Daz's Almost Daily Dose

Check-up 5

2009-11-25T18:40:00.001Z

Down to Aberdeen Infirmary for the usual blood tests and gland fondling. Everything's in order once again. However, a trip down to the quacks the following day to whinge about stomach pains had them drawing more blood to check for stomach bacteria which may spell the onset of of an ulcer.
Results a few days later showed no sign of the offending bacteria and my stomach pains are probably due to excess acid, tablets dispensed!
Interestingly (to me), the blood tests revealed my thyroid levels are borderline low (probably due to the radiotherapy on the throat). More blood has since been taken to double check the levels. Results and remedy to follow.....

Check-up #4

2009-03-30T13:35:00.004Z

Another one in the bag, all appears to be good. Saw the actual consultant for the first time since the all clear instead of one of his lackies!! He said that as it is nearly two years since the all clear and there has been no relapse since, there is only a very small chance that it will come back - woohoo!!!!
Celebrated this weekend with far too much real ale and even more boo-jolly noovoe, great to see wor David for a few days, we made this video.........

Check-up #3

2008-09-03T17:03:00.001Z

The third check-up of my six monthlies (17 to go!) saw the usual gland groping and blood sacrifice with nowt to report other than still 100% healthy.
Life is fully back to normal and I'm seldom reminded that I had cancer at all apart from these check-ups!!
Next one in March '09................gan canny.

Check-up #2

2008-03-06T08:44:00.009Z

Just back from the hospital and official cancer check-up #2. The doc's were running late so I had to endure a 90 minute wait in a sweltering waiting room hoachin' with OAP's.
Just like during my cancer treatment, I was the youngest in there by atleast 20 years, and I'm no spring chicken! Is this a sign of what we can all expect in old age - if it doesn't get you when you're young it'll come knockin' when you're about to enjoy your retirement - I hope I'm wrong.
Anyhoo, sacrificed the usual claret which had been analysed by the time I was summoned to see the doc. Another junior, I haven't seen my specialist since the 'all clear'. He gave me a quick 'once over' and whipped around my glands (oooer missus). My bloods were normal and I left with another all clear, 'fine figure of a man, you're never 43', etc, etc...........
Next check-up in September. Back to the painting........
......and the golf!!

'Satisfactory'

2008-01-29T16:49:00.000Z

That was it, one word from the receptionist when I rang up the quacks yesterday to enquire about the blood test results............. 'satisfactory'. That'll do me, I think. Then again, the only real way to test if the Hodge has returned is to biopsy any lumps, I don't have any of those either so lets not go there.
Next proper check-up at the hopital is in March.
So 'til then.......................

Owld Cow......

2008-01-24T16:47:00.000Z

Off to the quacks this morning for a set of blood samples. Having already been down to Inverurie to handball over a tonne of firewood into the tranny van, I then dashed up the road to make the 10.20 appointment. Looking rather disheveled and with a bad case of bed-head, I was summoned by the nurse. She obviously took an instant dislike to the scruff before her. She gave me that 'Matrons' eye, with a look to suggest I was one of our newly welcomed (ahem!) Eastern block cousins, recently arrived to fleece our already overburdened NHS, but after exchanging a few pleasantries it became obvious to her that I am indeed a Geordie which did little to soften the dogs arse pucker around her lips. Her contempt eased the choice of implement as she selected the largest needle she could find - not much smaller than a knitting needle, and was soon jabbing at my quickly retreating veins. I sacrificed four tubes of blood before the needle was sloooowly removed, yep it hurt like hell (soft shite). With a surly 'that's you' I was on my way home to stack the timber I procured earlier.
Results on Monday.........

Worried

2008-01-15T09:23:00.000Z

I've had this bloody cold and chest infection for over 6 weeks, even had a course of anti-biotics to little effect. More ominously, in recent weeks I've felt a little 'gladular' particularly around by biopsy site and also more tired than usual - pretty much how I felt when I was diagnosed!!! And get this, the hair on my face which stopped growing when I had the radiotherapy has stopped growing again! Hope this is just some sort of radiotherapy flashback and nowt more serious.

So to be on the safe side, I'll be off to the quacks when I get home from offshore on Wednesday for a full round of blood tests etc.........

Fingers crossed!

