I'm out

The weekend was a bit of a nightmare. I tried to keep busy but I couldn't get my mind off the implications of the result. If the PET scan showed that the cancer had spread to my liver it was effectively game over. All they could offer would be palliative care.

On Monday I was scheduled for another scan, an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), in the Mater Hospital. I was told that if the PET scan was negative, there would be no point in having the EUS because the information from it would only be of use if they were operating. I assumed the EUS would be in the afternoon because the doctors would need to have a case conference first. But, no, I was told I would be collected at 8.30am by taxi and driven to the Mater in the company of a nurse. Was this a sign that the scan was clear or a scheduling cock up?

I spent the drive across town convinced that any second the nurse's phone would ring with instructions to turn back. We made it to the Mater however.

As it happened, the test did not go ahead because the tumour had grown to such an extent, the doctor did not want to risk rupturing it.

And so I returned to St Vincent's slightly groggy from the sedative to await the news. Which came a short while later.

"Well David," said the doctor, "we've studied the results and we feel that your cancer is resectible. The PET scan showed your liver is clear."

You have no idea how relieved I felt. I'm certainly not out of the woods yet. This is the beginning of a long, hard slog. I'm to receive five weeks of radio therapy with chemotherapy during the first and fifth weeks. This will be followed by a few weeks of recuperation and then surgery followed by at least three weeks of recovery.

Again, thanks for all the messages of support. They are very much appreciated.

Comments

[Johan A]

Whew!

I read up a bit about this type of cancer and knew exactly what those liver spots would have meant if they had been cancerous. Maybe you could feel my fingers crossing all across the seas...

OK, best of luck now that you're going into treatment. I'm sure it will be a bitch, but other people have got through before you. Ádh mór ort!

[Wyvernfriend]

Glad to hear it's resectable, but man would someone please talk to doctors about abuse of the english language and using ordinary language. I stopped my oncologist from using the fancy terms right about the first meeting when I translated for Dave 8).

Good luck and I'm pulling for you.

[Maura]

Best of luck with your treatment Dave. I'm thinking of you often.

[Giulia De Cesare]

Dave, this is the first I'd heard of this. I'm a bit stunned, but very glad the news is not as bad as it might have been. Hang in there, folks will be thinking of you.
Giulia