DAY 113

David rang me to say he had managed to get dressed and go to the shop and get his newspaper without any difficulties. He also told me he had had a visit from the Oncologist. When I got to the hospital he did not look very cheerful. He said he had had some unexpected news from the Oncologist which he had not wanted to give me over the phone. He asked me whether I had any idea what it might be and of course I immediately thought of my previous entry indicating that it would not be necessary for him to have any further chemo following the results of the biopsy. Spot on he said. Apparently it is very likely that if he is physically fit, and there seems little doubt that he will be, and mentally fit, she would be offering a follow up course of chemo as had been mentioned before he had his op. She emphasised that it would be his decision. Unfortunately this has sent him into the doldrums because at this point in time he cannot tolerate the thought of having any more treatment. Matters had not been helped by the fact that the staff were having difficulty getting a blood sample from him again. After the second person had tried without success the doctor said he would not try again but would try to get the phlebotomist to come and try. Later in the day the phlebotomist tried and she also failed so she brought in "the specialist" who had trained her and she said if this person could not get any blood nobody would. Unfortunately his veins are either too hard or the collapse when the needle is inserted. "The specialist" resorted to an old fashioned syringe and was successful. The whole episode had been very painful and distressing for poor David and my heart ached for him.
He kept coming back to the question of the post operative chemo. He said he would take a lot of convincing to proceed given that the biopsies had been clear. I said it was probably not the best time to make a decision and he should wait till he gets home and has time to get his thoughts together and think logically. I emphasised that I agreed totally with him that it was his decision and I would support him even if his decision was at variance with my own thoughts. We really need more information on the evidence of the data providing the relevant statistics in order to make an educated decision. I said I would contact the GSI nurse and ask if this information could be made available at the appointment with the oncologist on 14 September.
This is not at all the kind of entry I expected to write as my final contribution to this blog. The main thing is the operation has been successful and he has overcome some very difficult episodes over the last three weeks. We must hang on to this and keep positive as I am sure we will.