Check-up #1

2007-09-05T17:10:00.001Z

Back in hospital today for what I was expecting to be my first of four 3 monthly check-up's. After giving me an all too brief once over, the doc told me (after admiring my six pack) I was a fine figure of a man and the 3 monthly's would not be required!! Next check-up will be in March 2008. After refusing one of my six pack (he's a tea totaler) the doc sent me on my way for a blood test and then home.
By the way, the picture isn't me.......honest!
For some hilarity, check this Still game clip, sooooperb!
Weigh-in tomorrow, check the lardy-blog for details.

All Clear.....................again!

2007-08-01T20:12:00.000Z

Blood test results are in and there's nowt going on inside me that there shouldn't be - woohoo!! The lump on the roof of my gob has also started to reduce in size, so hopefully that will be the end of that. Also the painkillers I'm now on are doing the business, can't feel a thing plus I'm sleeping 11 hours a night - bonus! Nothing more to add really, everything is looking positive again and long may it continue.
Next 3 monthly check-up with the hematologist - 2 weeks.

Tired arse..............

2007-07-28T14:24:00.000Z

Arrived back home yesterday morning, just off nightshift so I had a quick couple of hours kip before my afternoon appointment at the quacks. My specialist had been in touch with the Doc to confirm my skin problems are related to the radiotherapy. Apparently the radio treatment endures for several months after the actual zapping!! The treatment has damaged the nerves in the vertebrae just below the skull which has caused the burning sensation on my arms back chest and head. Like the hair loss it could be permanent in some people, but as my hair has just started to grow back the skin problem should heal with time. My arms are no longer a problem but along the spine, across the top of my head and the left side of my dish are pretty bad just now.
I've been prescribed an unusual pain killer usually prescribed to epileptics and those recovering from shingles!! It is very strong and I have to be weaned onto it over 9 days - its biggest side effect is drowsiness which I proved last night. Took a pill just before bedtime and slept for 12 hours. Not bad after coming off 9 night shifts!
They will keep an eye on the lump in my mouth but will have a better idea when the blood test results come in - Monday.

Och ma heed!!

2007-07-26T22:17:00.000Z

Struggled along offshore for over a week now with little respite from the skin burning. Although the pain in my arms has lessened the sensations have spread over the top of my turnip and down the left side of my face and appears to be getting more painful by the day.
The doc suspects a virus or nerve damage in the spinal cord and I'm being sent home tomorrow to give blood so they can rule out anything more sinister - more sick leave!!!. I've also developed a sore lump on the roof of my mouth which after a week shows no sign of shifting, might be just an ulcer but needs checking.

Hopefully it will all turn out to be nothing more than chemo/radio hangover and maybe doing a bit too much too soon! Felt knackered these last few days.

Stay tuned..................

Bronzer???

2007-07-15T09:22:00.000Z

Just when things were on the up, something weird has happened.
Over a week ago I developed a small patch of sore skin near my left elbow. Over the week this has spread to cover both arms, halfway down my back and across the top of my chest and shoulders. This is becoming more painful each day and is now feels like bad sunburn - although it certainly isn't that as we've had no sun so far this summer and I haven't had my tits oot in years! But, there is nothing to see, no rash, redness, swelling, dry skin, nowt!! Very strange.
Went to the quacks on Friday, Doc S thinks it may be nerve damage within the spinal cord due to the radiotherapy. Why it is happening now and not during the treatment is a mystery. They will consult with my hematologist this week to try and shed some light.
Due back offshore on Wednesday, not too sure how long I'll last if this keeps up or gets worse!!
Don't forget, the lard-arse challenge starts tomorrow - bronzer permitting.

Been Graftin'

2007-07-09T19:40:00.000Z

From the very start of this Hodgkin's nightmare, I'd always planned to return to work in June. And that's exactly what happened - albeit on light duties and only for a week. Nearly didn't make it though, unbeknown to me, my offshore survival had expired in May and there was some hurried string pulling going on behind the scenes to ensure I was booked on a refresher the day before I was due offshore. Also had the not so small matter of getting through the company medical and convincing the doc I was up to the task. Successfully passed the medical on Monday, got through the survival refresher on Tuesday, made it offshore on Wednesday. An easy week of paper shuffling and now back at home for a couple of weeks leave - you can't buy a job like this'un!!

