It's been some time since I updated this blog as I didn't want to pre-empt how things were going to proceed after my chemotherapy finished. Unfortunately, no sooner had I finished chemo and started building my strength up did I undergo a biopsy on the lump on my thyroid which identified the lump as being suspicious and needed removing to assess it further. The Consultant now informed me that he thought there was in the region of a 20% chance that this too could be cancerous and would be in no way related to the cancer I'd just been battling - talk about some potentially rotten luck (and so much for yet again being previously told the lump was nothing to worry about)!
So on 1st October I was admitted to hospital to have a partial thyroidectomy which involved removing the right side of my thyroid. Thankfully, whilst I was admitted overnight, this operation was fairly straight forward and nowhere near as tough as getting through the main parts of my chemo. At this point on my journey being told you need this operation which will result in having a scar on your neck and will take time to heal was really nothing to worry about, certainly when compared to the worry of having a one in five chance of being diagnosed with another type of cancer.
Following the operation I then had that awful period of waiting yet again until the results were known and I'd know what my fate would be. Thankfully, in that time I had my first post-chemo check-up and the results were all good and no tumour markers were elevated. Yet again, the Doctor could only suggest that the spikes in previous readings were due to adverse reactions due to my liver or kidneys. The upshot of all this is that in all likelihood I was over-treated in that I was given a third round of chemo when the original plan was to have two. Still, given the circumstances I can't fault that approach and over treatment's certainly better than not enough.
Fast forward to 14th October when I had my follow-up appointment to receive the thyroid results following the pathology after the operation. Jacki and I sat anxiously in the waiting area which was deserted apart from the two of us. I was dreading being called in and needing to do the dreaded walk into the consultation room knowing you're about to hear your fate. Thankfully, the Doctor walk past and saw the two of us and as we were the only two there he straight away said "it's ok, you can smile" which I knew straight away meant it was good news! Once we'd actually sat down in the consultation room he was able to confirm that the histology report confirmed that the lump - whilst very large at 6x5x4cm - was benign and needed no further treatment (even the Doctor said he was surprised by this outcome). I can't tell you the joy and relief Jacki and I felt on hearing this!
This meant that in the space of six days I'd had good post-chemo results and had it confirmed that I needed no further treatment on my thyroid which would have meant another operation followed by radiation treatment via a tablet (and isolation for a few days). It was so good to get an upturn in fortunes given everything that had gone before. I literally felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders and the world instantly seemed a better place.
Following these two pieces of news Jacki and I are heading off on a well deserved holiday in a few days to live it up in Vegas for a week. Whilst we'll miss Lyla greatly, it'll be so nice for the two of us to get away.
As a result, all being well this will be the last blog entry I'll be writing for a while, maybe ever. I don't have any more follow-up appointments for my cancer until February 2016 when I'll have my bloods tested again and likely have a CT scan. Until then all I can do is work on the premise that everything will be fine in the long run and there's nothing else to worry about.
So to try and bring all this to a close, it's safe to say that the past four months have certainly been a roller-coaster for me and all my family and friends and I've certainly learned a lot from the experience.
I've learned an awful lot about Testicular Cancer and how many variants there are of just this one type of cancer, and also how many different types of chemotherapy there are and just how gruelling these regimes can be. I've learned that I've been extremely fortunate to have caught the cancer early and to be within such close proximity to a specialist Oncology unit that could provide the necessary treatment to beat it.
I've learned how amazing NHS nurses are at providing such amazing compassionate care under very trying conditions, whereas certain doctors and clinical nurses could certainly use some training on how to deal more empathetically with their patients.
And most of all, I think the most important thing I've learned from this whole experience is just how uncertain life can be and how important friends and family are. It's certainly true to say that when someone's diagnosed with cancer it doesn't just affect them, it has just as much impact to those who are close to the person. I'm just so fortunate that I have Jacki in my life who has been with me literally every step of the way, and in those times when I was feeling down and ill, she was always there to pick me up again and convince me I could beat this thing. Of course, having Lyla as well (who's just turned one) was all the inspiration I really needed to keep going. On that point, I have so much respect and sympathy for those who aren't as fortunate as me and don't have the same support network and may have to face their battle with cancer on their own. It really makes you stop and think. Finally, I know that life has a way of throwing up unwanted surprises for everyone, but one thing's for sure, when I overhear someone answer the question of "how are you" with "well, at least I've got my health" that's certainly one major positive to be thankful for.
Thanks everyone for reading.
David
