This is a long one, as it has been an eventful week, so buckle up!
As per the usual format, let’s start with the health aspects. Following the MRI the previous Thursday, the psychological battle continued. The variable back pain continued, but had dissipated a little. I had arranged a call with the cancer unit the previous week, which was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon (unconfirmed time); that call came through just before 4pm. The caller was Lloyd, who you regular and long term readers may recall, was the person who had the unfortunate task of telling me of the original prognosis in January 2023. His conversation started in an almost surprised tone, why had I asked for the call. I asked him if he was fully up to date and he confirmed yes and he knew I had the MRI. He went on to ask if anyone had spoken to me regarding the results, and when I said not yet, he told me he had the results and those were (they need a paragraph on their own!).
There is nothing new showing up on the scan. No new Metastasis are evident and this most recent scan looks pretty much the same as the last one done in the summer of 2023. I had to stop him at that point and draw breath, plus let some emotion out. Once done, we carried on and he asked me what my symptoms were. After detailing them, he told me that there was nothing on the scan that would cause those symptoms, no issues with the spine, nothing evident. I asked him if I could go down the physio route and he confirmed yes, worth trying. His final sentence was, “You are fit and healthy and there is no reason why you should not be getting on with things, just be cautionary.”
We ended the call and I took immediate stock of this superb news; superb on many levels! Firstly, he told me that the cancer was not causing my issues. Secondly, he told me that since last year, the cancer has not worsened. Thirdly, he told me that I could and should be getting on with things. I have been down countless, unpleasant ‘rabbit holes’ in the last 4-5 weeks and every one of them has added an increasingly heavy weight of anxiety and stress. With that phone call, the rabbit holes have been filled in, the anxiety has lifted and I have begun to make new plans.
The final health related updates first though! I had previously had some back work done, around 5-years ago and the practitioner was great. I managed to get an appointment with him on Thursday morning. He assessed me and told me there was nothing evident on the spine, or any other muscular-skeletal aspects. He carried out some muscle manipulation, along with a little bit of acupuncture - a first for me. The plan is for another 2 sessions, which should help release the tight muscles at the base of my back. He also gave me a series of exercises, which I will add to my alternate-day exercise program.
So, in summary, I have undergone assessments from 3 different medical professionals, in less than 2 weeks; the General Practitioner, the dedicated cancer unit (viewing the MRI results) and a physiotherapist. They have given me a consistent message, which is, nothing serious and something that physio should help with. I can confirm that is the case and his initial work on Thursday is something that I have started to feel the benefit from.
Those of you who are regular readers, will have read of my intense psychological battle of late and the impact upon myself, Sandra, my children (my grandson too) and my sister. This is starting to lift, as we all shift our minds away from where they have been of late. I am speeding ahead, but Sandra is taking a little longer. You will know that the toll on Sandra is heavy, as we navigate this disease and what it has meant for us. She has been mentally exhausted during this last phase and then the knock on impact on the physical tiredness. It will take a bit longer, but we are all very relieved and our happiness is increasing daily.
Following the call, I waited for Sandra for around 30 mins, as she was driving home from work. I shared the news with her, then called my children to share the news. Next on the list was my sister. I managed to get the immediate family together for an impromptu celebratory bite to eat, meeting at Alanna’s. I felt like just enjoying the moment and it was great to have Alanna, Karl, Dan, Rachel and the grandkids there to just revel in the moment - the only people missing were Susan and Paddy.
Psychologically, I feel like I have been given a new lease of life, and even further than that, I have had the realisation that the back pain has been mentally holding me back. I have a little way to go yet, to get the pain relief that should come in the next few weeks, but mentally, I am off and making plans for the future - beyond where I was previously.
Following the physio on Thursday morning, I also had my hair appointment. During that, we discovered that a patch of my hair, around the rear right crown, is starting to grow strangely. Something my hairdresser should be able to control, with that patch growing straight up - resulting in an appearance of unkempt hair. My elation from the various medical discussions was increasing by the hour and once back home, I went out and cut the grass, then finished painting the garage roof. They have been partly left, as we have had very variable weather here, but also due to the variable back pain issues. I did push through some of the pain, but I just felt like doing something. Sandra was very annoyed, once she came home and understandably so! However, I feel like all mental and physical restraints have been lifted and I have begun to alter my plans accordingly; watch this space!
Work on the Fritz Witt book forged ahead, in between all of the above and I am nearing the end of this very enjoyable research project. A trip out on Saturday for a bit of shopping, plus a quick liaison with Colin en route, was the start of our weekend. Sunday seen us out and about for some more shopping, getting some things for the house and placed in the middle, a very enjoyable celebratory lunch looking out over the English Channel.
The difference at the end of this week, is galaxies away from the previous week and you have just read why. We are now in a bit of a reset and making some decisions for what is next for us, all in a positive sense. We have just gone through an incredibly hard phase and we’re glad to be starting to come back out of it.
The support from many of you, during that very difficult phase of life with cancer for me and my family, has made a big difference and I will take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who left comments or got in touch directly.
My best regards and thanks
Peter