The Hodge blog will soon be taking a back seat to my Lard Arse blog which I will be starting this Monday. I'll now only update this blog with details of my future check-ups and any scan results.
If you've been a regular reader, thanks for the interest and I hope my experiences have helped and will continue to help future sufferers.

My next challenge is to lose about four stones of blubber in a year - fellow dieters go here.
Everyone else, get back to work..............................

'There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes'

Stand by ya beds.....................

2007-06-18T18:13:00.000Z

You might have noticed that my posts have dried up a bit, that's because there's nowt much going on in the Hally household. Spent the last couple of weeks assembling the entire Ikea showroom in the house and turning the garage into a workshop, and that's about it!
One big occasion did happen a week last Friday. It was my boy Lewis's passing out parade from his 14 weeks of basic training in the REME - probably the proudest moment of my life, it was a top day apart from the stress of just making the various planes trains and automobiles that took us from Aberdeen to Surrey and back again in the same day. We've shown him the delights of Aberdeenshire this week and even took in a distillery tour up in Dufftown (its better than it sounds) before his return to Phase 2 training yesterday - this time he's away for 14 months.

Worraboot the cancer?? Now officially in remission, I spoke to the company doc today and I'm booked in for an offshore medical next Monday which might see me return to offshore on the following Wednesday which will draw a line once and for all under this cancer shite. Still got the large baldy patch on the back of my turnip and I'm still only shaving one side of my bracket but they say it will grow back......eventually. I hope its soon, I quite fancy one of those rascal tashes!

The tranny van has got to go! It's paid for itself many times over and has done a load of good work for me but last weeks indiscretion means it's time is up. I was invited to a meeting last week at my company's swanky recreation facility in Aberdeen. The car developed a last minute puncture so I had to take the van. There was a large conference going on at the facility and the usual car park was full and I was directed into the overspill car park which is basically a large well manicured sloping lawn sometimes used for pitch and putt. After the meeting I returned to the van to make my way home. Could I get the van up the slope? Could I bollox! Thirty minutes of revving, skidding and sliding around the lawn, flushed with anger and embarrassment, I was about to give up and ask the security blokes for a push when the old skip decided to behave itself and make for the exit, but by then, the damage was done. I had single handedly turned the lawns into a demolition derby skid pan - although this goes no further than you, dear reader.

The lard-arse challenge will be starting soon, after I get back to the graft.

Thanks to all for your comments and emails, I'll get some replies sent shortly - been having a bit of bother with the old broadband, now sorted.

Did I say there's nowt much going on? Cheerybye!

Relapse, don't do it, when you wanna go to it...

2007-06-02T08:36:00.000Z

Yoohoo, seem like nice boys!!!!
Went to see my new haematologist the other day - Doc C. He gave me a quick once over to check for swollen lymph nodes, thankfully none were found. I asked him about the likely hood of a relapse which is always possible with any cancer but especially with the Hodge. For a bloke of my age and condition (ripped!!) I have roughly 85% chance of cure - that's about 1 in 7 chance of relapse. I must admit, relapse has been on my mind quite a bit since I was told I had the all clear, I keep getting the odd twinge in my neck around the biopsy site and often mistake the small scar tissue lump for for a swollen node with a corresponding leap of dread in my chest until I realise that its nowt to worry aboot. I'm now on the lymphoma follow-up program and my next appointment is in three months time.
I'll soon be paying the company doc a visit and will hopefully be back among the graft in a few weeks.
The tranny van is now sorted and stops like a new'un, so we'll be making the arduous journey down the road to Ikea in Edinburgh (nowt but quality in this house) tomorrow - we're only going for the hotdog's.
Yesterday, we watched the herd of bulls stampeding away from our house and across the horizon, not immediately realizing they were being chased by our Yorkshire terrier - hilarious!!!

Settling in.............

2007-05-26T07:47:00.000Z

It's over a week since my last post and the time has flown by, seems like only a couple of days. The antibiotics have done the business and I'm now able to swallow solid food so I'm back on the Ruby Murray's and the chinkees. Still got the thyroid lump and my new doc is referring me to a specialist - but thinks it will sort itself in time. My latest blood test showed normal blood counts and near normal thyroid levels although the TSH is still low.
Got my first cancer follow up appointment with my new haemotologist in Aberdeen on 31st May, then probably every 3 months for a year or two and then 6 monthly for the next 10 years-ish.

