Blog Seven Monday 4th July 2011

Been on the phone this morning, but the person I need to speak to, ie surgeons private secretary, is away until Wednesday. I've also spoken to the very helpful, Katie Gardener. Katie is the NHS bowel cancer specialist nurse to Mr El-Rabaa , she is always there to answer questions and extremely helpful. After speaking with Katie, I'm thinking that I may be trying to hurry things along too fast, the NHS is doing all it can and to go private will only shave a couple of weeks off the surgery time.

 As its been explained the current situation with my lungs, was in fact discovered,  just before we left Australia and has been monitored in the UK over the last year. Only now has the situation changed so a couple more weeks can't hurt, can it?,

I would like to urge anyone in their early 40's reading this blog to consider themselves or anyone dear to them to have a colonoscopy or gather any information and undergo any other tests to determine the likelihood of contracting cancer. That sounds quite wide reaching but,  I have been told that by the time of my operation ,the cancer was at T2 stage, and it had probably been growing  for six years. I would have been around 46 years old. My parents cannot remember anyone in our family past, that has had bowel cancer, although I have lost cousins, uncles  and a grandfather to other forms of cancer.

My original early symptoms, and I believe now were connected, were similer to irritable bowel syndrome and was diagnosed as such by my then GP following our return from South Africa in the year 2000. I was 43yrs old at this stage. I then went on to have  further symptoms such as diarrhoea. I was regularly told it was possibly my diet .....and all the time the cancer was taking hold......................

Wendy

My mom was diagnosed with bowel cancer back in 2000 and had a section removed in the sigmoid colon as well. This type of cancer runs in our side of the family as my Gran and some of my mom's cousins have had it as well. My mom has however been given the all clear, I however have now asked to be refered for a colonoscopy, better to be safe than sorry.

I am now on a mission to get John involved in a project around the house to keep his mind occupied on other things, rather than counting down.....1: He could finish off all the loose little bits he hasn't done yet. 2: Redecorate the downstairs loo. 3: Gut and redo the bathroom. I will let you know what he decides.