Welcome to Flinders Hospital.

Getting a bit used to all this, tho this one is rather daunting. Includes a camera view of what’s going on down there.

After it’s all over, the Prof tells me the tumour is 9cm long.

Thanks to Virginia for the Ride there, and Sue for picking me up.

#Howbig? #notforyoutube

PET = Positron Emission Tomography  

Another day, another test. My first of many visits to the Tennyson Centre on South Road.

Injections of stuff in my body. Lots of lying still.

#Lookingforwardtotheresult

 A welcome break

Sam and Tom paid for a ticket for me to Whyalla – thanks Boys,  and I head off for a welcome break from all the tests.

Had a great time with Sam, Cass and Penny, Barb and Col and Jas and Piper and Harry.

#Can’tbeatFamily

Off to Western Hospital to meet Dr Tim Price.

Sue, (who manages the oncology unit at Western Hospital) accompanies me.

Tim is very nice, very understanding, very thorough.

Recommends a course of chemotherapy with the aim (in conjunction with radiotherapy) of shrinking the tumour.

Something a bit different apparently – administered intravenously once a week for five weeks. Negates the need for a pic line through which the chemotherapy is often administered and which stays in for the duration of the treatment. Sounds more convenient.

All the possible issues and side effects are discussed, including some “thinning” of the hair. In the scheme of things it’s not such a big deal, but in reality, it’s a huge.

The appointments are made.

#IIikemyheairjustthewayitis

Do I have a heart?

But first a lung test. All good. Never smoked, been working on my fitness. All good.

Then a heart test – contrary to popular belief, I do have one. And it seems to be functioning OK. That’s good.

#maybeIamagoodcandidate for surgery

Who’s running the zoo?

Sue, Tom and I head to Wakefield Hospital to meet Dr Bessell.

More background information and note taking. Some scary statistics. And ordering of a multitude of tests.

“You’re going to wonder who’s running the zoo” he says. “But it will all come together.” Apparently.

He does give me a leaflet on the surgical procedure. Wish he hadn’t.

We go away to make lots of appointments.

#hedoeshavenicecleanfingernails #that’simportantisntit?

Did I pass the tests?

Sam, Tom and I head to Western Hospital to get the results of Friday’s endoscopy and Saturday’s tests, from Dr Nordeen. We meet Sue there.

Apologies to my neighbour Shirley for not stopping – we were on a mission – as she thought.

Yes, as was suspected it’s malignant.

If it’s possible to be relieved after being told you have cancer, then I was. Kind of. For a little while. It doesn’t seem to have spread anywhere else, the tumour is contained and it appears I am an excellent candidate for surgery. Who’d have thought.

As it turns out, I was getting waaaaaay ahead of myself.

Dr Nordeen had made an appointment to see a surgeon on the following Friday.

Sam, Cassie and Penny head back to Whyalla.

#GoodNewsBadNews #it’sgoingtobealongweek

Can you do this on a Saturday? Yes.

Across the road with Tom and Holly for a blood test. Back across the road for a CAT scan. Isn’t it lucky I live close!

More white mixture to drink before the scan. Don’t think it’s barium, or perhaps it’s just a different vintage.

I’m told one of the effects of the liquid that’s injected prior to the scan, is that women feel like they’ve wet themselves. Doesn’t happen for me tho.

Sam, Cass and Penny arrive from Whyalla in the afternoon. Great to have everyone here, but a bit emotional. Penny is a great distraction.

#lovemyGranddaughter

When did specialists get so young?

Tom and Sue come to the appointment.  Lots of background information and taking of notes.

Dr Nordeen has fitted me on to his endoscopy list that day so I return to the hospital later in the afternoon.

The endoscopy is painless and memorable for the fact that I can’t remember it – not that you’d want to. One minute you’re there, the next you’re waking up – cough, cough, um fart, fart.

Dr Nordeen speaks to me afterwards and confirms that the tumour is very suspicious.

I need to have a blood test and a scan – tomorrow morning would be good. Saturday morning? Yep!

Tom and Holly drive me home – all 200 metres from the hospital. It’s hot, but once home I am freezing and get the shakes. Think I’m in shock. Holly give me big hugs.

#can’tbeatagoodhug

This doesn’t look like being a good day.

Has to be a hard thing for a GP to break news such as this. But not nearly as hard as it is to hear it.

“There’s an obstruction, and it looks suspicious”. Or in the words on the radiologist’s report “malignancy is suspected.” Bang. take that. No sugar coating there.

An appointment is made to see a gastroenterologist at Western Hospital the following Friday – to set up some more tests including an endoscopy the next week.

Five minutes after I get home in a state of mild hysteria, my girlfriend (and Bali Buddy), Sue pops in in her lunch break from Western Hospital to say hello. Big mistake! Not the first time she’s managed to inadvertently call in at a time of crisis, but what a great friend to have around in a crisis (after she’d borrowed my glasses so she could read the report).

“No, you’re not xxxxxx-ed” – we can deal with this”.

Sue came back later to be here while I told Tom, and rang Sam.  Been a day for tough conversations.

She had also found out that Dr Nordeen – the Gastroenterologist was doing endoscopies in Friday, and there was a possibility mine could be scheduled for then. Would be good.

#Going tobealongcoupleof days