Had a hair raising journey from Ardrossan in the overloaded tranny van the other day. The front brake pads collapsed only a few miles out from Ardrossan, so had to make the journey up to Aberdeen with the handbrake only - doh!!! Had one or two 'tanner-shillin' moments with some near rear end shunts - ooer, but eventually arrived safe and sound - Tranny's off the road now, waiting for bits and the drivers seat requires a valet!

Settling into the new house well, everything is superb at the moment apart from the Starlings that are nesting in the chimney - my trigger finger is getting itchy!!!

Thoughts go out to Chris, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's shortly after my own diagnosis. His post chemo PET scan has come out positive with some residual disease, so he has to undergo further chemo. Stick with it matey, we'll soon have this cracked!

Moooooved

2007-05-18T12:16:00.000Z

We're now on a temporary dial up connection until our broadband is up 'n truckin in the next week or two. Blog updates might be sporadic!
Moved into the new house on the 15th, everything went sweet and we're now busy emptying what seems like a thousand boxes! The house backs onto a field full of cows which stampede towards the house when the dogs start barking where they remain for an hour or two looking over the fence and scratching themselves on our wheelie bins.

Haven't eaten anything for twelve days now, my throat has been pure hell and I've demolished a couple of boxes of painkillers which give only slight respite. Went to the quacks the day before move day who suggested the pain was due to thrush, which apparently is common in chemo patients. The medicine prescribed has had no effect so I was at my new doctors yesterday where he suggested it might be strep throat and so prescribed an antibiotic which after only a day seems to be having an effect, might be eating normally next week. Lost 17lbs of blubber so far!
The doc suggested my blood counts might be low, so I also had a blood test while I was there, results on Monday.
Back to the unpacking........................

Radiotherapy - Week 3

2007-05-12T07:18:00.000Z

This week has easily been the worst week of my adult life!! Even worse than my baddest chemo days. I haven't eaten anything since last Monday and even drinking water is pure torture. My throat is extremely sore and swollen and I have been told that this will persist for another two weeks before getting better. I've had no sleep for the last two nights either and I'm vomiting on occasion due to the swelling stimulating my gag reflex. On the bright side - if there is one, the radiotherapy is now complete and I've dropped 9 lbs of lard this week.
I'd expected these side effects, but me being a bad-arse thought I'd just shrug them off as usual but how wrong was I? I'm rattling with pain killers, I'm even on oral morphine but none of it is doing any good.
I also have a large bald patch on the back of my head which, as you can see looks fantastic!
My bowels have seized up due to no food, haven't had a Tom Tit for 5 days.

The blood test taken to check my thyroid function shows it is not producing the normal levels of T4 hormone - hence the sudden weight gain, but further, my pituitary gland is not producing enough TSH hormone to stimulate the thyroid. This may all be hangover from the chemo and is now being walloped by the radio. I am being referred to an endocrinologist when I get to Aberdeen. If its not one thing, its summink else!!!

Apart from that, everything's champion!!!!
More whinging to follow......................................

Radiotherapy - Week 2

2007-05-04T16:08:00.000Z

Two weeks down, one to go. This week was pretty much like the first, plenty of window shopping around Glasgae, seemed to have spent most of the week reading magazines in Borders bookshop.
One side effect is kicking in big time - my throat is as sore as a mackem caught up the Toon, and it's getting difficult to swallow solids just now, by next week will probably be on liquidised food, last nights zinger was torture!! Also getting a bit of a suntan on one side of my face and neck.
Saw the consultant on Wednesday, discussed my Thyroid and took a blood sample to checks its function - will find out result next Wednesday, it's still very swollen and is causing additional problems when swallowing.
The silver lining of the throat problems is that I'm off my food and feel like I've dropped a few pounds this week. Chins are down from four to three and I appear to have only one arse!!
Went to the flicks last night to see 'This is England', set in the 80's, it's about the skinhead culture of the time - worth a watch, especially if the cinema has Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia - brilliant for a raggy throat!!
Got home this afternoon on the 1230 boat.

