Well I got in & out in 2010 with 3 months treatment (2 rounds of 4 days chemotherapy) with concomitant radiation therapy (32 fracts) for rectal adenocarcinoma. No surgery, no lymph nodes, but I did suffer 4th degree perineal burns and neutropenia before getting back to work!
Last January I was after a job and was very nervous. I had chest pain during the interview but got the job. Well, in the evening, celebrating success I thought ‘aah’ this gastric stress will subside by morning- but no. When I awoke the antacid and H2inhibitor lansoprazole hadn’t helped so I took myself off early morning to A&E thinking just its stress, even had doctor convinced it wasn’t anything to worry about. A nitroglycerin under my tongue helped a little and no real ECG changes so I was ready to go home when called me back into get blood results.
I was hurriedly admitted to ICU with a Sky-high troponin. Angiogram, no stents and 4 days later got an uncertain diagnosis of Myocarditis. Strangely enough it was just shortly after my recent Covid19 jab (convinced there is correlation with this).
Anyway they had mentioned a tiny spot on my lung. I ignored that as fit & well, but 6 months later they followed up with MRI which showed a small Right lower lobe primary squamous cell Carcinoma. Out with the lung (July 2023)! Lucky again no lymph node involvement, and robotic surgery. Unfortunately perhaps too much mental stress continued in my life.
New job, and guess what, all that woman’s chat about an overactive bladder, stress incontinence, sure previous radiation/chemo plays into latest diagnosis, you guessed it Bladder Cancer stage3! Not such a good diagnosis as last time and I’m thinking I’m going to probably lose another part of my body but hey, onwards & upwards (well not too fast upwards) but facing what will undoubtedly be an uncomfortable treatment plan very soon at the NNUH. Good job they are a really great team and leading in their field. Wish me luck I’ll probably run into some of you soon. Needed a rest anyway.
