Second opinion

What a difference!
The new Oncologist I am seeing is so different, more positive. He knows I know the score and is very supportive, even if I try alternatives as I have decided not to have chemo at the moment. I am having radiotherapy treatments on 27th, 28th and 29th December to stop any cancer cells spreading to the operation site.
Merry Christmas and a happier new year.
2007 will hopefully bring some good news.

Happy birthday Kieran

My little boy will be 10 today. He is growing up to be a wonderful and wise little boy. I took him out to eat and he will have a party later as it has been so busy with all that has happened this year. I hope I can make it up to him.
I love you little bean x

Happy Birthday Dad

Happy Birthday to my dear dad who would have been 69 today.
I love him and miss him so much. He loved Christmas, he would make mince pies and would enjoy singing his karaoke songs.
He was wonderful.
I will remember him forever.

Chemo conveyer belt

I went to see the oncologist today and was shocked to find that he had given me 6-9 months to live. I was offered chemo and was told that no amount of excercise, diet or life changing would help my condition. I felt like I was being given the option for chemo and then left in a corner to die. I told the consultant in no uncertain terms that I would not except that. I was also told I could claim a grant from the goverment (IIDB) for having Mesothelioma. I knew this information was wrong as it can only be claimed if the sufferer had worked in an asbestos industry.
Now I am on a mission to prove him wrong. I have also asked for a second opinion.

The Diagnosis, It is Mesothelioma

On 13th November 2006, my life changed. I had been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, a malignant tumour.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lungs and is associated with exposure to Asbestos.

I have never worked any where that had Asbestos exposure, the only link I have is that my father, who passed away on 26th August 2006, had worked for the MOD between 1963 to 1966. He was a lagger and worked closely with this deadly material. Unfortunatley, he didn’t know how deadly it was.

I am now carrying a lethal enemy inside me that is going to result in an untimley death and leave my 3 beautiful children without a mother.

My father never knew this and I am grateful that he didn’t, I don’t think he would have coped with knowing 1 of his children was infected with this silent killer.

I now have to try and squeeze all my happiness into a small amount of time.

I intend to fight it and have been told this will be fruitless, but I am not prepared to lay down and die.

VATs operation

I went to a hospital appointment for a brochoscopy, this was not performed as the mass was to far down to be accessed. A VATs (video Assisted Thorascoscopy) would be performed to remove any fluid built up in the lung and to take a biopsy. This biopsy would determine if I have Mesothelioma or not. I was in hospital for about 5 days and missed my lovely daughters birthday. That bit really hurt as I had spent every birthday with her. She cried when she came into the hospital and said this was the worst birthday she ever had.What a gift to give to her. She was so upset and all I could do was hug her and tell her how sorry I was for all this mess.

The VATs op produced 2 litres of fluid. After the removal of the fluid the pain deminished.

Now I have to wait for the diagnosis to be confirmed.

No contact from hospital today. I am feeling ok today and have not thought about what may happen or what the result may be. I am hoping it will turn out to be a chest infection. My friend, Raechel came around today.

Kieran stayed home today, said he had a tummy ache. He has been on about it all week and I gave him the benefit of the doubt today. He didn’t complain all day. He has been on the trampoline, computer, games and running around like a looney. Enough said, he seems fine. He was sick yesterday and that was left out for someone else to clean up. (David said he was sick and never bothered cleaning up).Richard has finished his first full week at burger king. He seemed to enjoy it, must go in and see him.

I will have to wait until Monday now and hopefully will get a call to have a test done. I am going back to work as I need to keep busy and not sit at home worrying if there is nothing to worry about. I just need to know. My head is an absolute mess.

Still no contact from hospital. I didn’t sleep well last night. I am still trying to come to terms with this devastating news. It is so hard to think positive. I am feeling very angry and made an appointment with my GP. I want to know if I am dying. I want to know if I have a future. I cannot see past tomorrow. He told me that if I used my private health care, it wouldn’t make a lot of difference as the main treatment point and the experts are all in the NHS hospital. I have decided to return to work because the thinking time is screwing up my mind. My doctor has signed me back to work on 16th October.
So I am back to waiting.

My little girl cried today as we returned from my sister Jackies house. She doesn’t have a good relationship with her dad, which is a shame, this is the time she needs him most. She said she didn’t want me to go anywhere and she wished it wasn’t happening. What could I tell her?
This is so difficult, I really don’t feel I am going anywhere.

I have told all my family and friends that I may have lung cancer. I feel I have a lot of support around me and it is appreciated as they are all wonderful people. My children are so brave and stunned I think. They are not saying much.
Ironically, I have a funeral to go to. I will go as I do not want to let my friend down. She has been so supportive and I feel I should do the same.

I went for a chest X-ray as I had been looking into Mesothelioma for a few weeks now and have had thoughts that I may have it as I have a few of the symptoms. My GP has asked me to go and see him. I am so afraid today. What is my GP going to say? Am I being stupid? I asked my daughter, Siobhan, to come with me to the GPs as I had a feeling it could be bad news and I was petrified. She agreed and was very brave.

We arrived and made our way to the waiting room. My name was called and we went in. My GP said he had been contacted by the hospital and it wasn’t good news. I put my hand up to my face and knew what words would spill from his mouth. Words I did not want to hear. Cruel words, unfair words, Words that said I may have to suffer because my father was employed in Plymouth Dockyard and I will pay the price, as he did

He told me that there was a mass and it could be a milgnant tumour, Mesothelioma, which is the cancer that is related to asbestos fibres in the lungs. I was stunned and held onto my baby girl, Siobhan, and broke down. Why me? Why now? Just why?

I was told I would recieve a call from the hospital and would have to go in for a biopsy to determine what was there. I expected this call to be within the next 24/48 hours. He gave me 3 weeks off work. I don’t know if I can take that. I am just grateful that my dear dad was not here to hear that news as I know he would blame himself and it is not his fault.