Thyroid

2007-04-30T06:31:00.000Z

Been doing a bit of surfing to find out what the large swelling is in my throat, just below my Adam's apple. I've had this swelling since the start of chemo in January. It comes and goes but is usually always there and is even more prevalent since the start of radiotherapy.
The lump is my thyroid gland and when swollen usually means it is not functioning correctly. The thyroid is responsible for regulating metabolism and when not functioning can lead to weight gain and fatigue among other symtoms - I knew it wasn't the pies!!! I'll bring this up with Doc F on Wednesday. A blood test/needle biopsy (woohoo) will confirm its function and can be substituted with thyroid hormone replacement therapy, although I think they won't entertain this until the radio is finished in two weeks. Off to the mainland today for Radio week 2, see ya Friday........................

Radiotherapy - Week 1

2007-04-27T13:55:00.000Z

Two words sum up this week.................bored shitless!!!
No internet (so no blogging) for a week as there was no suitable connection available in the hotel.
Arrived at the New Beatson Hospital on Monday - Treatment room H. This hospital is brand new and the equipment has been recently commissioned but still has a few teething problems as I was to find out later in the week. I was soon called into the treatment room which was more like the internals of the Enterprise - loads of impressively gleaming equipment, flashing lights, lasers and VDU's. Prostrate and shackled to to the bed via my mask the radiotherapy machine went about its business of buzzing then rotating and further buzzing. In less than two minutes I was done, no pain (no gain) or other sensations at all. The volunteer driver service turned up after a few minutes and whisked me into the city for my first of four nights in the Jury's Hotel. Apart from the occasional delay due to equipment faults, each day was much like the first and I whiled most of my days away window shopping. I have to admit to doing something that I swore I never would! I've been forced into shelling out for the largest pair of jeans I've ever bought - 38" waist - doh!!! I was just so fed up with my elasticated jogger bottoms (chav pants) that I've admitted defeat to my ever growing waistline. I still feel like I'm getting bigger even though I've hardly eaten this week (hotel food is grim) due to no appetite - although I had a one-off visit to KFC last night for a zinger after a rare trip to the cinema - Shooter, superb!!! But fear not dear reader for I am planning a new blog - Daz's battle against the bulge. Two more radiotherapy groundhog weeks to go, then the new Battle will start - drop 4 stone in 52 weeks - easy, easy!!
Back to the therapy. Starting to suffer the sore throat they warned me about, getting worse each day, also after day 2 I developed a sore swelling on the zap site just below my ear which went away overnight. Apart from that, nothing else to report although I'm getting a tan on one side of my face! Now washing with baby soap and shampoo until further notice - Doc's orders.
Back home Friday afternoon.

Sssssssmokin'.............

2007-04-17T17:30:00.000Z

There are occasions in life when you encounter things that make you say 'you don't see that everyday', today was one of those days!
Another trip abroad, this time to a new hospital for me, The Beatson Oncology Centre - Glasgow, for pre-radiotherapy shenanigans. Left Arran on the first ferry, arrived at Beatson 1045 - traffic was horrendous! Hung around the waiting room for an hour before being summoned into the 'Mold Room'. Here I was to have a mask custom fitted to my turnip for what I mistakenly thought was to protect my head from the X-rays, not so, it is purely to keep my head and neck rigid while being zapped. After stripping down in front of several onlookers I climbed aboard a CT scan type bed which had a neck support at one end. They made several attempts to raise the bed with the electric jack but my gargantuan weight was too much for the feeble motor and I had to get off the bed while they raised it to the correct height. The onlookers, now five in number, eyed me with fattist distaste for nearly breaking their machine while I tried to hide my threpenny bits and ample gut, it was like trying to juggle jelly - I wasn't embarrassed at all......not! Back on the bed they showed me a large sheet of thick plastic which had clips around three sides and a small hole in the middle - this would eventually be my mask. The sheet was heated in water then stretched over my face, neck and shoulders then clipped to the bed. Then, what felt like a dozen hands pressed the flaccid plastic into every nook and cranny, eventually molding into the shape of my face. After cooling, the now rigid mask was un-clipped and removed, I got dressed and returned to the waiting room. This was one of those moments in life, the whole experience was just bizarre!

