Other, Other
2010-08-17 – ?
Grade: 4
log Note from 14 Nov 2010:
Note
Now is the time to start training again after a 3 month period which started with a shock and has changed my life. In the middle of August I was diagnosed with bowel cancer after a colonoscopy, and 6 days later the tumour (& 40cm of bowel) was removed or re-arranged during a 6 hour operation. Last week the bypass was reversed, and normal(ish) function has returned. All of the post-op pathology, scans and blood tests have been clear, but I still have to maintain a monitoring program for any re-occurrence of the cancer. Coming out of hospital on Saturday hopefully marks the end of the surgical stage.
Tinytoes provided all of the support I needed and more through the months and I cannot express my love and thanks enough. The shock of the initial diagnosis and the rapidity of going into hospital for the operation meant that I only told close family members - I needed to get things and thoughts sorted before I was in a position to tell anyone else.
Some friends with experience from their own family guessed what was happening (mainly from strange gastric rumblings and noises they heard), others just knew that something was wrong. I am now prepared to discuss almost anything from the last 3 months with anyone in as much gory and shitty detail as is required, but anyone who asks me questions must also be prepared for questions about whether they have had their regular checks and followed up on suspicious symptoms.
The 10kg post-op weight loss that was predicted certainly didn't happen - I can only attribute that to the quality of Tinytoes' cooking and my see-food dietary habits. Another reason to get serious about training again.
Log note 21 July 2014 - picc inserted - eventually in right arm after 2 attempts at left - chemo/radiation starts tomorrow.