I’ll write more later.

Chin up!

Frank

Good news

Following a second bout in hospital with throat problems, the up side was they brought forward The Results Show on 1^st August from 12.15 to 10.30

There is indeed good news. 

The primary location of the cancer was in the right-side tonsil which has now gone. It was bigger than they expected, extending outside of the tonsil into the surrounding muscle. The think they've got it all, but of course, can’t be certain. So to increase the chances of success there will be some further treatment of the throat over the coming months.

The lumps on my neck – yes lumps, now – are in the lymph nodes some of which are attached to a muscle. These are the secondary location of the cancer. It’s going to be surgery to take out as many lymph nodes as we can and the muscle. 

And then further treatment of the neck over the coming 5/6 months.

I haven’t got it clear in my mind yet what the schedule will look like, and more to the point, what Row and I need to go through to get this fixed 

– and it will be fixed. 

I think my plans for a race triathlon might have been scuppered for this year – but hey – I've already achieved my objective – 5 hours is the current record.

I’ll do another blog in a week or so – this will cover some of the physical changes to be expected as a result of the treatment. Then I’ll stop unless there is something funny to say.

Oh, and I’ll be sending a few individual begging emails, and will take no for answers.

Shocked but not feared

So I thought we’d be telling you about the results next.

 I was still suffering on Saturday, but not so much as to stop me having a good game of golf with Alan and Bill – thanks guys. I got up early on Sunday and at 7am went out with the dogs. 

But I tasted blood and by the time I’d got back to the house and told Row there was quiet a stream of it. She called the hospital who said dial 999 and along came Luke from the paramedics and later an ambulance crew. 

By 8 the bleeding from my throat had stopped. But off we went to The Lister at 8.45. Soon after, having bypassed A&E, I was seen by the ENT consultant. They pumped me full of morphine and anti-biotics and there I was back in ward 11B – this time in a room of my own.

The doctors came to see me at 8am and decided I needed to stay another day.

The pain got up as high as 9 out of 10 during that evening.

The doctors came to see me at 8am today and decided I could go home this afternoon.

On the good news front, I persuaded them to clear out both ears of this year’s potato crops. Surprise, surprise, that was why I had such powerful earaches!

So now I've got 4 types of painkillers, 2 types of laxatives and 1 type of anti-biotic – and guess what – I feel better.

The Consultant – I put it in capitals ‘cos he called us in last Thursday just to let us know that he’s really important – has suggested that the news on Thursday is encouraging. Can’t wait!

Next up – it’s The Results Show.

Out foul spot

At the moment, on balance, I think I’d rather have my tonsils, please. But no. It can’t be undone. That’s my mantra for when things get bad – it’s not what happened it’s what’s gonna happen.

All plans for a good night’s sleep last night went out the window with a thunderstorm which woke me at 1.30. Then when the rain came like Niagara Falls, at 4.30 I leapt out of bed to close the car windows. Stumbling over Lexie who was asleep in the hall and had thoughtfully rucked up the carpet. Then back to bed for 30 mins before up for breakfast, shower and the final blood pressure tablet.

Blood pressure: The high end of the normal range for a bloke my age is 140/90. When I first had mine tested in the hospital it was 214/133 – the nurse went white when she took the reading and made me lie down. Today it’s bumbling along at 123/88 which is acceptable. By the way low blood pressure would be anything under 90/60.
http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Thebasics/Bloodpressurechart?gclid=CO_7nc-WyrgCFRMctAodVjMAWg

We got to the hospital at 6.35 and they moved us to the waiting area at 8. But it was nearly 2pm before I went down to pre-op and Row went home. It was 3pm when I went for the anaesthetic – boy did it hurt when the nurse put the needle in my left hand. It hit a nerve down to my middle finger – so they did it to my right hand instead. Much nicer. Quickly asleep.

Woke at 4pm groaning, groggy, grumpy. By 5pm I was fit to go up to the ward on 11^th floor where there were three other patients – two having had stuff done and one waiting for stuff. The other two got to go home that evening but I had to stay in. Had liquid painkiller at 6pm then some food – chicken a lá king and apple juice and yoghurt. Row came until 8pm. More painkiller at 10pm and managed to doze for a few hours. But can’t breathe out through my nose. After midnight, hardly any sleep. Blood pressure at 2am, more painkiller then and at 6.

Breakfast at 8 – weetabix. Doctors came to visit at 8.30. The nice Dr. Haloob, and the original Mr Tsoukadis. They said results would be two weeks today. Rang Row to come and get me, and my mum for an update. Chased up for my medication and sick note which arrived at 10am and Row arrived soon after. So I hot-tailed it out in my Arthur Dent dressing gown into the 23*C sunshine and we went home.

Next up – it’s The Results Show.

Oh, by the way, I looked in the mirror at my throat - eeeeuuuuwwww - ow!

The first cut

So tomorrow the tonsils come out. I’m amazed. I only got to know them today! I thought they were that dangly bit that apparently is called the uvula. But now I know that they’re currently on each side of the throat and shortly they'll be under the microscope. Rowena tells me her’s dissolved, and I've just read that this is entirely true – they can atrophy after they reach their peak size near puberty.

I've never had surgery, let alone a general anaesthetic – so it’s two more firsts. I have stayed overnight in hospital before – that was at Lister too – when I’d dislocated my ankle.

