I am a retired nurse director and lastly a Univeristy lecturer teaching ODPs and nurses.I retired at 55 some years after loosing my husband to bowel cancer nearly 10yrs ago now. I know im fortunate that I was able to have retired. I am also fortunate Ive met a lovely man who is also widowed we live together. I have been pursuing my passion of horses which is a lifestyle and can take over your life. I learnt to ride later in life but love my horse Umbrio who is 7 and before him Guapo who I sold earlier this year. So with one horse I am able to keep him in livery.
In August I was sent a routine bowel cancer screen as I was 60. I was called into see bowel cancer nurse. Due to my past surgical history I asked for a CT Colonography which is a special imaging of bowel rather than a colonoscopy. I was called in to see consultant, so my bowel was clear but imaging by accident had shown the bottom portion of my lungs, and on my left lung a lesion. Bit of a shock. Long story short and CT’ s of Bowel, Chest and head and a three demensional body PET scan, and lung biopsy. So Adenocarcinoma cancer of the lung was diagnosed. I’ve never smoked and kind of fed up with the question or may I say undertone or assumtion that Im a smoker! I would go further and say ‘anybody can get any cancer its not exclusive or indiscriminate’, although as we all know risks can be elevated its said with certain life choices. So healthy living is a bit of a myth it seemed. I have always spun 2-3 times a week at the gym, ride my horse at least 5-times each week actively play with my granddaughter. I consider myself reasonably fit I eat healthily and don’t drink. On the 1st of October I had a left lower lung lobectomy, so a week today it was carried out as an open approach for better access. I have been writing a journal and my walking regime which I started 4days post operation. I think because I was healthy before surgery this has helped, albeit that its still been very painful. My surgeon is of the approach ‘you need to walk’ so that is exactly what I am doing. I am back to see my consultant on the 16th and he will have the results of the pathology by then. This cancer was caught early by as he calls it “serendipity” with no other hot spots or node involvement. I’m a positive person and will deal with whatever presents I know, but it is still difficult at times especially when you had no prior symptoms.
I plan to go and see my horse Sunday week so it will be two weeks since I saw him, I am confident he is being well looked after though.