Later I was summoned to the CT scan room where I once again 'got me tits oot', had the new mask fitted and a full CT scan then ensued. This allowed them to pinpoint the tumour sites and mark them onto the mask for targeting the radiotherapy machine. All done, I was again dressed and shown to a side room to see the consultant.
Dr F explained the radiotherapy process and told me I was getting a larger field of therapy than I was expecting. She also explained the side effects I would probably get:
Severly sore throat after about two weeks - may not be able to eat for a week or more - woohoo!!!
Loss of salivary gland function - may be permanent
Loss of thyroid gland function - may be permanent
Loss of facial hair on one side - for several months
Loss of chest hair - I knew that Hasselhoff chest wig would come in handy
Stop me if its getting boring.........
Loss of hair on the back of my head - what the hell's that gonna look like - Frair Friggin' Tuck!!!
The only good news out of this is that I am getting only three weeks of therapy and will be complete before our house move.
With all that good news ringing in my ears, I was soon on my way back to Ardrossan for the 1515 ferry.

Big thanks this time to NACC (North Ayrshire Cancer Care) for the taxi duties. NACC are a voluntary organisation who's main role is to provide transport for cancer patients around North Ayrshire. They exist purely on public donations and income from a few charity shops they operate and have about forty volunteer drivers - Jim, many thanks.

I might be out of the woods, but there's still a few trees to negotiate.

Tale of the tape

2007-04-15T16:22:00.000Z

For any fellow sufferers out there who don't want to wade through the blurb to see how this all started and what the time scale was between diagnosis and cure etc. Here's a fairly accurate timeline of events.......................

Nov '06 to Apr '07 - Gained 19lbs (8.6kgs) of lard - doh!!

September 2006 - Noticed small lump on left side of neck
September to December 2006 - Felt more tired than usual (if that's possible!!)
5/12/06 - Went to see doctor about lump on neck, also found small lumps just below left collar bone.
07/12/06 - Full blood test and chest X-ray
08/12/06 - Surgeon confirmed swollen lymph nodes in neck and suspect groin
14/12/06 - Check up with E, N&T consultant - needle biopsy on neck lump
20/12/06 - Officially on sick from work
21/12/06 - Result of needle biopsy, not enough material gathered to give meaningful result, lump requires full biopsy.
27/12/06 - Neck lump removed under general anaesthetic
04/01/07 - Diagnosed Hodgkin's disease
10/01/07 - Admitted to hospital to begin staging tests - Heart scan, ECG, lung function, bone marrow.
11/01/07 - CT scan
17/01/07 - Full staged diagnosis - Hodgkin's Type 2B - nodular sclerosing - Small tumours in neck and between lungs (1.5cm). Later downgraded to type 2A
18/01/07 - First of six fortnightly infusions of ABVD chemotherapy
27/03/07 - CT scan
29/03/07 - Last ABVD infusion
04/04/07 - PET scan
12/04/07 - All clear
17/04/07 - Pre-radiotherapy CT scan and mask fitting
23/04/07 - Commence 3 weeks radiotherapy
11/05/07 - Radiotherapy complete - Large bald patch on back of head - Officially in remission?
June/July '07 - Back to work?

Hodgkin's has left the building!!!

2007-04-12T13:13:00.000Z

Off the island on the first ferry and into Crosshouse for 0940hrs. I must admit I was starting to feel nervous as it was just dawning why I was here. I hadn't really thought about it until now, I wasn't here for the chemo this time, it's my PET scan result I'd come to hear. My 1000hrs appointment came and went and I was eventually called in at 1020hrs, thoses extra 20 minutes seemed like hours!
Doc E didn't beat about the bush and told me what every cancer sufferer wants to hear, I was all clear - woohooooooo!!!! The tumours are dead and there was no evidence of any hodgkin's disease.
This life changing news is still sinking in, only a few weeks of precautionary radiotherapy to endure than I'll have my life back! I might indulge myself in a wee swally tonight.
Thanks to everyone for your messages of support, keep on checking the blog as I've still got radio stuff to report and the all important 3 & 6 monthly check ups - for the next 10 years!

'Crosshouse no more,
Chemo no more,
Blood tests no more,
Shite no more'

D-Day approaches

2007-04-09T10:52:00.000Z

By now, my CT and PET scan results should be in the hands of my consultants who will hopefully find that my tumours are dead and all there is left to do is zap me with a bit of radiotherapy. I'm summoned to Crosshouse this coming Thursday to find out the actual results. Fingers, toes etc, crossed.
Chemo#6 is well and truly behind me now, the only remaining side effect is a sore mouth from the low blood count.
Yesterday I managed my first 9 holes of golf this year, and not surprisingly, I've still got the magic;)
Back on the bike today, got to shift some of this 19 pounds of blubber I've put on since the start of all this shite!! Might even give the rower a bash - not been on that since November.

