Cancer at my Gastro Oesophageal Junction was spotted on 14th March 2020, during an endoscopy examination. I'd had to wait six weeks for this since my GP failed to correctly "red flag" me for urgent NHS tests.
That was time lost, but it's unclear whether earlier intervention may have been a game-changer. I will never know.
The cancer was fully diagnosed on 20th March as: adencarcenoma - Stage 4a, N2, M1.
Stage 4a means it's advanced and no surgery can remove it. N2 means it is in two sites in the lymphatic system and M1 means it has metastasised (spread) to one organ, my liver.
I'm widowed, with two grown children, both married. I have three grandsons, aged 15, 8 and 2.
I lost my wife in Feb 2017, after she lost a 4-year battle with cancer of the womb.
I am active, a semi-retired journalist and TV producer, from Liverpool.
I have a partner, though we don't live together and I am a practising Roman Catholic and have never been seriously ill before.
