A few people suggested I start a blog after I was diagnosed. Mostly because it's a good way to vent and it means you can look back and see how far you've come and how things have improved. I Agree that writing your thoughts down is an excellent way to vent frustrations without moaning to loved ones, it's also a good way of putting order into your thoughts to help you think clearly when you're head seems to have too much flying around in it all at once!
However, I didn't see the point in a blog as I felt it was a personal thing to do and no one else need be concerned with it. Instead I bought a lovely little leather bound notebook and i've been keeping my notes in there.
Since then, I've realised why a blog is a good idea. Whilst searching for hope on the internet I came across a few blogs of people who have been battling synovial sarcomas. The positive attitude and courage in some of these people when facing what they have to face has inspired me and lifted my spirits so many times now. I always thought my story was a bit too doom and gloom to bring to anyone's attention as most people are looking for success stories. I feel now that with all the twists and turns, my story is worth telling as it might give others hope and strength to stay strong and carry on when the outlook is bleak!
I've just started what I think is the final stage of my treatment, hence the 'better late than never'.. So I shall summarise the whole escapade and see how it pans out.
Saturday 28 November 2015
Stuck between death and a dead place.
Decisions - it's so hard to make a decision when the the only certainty of every outcome is death. Although I suppose really.. Death is the only thing anyone can be certain about in life. But, yeah, it's hard to decide. Do I try chemo that may or may not be effective for some extra time? Do I stop treatment and let my fast growing tumour grow in to my liver, stomach and spine? Do I risk the surgery which has a higher mortality rate than I'd like even though I have stable cancer elsewhere that could potentially kick off at any point after the surgery? I want surgery, but i think I have blinkers on. I’ve always wanted surgery because its generally been the only hope of a cure until they found out I had cancerous cells elsewhere so there is no cure… Maybe it’s not the wisest decision now. If it went well.. and the other cancer remained stable, I could potentially get another couple of years out of it. If my tumour was growing as fast as it was before I started radio, I wouldn’t have long left at all, so I'd quite like to get it out.. please, thank you!
I met with my oncologist to get bloods and check my skin etc.. everything seems fine. Then she went to say bye so I said "I take it you didn't hear from Mr Kirk then?" .... "well actually I did, he's hard to get a straight answer from. He says things like "this surgery has a high mortality rate." Then said something like "But I'll do it if we need to." This didn't really answer anything for me. Although He didn't say no which was good, I said that to my onc and she just sort of made a face. She's very aloof about it all. I think it's her that needs convincing more than him. I think I need to meet with him to discuss it and make an informed decision!
Anyway. Too many choices. For now I choose life.
x
P.S. My tumour is a lot smaller since starting radiotherapy! :oD
I met with my oncologist to get bloods and check my skin etc.. everything seems fine. Then she went to say bye so I said "I take it you didn't hear from Mr Kirk then?" .... "well actually I did, he's hard to get a straight answer from. He says things like "this surgery has a high mortality rate." Then said something like "But I'll do it if we need to." This didn't really answer anything for me. Although He didn't say no which was good, I said that to my onc and she just sort of made a face. She's very aloof about it all. I think it's her that needs convincing more than him. I think I need to meet with him to discuss it and make an informed decision!
Anyway. Too many choices. For now I choose life.
x
P.S. My tumour is a lot smaller since starting radiotherapy! :oD
Friday 20 November 2015
Next step..
So the latest next step is radiotherapy.
I really hope it does something. My tumour was on the inside last time, now that I can feel it growing on the outside its quite scary, to watch it grow and know I'm not doing anything to stop it. As of yesterday we started RT so I feel a little better we're doing something. Although I'm not sure what we're aiming for and what the likeliness of achieving it is... my guess is we're aiming for stability/slowing and I'm hoping the odds are high it'll have an effect. I just feel good to know that SOMETHING is happening, as it grows so fast and is pushing on my liver and not too far from my spine.
In other news, my oncologist agreed to talk to my surgeon again. I'm not getting my hopes up about it at all (well maybe a little). I just asked if he would consider having a go as everything else was stable and this big blob is going to kill me. So can't we just take it out? Its bigger than when he said he 'could' take it out though so who knows. I'd be losing at least four ribs but thats what he said before. Anyway, thats a turn up for the books :)
Its Robins birthday next month, which will also be five years since diagnosis. Which is amazing. I remember when he was a few weeks old and they were saying it was terminal, saying, I just wish I could be here till he's five, see him go to school, hear him talk, interact with him... and i've got to do all of those things! And he might even remember me now. We've had an amazing five years and made some beautiful memories (and took some good pictures just in case he forgets). Although he's not at school, we deferred him for some extra family time, which I think we're both really happy about! But yeah, fifth birthday party organisation in full flow. We've also booked a huge house in the highlands for christmas, so we can spend it with all the family. I'm so excited about this, and very happy Robin will have some company his own age on christmas eve to get all excited with like I did with my siblings :)
Life is good. (and crap)
x
I really hope it does something. My tumour was on the inside last time, now that I can feel it growing on the outside its quite scary, to watch it grow and know I'm not doing anything to stop it. As of yesterday we started RT so I feel a little better we're doing something. Although I'm not sure what we're aiming for and what the likeliness of achieving it is... my guess is we're aiming for stability/slowing and I'm hoping the odds are high it'll have an effect. I just feel good to know that SOMETHING is happening, as it grows so fast and is pushing on my liver and not too far from my spine.
In other news, my oncologist agreed to talk to my surgeon again. I'm not getting my hopes up about it at all (well maybe a little). I just asked if he would consider having a go as everything else was stable and this big blob is going to kill me. So can't we just take it out? Its bigger than when he said he 'could' take it out though so who knows. I'd be losing at least four ribs but thats what he said before. Anyway, thats a turn up for the books :)
Its Robins birthday next month, which will also be five years since diagnosis. Which is amazing. I remember when he was a few weeks old and they were saying it was terminal, saying, I just wish I could be here till he's five, see him go to school, hear him talk, interact with him... and i've got to do all of those things! And he might even remember me now. We've had an amazing five years and made some beautiful memories (and took some good pictures just in case he forgets). Although he's not at school, we deferred him for some extra family time, which I think we're both really happy about! But yeah, fifth birthday party organisation in full flow. We've also booked a huge house in the highlands for christmas, so we can spend it with all the family. I'm so excited about this, and very happy Robin will have some company his own age on christmas eve to get all excited with like I did with my siblings :)
Life is good. (and crap)
x
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