day 16

Diary of a fully clothed person continued.

One of those over used phrases these days is "reality check." Today we found out what the chemotherapy was all leading to.

For those of you who like to look up these things the operation I am going to have is called an oesophagectomy(that's easy for you to say. As a Glasgow schoolboy told me many years ago don't use words that I've never heard of and you can't spell).

To go back to the start at Southampton Hospital. Apparently when I was originally referred to the Oncology Department the view at St. Mary's was because of some lymph nodes(nearly an embarrassing spoonerism there) my tumour was inoperable. The Oncology people thought otherwise, which is why I had a Pet Scan, in other words to confirm their view. Amen for second opinions. Apparently it's only in the last 10 years that the policy of chemo first and operation later has come into force. If the tumour is either reduced or grows no bigger then the operation will proceed. If it has become enlarged that may require a rethink.

On the assumption all is well the date for the operation has been provisionally booked for August 10. I would need beforehand a CT Scan plus appointments with both the Consultant and the Anesthetist. The operation is a major one done under general anaesthetic. It lasts between 4 and 6 hours. They need to go into both the chest and abdomen. The cancer and part of the oesophagus is removed and the stomach stretched to the remainder of said oesophagus. For the first 24 hours or so I'll need to be in either high dependency or intensive care. If a bed is not available in either place the operation won't happen.

For the first day or so I'll have nil by mouth and be fed through a tube. The stay in Hospital will be between 7 and 10 days. This will be a bit rough on Ev who would certainly for the first few days want to stay in Southampton rather than trek backwards and forwards to and from the Island.

There are risks to this operation . The biggest one is where the join between stomach and chest does not heal properly. You suspect this is why the stay in Hospital is so long. On a more comic note one possible effect could be a change in voice which will effect my ability to sing(relief all round).

As for the longer term the Consultant told us it will be 3 to 6 months before I get back to normal. In that time no lifting of shopping bags etc. and I shall need to take regular afternoon naps. The days of me eating second helpings will go. The recommendation is to eat small meals more often. I am told I shall be slimmer when this is all finished.

On a positive note apparently I am at the younger end of people who have this operation. It was nice to be told that at 67 I was young. Given also that up to now I have had a clean bill of health, I am I hope physically able to stand up to a complicated procedure.

Anyway all that is to come. All I can do for now is to carry on with the chemotherapy and let events take their course.