Next post - Thursday (Daz Day)!!

'Ice
Your only rivers run cold
These city lights
They shine as silver and gold
Dug from the night
Your eyes as black as coal'

Concluded Massives!!

2007-04-07T16:12:00.000Z

There's a big weight off our shoulders as all the legal stuff has been completed for both the house we are selling and the house we are buying - so that's us contractually bound and just waiting to move - Roll on the 15th of May!!
New house pictured - luxury!!

auf wiedersehen PET

2007-04-04T17:51:00.000Z

It's a long way to go for a couple of hours in hospital but it might be one of the most important things I do in my life, so yesterday I was up to Aberdeen for my much vaunted PET scan. Took the first ferry, just made all the connections and arrived 10 minutes ahead of schedule. I was soon taken into the ward and shown into a small room where they administered a radioactive tracer via an injection into my arm. I was told to lie still for 1 hour while the stuff did its thing. 1 hour later I was strapped into the only PET scanner in Scotland and told to not move a muscle for 45 minutes (its harder than you think!). The table on which I was strapped moved in and out of the giant donut ('mmm donuts') and 45 minutes later I was done to a tee and sent on my way. Results should be with my consultant next week.
Because I had been fasting since the previous night, I was absolutely starvin', so I was soon sailin' down the Yangtze River for half an aromatic crispy duck followed by the always superb honey chilli chicken - all to mesel'. Later lying in the hotel like a beached whale full of regret because I couldn't get to sleep as I'd over-eaten.............again!
Went down the office today to give company doctor the full SP (Starting Price - its not a disease). Bumped into a couple of familiar faces, felt quite reassured to see I was not the only fat b******d down there!!
Back home on the 1515 boat.

The big 43...............

2007-04-01T08:26:00.000Z

Fit like loons?
As birthday's go, it's not one of my best, got a full chemo radgee on just noo. But, now there's a glimmer of light at the end of tunnel, I'm sure there'll be many more birthday's to come to make up for this'un.

Anyhoo, managed to stave off the worst of the hangover yesterday to complete a car boot sale down at Whiting Bay. Got rid of most of the junk we'd been hoarding over the years, made the fat end of 300 quid, pity the stuff cost me about 5 grand in the first place!

Got my official dates for the radiotherapy treatment (although I'm not sure how they've arrived here yet when I have not yet had my PET scan). Beatson Oncology Centre, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, latest dates - 23/4/07 to 21/5/07 (not including weekends). Trouble with these dates are that we are due to move house on the 15/5 so this might shove a huge spanner in the works and I can see some costly negotiations going on - more kerfuffle! Hopefully I'll only need the 3 weeks of radio, so it might all be over by the big day! Good news about the hotel, I'll be staying at The Jury's Inn in the city centre - nae bad at all. If your in the city during this time, give me a shout, I might be up for a light swally - kryptonite side effects permitting!

Hopefully, soon after these dates I'll be back in the Batcopter on route to the rigs......... (thats me by the way, aboot 40 years ago!!)

Chemo#6

2007-03-29T21:30:00.000Z

What a bloody week! Monday's gruelling commute for nowt, another commute for a CT scan on Tuesday, more jabs and blood tests (Monday and Wednesday) and today, another blood test because my Wednesday count was still low. Blood test OK, back in the big chair for what I'm still hoping is my last voluntary poisoning. That's seven needles this week!!
Had the usual 2 hour wait while being hydrated through a saline IV line. Infusion started at 1300, all done by 1500.
Appointment for two weeks time to discuss the results of my recent CT and next weeks PET scan.
Back home on the last ferry. Lauchy - you da man!
Found a snap of the top team during a long weekend in Amsterdam in healthier times!
Tastes buds are numbing, looks like this one is kicking in already, see you on the other side.........

'And all the drugs in the world
Cant save us from ourselves
Victims with the saddest hearts
Passing by the grace of god
There by the grace of god'

Zap..............

