27 January 2010 – The Waiting and The News (Cancer and Me 7)
I was aware that the OGD incorporated a biopsy, but I didn’t really know what they needed a biopsy for. By that stage I was just thinking that they were doing all the tests they could think of and trying to keep an open mind. Certainly they weren’t telling me anything. The surgical doctors stopped…
17 January 2010 – Searching for Answers (Cancer and Me 6)
So began another month in hospital. I started out under the care of the surgical team that had looked after me before, and with the same nursing team in the same ward. I guess it probably took about two weeks for them to finally figure out what was wrong. Up to that point – those…
10 January 2010 – Being in Hospital (Cancer and Me 5)
That first period staying in hospital lasted about two and half weeks, I think. It was an interesting time. What can I say? I was moved from my private side room on ward C3 to the 6-bed bay, and then into another bay in C4, further down the corridor. Heidi asked if I could be…
31 December 2009 – First Causes (Cancer and Me 4)
Much of the detail of those days in hospital is now hazy in my memory. I remember meeting one of Basingstoke hospital’s most well-respected consultants, Mr Rees, and his surgical team. His colleague, Miss Welch, reminded me of Connie from Holby City and Casualty. Within a few days they had confirmed that I had pancreatitis…
25 December 2009 – A Memorable Christmas Day (Cancer and Me 3)
I’m afraid I don’t remember much about Christmas Day 2009 apart from feeling ill. I don’t remember the kids opening their presents in the morning. But I do remember not feeling particularly well in the morning. We went to church at 10am as we always do on Christmas Day. And afterwards, as we stood drinking…
22 December 2009 – One Snowy Day (Cancer and Me 2)
This phase of my life all started in December 2009. I was (and still am at the time of writing) a self-employed Interim Manager, specialising in business financial management, and I had been out of work since the beginning of April, had maxed the credit cards, borrowed money from my business (that I need to…
Cancer and Me – Introduction
I was first diagnosed with cancer in January 2010. At the time I’d only ventured tentatively into blogging. My illness was what kickstarted my writing, as for so many people. At first it just gave me the time to write. Then late in 2012 I was reading the blog of someone else who has the…