Cancer is a wake up call for all.
Sitting in the Doctors expecting some Medication to resolve why i am peeing blood is not something we expect to understand until we actually go through the ordeal. Pee sample gets sent, appointments are planned, my life carries on as normal. Well the letters arrive appointments sorted for Friday at 2.20,2.57 and 3.15. Well Friday comes i get a bath ( don't want to look unkempt now) i take a leisurely stroll to the Hospital. I arrive bang on 2.20 only to go to the wrong reception, typical me, i change tack and hurry to the place I'm meant to be. After giving the receptionist my first letter i ask were my next appointment is 'here mate' 'really' mmm nice one, keep that letter to till you've had your ultrasound scan then i can book you in, that ok. Sound mate, thanks. No sooner i sit down I'm called in. 'Can you lay on the bed please and lift up your clothing. Jeez the jelly was cold, made me giggle. Turn right, turn left, roll on your back, open your pants please so i can scan your bladder. 5 minutes later 'Ok your done', please go outside and wait for your next appointment. Ty, where my parting words. Same routine letter sit down wait. Paul Cooke please. Hiya, could you go in here and put the dressing gown on we will call you in a few minutes. Hospital gowns are not exactly ideal garments. Well X-ray took a few minutes and off we go to the third and final appointment Ward G was outside in the car park, madness. Now things become strange because i was called in straight away, made to sit around the corner, no waiting. A very nice nurse sits next to me, are you ok,fine thanks, you! Good good, Doctor will be with you shortly, she even stroked my hand. Now my mind is in overtime what the f..k, why the attention! Not something i had experienced in Hospital. Well my minds in overdrive and I'm called in. We need your consent to look in your Bladder, by this they meant a camera up the, how do i put it! 'Willy' reluctantly i agree. Curtains pulled across and Doctor begins, its over in minutes i didn't feel my dignity was devalued i felt something was amiss and if i didn't i could be making things worse. Im left alone to dress myself and then the curtain is pulled back, different Nurse, this time she is wearing a red uniform hiya Paul I'm Michelle take a seat. Doctor takes his eyes off the computer screen ok Paul this is where we are. One of the cysts has burst, its now 2 1/2cms in diameter, unfortunately it is CANCER, we need you to come in next wk for an Mri scan which will give us a more detailed scan of the infected area and we want to make sure it hasn't spread or anywhere else in you upper body. We will look to remove it in the coming wks we will sort a pre op interview take a few more blood/urine samples then you will meet the specialists. I don't care who reads this because being diagnosed with CANCER is shocking for all concerned no matter what stage it is at your life feels like nothing in those short moments its a sudden realisation the most thing of all 'I'm alive'.
Hi there, I know you're a male because of your descriptiion of your "willy", but I want to welcome you to the forum. None of us would break down doors to get in here, but we're darn glad it is here for us when we receive a diagnosis of cancer. Everyone here either has cancer, or is caring for someone who has it, and it is a great place to come for information and support in getting through this journey that none of us would choose to be on. As I gathered from your post, you have kidney cancer; I have bladder cancer, not related to the lung cancer that I have, and the colon cancer that I had, (at least I hope it hasn't come back). All of us here can relate to your shock at hearing your diagnosis. It certainly takes a while to digest and a million questions start running through your mind all at once. I wish I could say somthing to make this news less difficult for you to hear but I can't. I can reassure you though, that you will find the people on this forum to be very supportive and helpful in sharing information about cancer. Also, there is a section on the site for reading up on the different cancers and treatments that is based on sound research. Better to go there than going on Google or some other such site.
Stay in touch with us here on the forum as you take this journey. You will find that its' not quite as lonely as it would be going it alone. I'm sure that someone will be along shortly to post again in response.
A big welcome to our forum! You have come to the right place to talk to others like LorraineD who can really understand what happened that day you were diagnosed.
As Lorraine said, we have some great information on our website about kidney cancer which you can read here.
I hope others who have been diagnosed with kidney cancer will see your post and share their own story with you. You will find this community very welcoming and that it does help to talk to others who are in a similar place as you or who have been there months or years ago.
We keep our fingers crossed that you find out more soon when you see the specialists as waiting for definite results can be a long and difficult process. Many on this forum know this only too well. Let us know what they say and in the meantime, feel free to come here anytime to talk to people who really can understand what you are feeling at the moment.