I find it quite remarkable how quickly I got from no exercise for years until July, and then today swimming, cycling and walking/running the distance covered in a sprint triathlon. Here’s hoping I’ll be able to keep it up – my target has now been brought forward from Christmas to 6^th October when there’s a triathlon starting at Robinsons Pool, Bedford.

I did some more googling on Level 2 lymph nodes:

Lymph nodes in the neck have been divided into 7 levels, generally for the purpose of squamous cell carcinoma staging. This is however not all inclusive as several groups such as the supraclavicular, parotid and retropharyngeal space nodes are not accounted for in this system.

Oh and I wondered if squamous and Squam Lake were linked – ‘cos Row and I have been to Squam Lake where On Golden Pond was mostly filmed. But no, Squam of Squam Lake is a shortened form of asquam which means water. Squamous means covered or formed with scales.

Level II

·        jugulodigastric 

·        base of skull to lower margin of hyoid bone

·        anterior to the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid (SCM)

·        posterior to the posterior border of the submandibular glands

o   level IIa - anterior, lateral, or medial to the vein or posterior to the internal jugular vein and inseparable from it.

o   level IIb - posterior to the internal jugular vein and have a fat plane separating the nodes and the vein 

Here's a picture - it's number 9

http://uk.ask.com/wiki/Jugulodigastric_lymph_node

Right, off to pack an overnight bag and a good book – well, the latest Pete Carroll novel on my ipod.

Cheers

Toast!

4^th July.

The day after my son, Colin’s, birthday. Rowena and I went to the hospital to hear the results of the Fine Needle Aspiration of the Level 1 Lymph Node, which was by now the size of one of those flying saucer sherbets that we used to buy http://www.treasureislandsweets.co.uk/products/Flying-Saucers-Sweets.html - but as hard as a gobstopper.

“I’m not going to beat about the bush”. She says. “It’s cancer”. She says. But not as we know it. Bugger. It’s not a lymphoma then. Neither Hodgkins nor non-Hodgkins. It’s some form of SCC – but we’re going to have to rip your tonsils out to find out more. But Dr. Haloob was very nice about it.

Oh, and you’ll need an MRI scan to see what’s in your neck, and a CT scan to see what’s in your chest. Ah. Hmm. So, plenty of jelly and ice cream, then? “No. Toast!” “Eat as much as you can” Ah.

Technology. I had the MRI scan last Thursday down at QEII hospital in Welwyn. Life on Mars – it was like going back to the 70’s. The hospital felt unhealthy. But the scanning technicians were cheerful and the equipment was spanky. Flashing lights and humming – it must be clever! With the aid of bright yellow earplugs, despite the mighty roar of the magnets spinning around my neck, I dozed off a couple of times during the 40 minute scan. At one point they injected something to make the tissues glow – a pity it was on the inside only.

I had the CT scan today back at Lister – then went to play golf in the 28 degree sunshine. This hospital is busy, But it feels clean. The technician is from New Zealand and I wondered what she meant by a nick scan. Until she pronounced it properly – a neck scan, Today’s scan was by x-ray and was of the lungs and heart. This machine was just as impressive as the MRI. Whiter, The scan only lasted 15 seconds! But then there was another 15 second scan after they injected me with iodine. That made all extremities glow warm. And I mean all extremities.

Triathlon. I've been to work on my bike a few times – three 12 mile round trips. On Monday I swam for 6 lengths – couldn't do more – but today I swam for 16. And yesterday I ran for 1 mile.

So next up is the big one. Tonsils out on 23^rd. Then it’s toast and tenterhooks until 3^rd August when results are due,

Oh, it’s just a lump

Back in May I noticed a small lump on my neck. A bit later it was a bit bigger. A bit later is was a bit painful. A bit later I went to the doctor. Half and hour later I was having a blood test at the hospital.

It was the first time I’d met Dr. Baldiv Benning of Biggleswade. (Well, he works at the Ivel Medical Centre). I like him. He recognised the potential causes and acted immediately, booking me in for an examination under the ‘two week’ rule.

I chose Lister Hospital in Stevenage rather than Bedford Hospital. It’s easier to get to and parking is better. People think Lister isn't good, but so far, all except two people have been brilliant. I’ll tell you who the others are if they don’t ‘welcome feedback’.

The results of the blood test showed nothing alarming when I visited the doctor on 7^th June.

Happily my examination was booked for 10^th June just before a great 9 days in Spain. That didn't stop me worrying and researching and staring into space and frowning at the floor. 

The examination revealed I had a lump. On my neck. That needed examination. A camera down my nose (careful, I get nosebleeds!) revealed a slightly swollen tonsil but nothing out of the ordinary – I hadn't swallowed a fly.

So next stop was an Ultrasound guided FNA on 25th June, again, happily just after a great 9 days in Spain. He confirmed that the lump was in the level 2 lymph nodes. Now I've not found any literature that names them nodes that way. He stuck a needle in it and took a sample or three.

After a couple more days of worry and one of pain, I decided it was time to get fit. So, the target is a triathlon before Christmas.

4^th July – summoned early to the hospital for results

Frank's intro to Blogging

Came across a blog site when looking up henge information. Thought it was about time I joined in.
I went to Peru last year to look at archeaological sites near Trujillo, Chiclayo, Cajamarca, Ayacucho, Paracas, Nazca, Arequipe and Cusco. Once back home I took a renewed interest in early British archeaology.

I took some fabulous video footage of hummingbirds in the grounds of a hotel in Aguas Calientes. Anyone going to Machu Picchu should take time out to see them. My hobby is birdwatching so that was a great bonus.