Contributors

15 November - Hospital appointment

Two posts in a week! What's going on?

I had an appointment at the Radiotherapy and Oncology department at Carlisle Infirmary today. It was a brief consultation just to check on how I am.

The good news is that I will have a new MRI scan in two months time. Then we will go up to Carlisle again to get the results. Something to look forward to in the new year! Really. I really would like to know what this tumour is doing.

I asked if I could reapply for my driving licence yet. The doctor said I would have to wait until after the scan, as there is not enough information to go on at the moment. That would really be something if I could get my licence back early next year!

While we were waiting for our transport back home one of the nurses approached me and asked if I would mind taking part in a research project they are working on to try to find out if there is a gene that is associated with cancer or particular types of cancer. Of course I agreed. I owe such a lot to the doctors, nurses and especially the cancer researchers who are advancing our knowledge of this disease that I am glad to help in any way I can.

13 November - Gallstones

No news is good news. For the last couple of months life has been getting back to normal - or at least as near normal as it is possible to be without having a car. Sorry to harp on about this but if you have never been forced to live without a car - assuming you don't live in a city where there is public transport - then you cannot know just how limiting it is, and I hope you never have to.

I learned this morning that I have gallstones. A blood test had shown a raised level that indicated a possible liver problem. I went for an ultrasound scan last week and the GP got the results this morning. My liver is fine but the scan showed the gallstones. Apparently the best course of action is to do nothing and hope that they don't cause any problems because treatment involves quite a big operation.

I have an appointment to see the oncologist in a couple of days' time. I'm not expecting to learn anything new  as I haven't had any tests. Olga and I are hoping that I will get an appointment for an MRI scan as we would like to know what the tumour is doing.