2007-03-26T21:38:00.000Z

Spent the best summer's day of the year so far commuting around Ayrshire for what turned out to be something they could have told me over the phone in 5 minutes!! Left home at 10:00, arrived back home at 19:30 - time with consultant - 15 minutes, he didn't even examine me.
Upshot is, they will give me 3 or 4 weeks of radiotherapy based on the result of next weeks PET scan. May commence treatment on 16th April although our move 'up north' may complicate matters if the treatment is delayed for some reason. I also have to go for another CAT scan one week before radiotherapy so they can pin-point the tumours and also custom fit a lead mask to cover most of my neck and face - so they don't zap the bits they don't need to. One of the side affects he mentioned was they would zap my thyroid gland (it gets in the way) which means it may not function for a few months after treatment - may not function at all. The thyroid gland regulated the body's metabolism amongst other things - so a non-functioning gland turns you into a fat b******d. I'm already a fat b******d so I'm not wanting that. Probably be on thyroid replacement pills for a few months or even life! Also might be staying on the ward for the treatment rather than the hotel - apparently I'm better off on the ward as the hotel sounds like some DSS dive - can't be having that, I have my standards!!
Its always a joy when arriving at Crosshouse hospital (I'm sure its the same across the country) to be greeted by a cohort of sickly looking individuals who stand outside of the main entrance, dressed in pyjamas, dressing gowns and slippers - all puffing on Regal King size. Baaaaaasssstttaaaarrrrddsss!!!!!! I could go off on a rant here but have a few Ebay parcels to wrap!
Until next time dear reader...............

'Radio is a sound salvation
Radio is cleaning up the nation
They say you better listen to the voice of reason
But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think that it's treason
So you had better do as you are told
You better listen to the radio'

Hellish...........

2007-03-23T16:00:00.000Z

Well folks, another week of chemo hell behind me. It definitely gets worse the longer it goes on, as this has certainly been my worst week since treatment began. All the usual symptoms but worse and longer lasting. Gladly this chemo#5 nightmare is nearly at an end as I'm starting to feel OK again, even managed a short bike ride yesterday. Spent most of today sorting out the junk I've collected in the garage over the last 6 years - probably shift most of it at the car boot sale next Saturday (Chemo#6 hangover permitting). That's about as busy as its been since chemo#5, spent most of the time curled up in the house wishing my life away! Also passed the time selling junk on eBay, its amazing what people will buy.

Next week will be busy with three hospital visits, plus the usual blood tests and GF jabs and of course what I'm hoping to be my last treatment - chemo#6. After the bad week I've just had, I'm not sure how I'd cope with being told I have another 3 months of chemo to come - so I'm just focusing on being positive that my scans are negative. Date just in for PET scan - 3/4/07.

Got a confirmed date for moving house. We should be off the island by 15th May 2007. I'm hoping I can get going with the radiotherapy soon so I can be all done by move day, otherwise its gonna be a right kerfuffle!

Doctor Daz's sure-fire cure for chemo induced nausea has been superseded. Gone are the cream eggs (gone right off them) and I am now mostly eating Mr Kiplin's cakes (all of them, but especially cherry bakewells) and home-made corned beef and potato pie - with plenty of HP sauce, mmmmmm,m.

Starting to feel lively again, better get on that bike before it wears off!
Cheerio the noo!!!!

'If only I don't bend and break
I'll meet you on the other side
I'll meet you in the light
If only I don't suffocate
I'll meet you in the morning
When you wake................'

Quickie

2007-03-17T11:46:00.000Z

Just a quick update for ya. Had a few bits of news yesterday. Two appointments at Crosshouse for next week - Monday to see the radiographer to sort out my next phase of treatment and Tuesday for a CAT scan to check the tumours have diminished prior to PET scan in Aberdeen. Not forgetting another trip to Crosshouse on Thursday for Chemo#6.

Best news of the day though is our offer for the house at Old Rayne (near Inverurie) has been accepted - move-in date somewhere around 15th May 2007 - woohoo!!!!

Lip up fatty, ah lip up fatty, for the reggae,
Lip up fatty, ah lip up fatty, for the reggae,
Listen to the music, shuffle up your feet,
Listen to the music of the fatty beat.

Chemo#5

2007-03-15T19:41:00.000Z

Another two blood tests and two Neupogen jabs on Monday and Wednesday ensured my blood counts were as good as they were going to be this morning. First ferry across the water and up to Crosshouse for 0945. A quick chat with Doc E who told me I would be spending my radiotherapy time in a hotel as they can't have me travelling home each day - 4 weeks in a hotel - bloody hell, if I had hair I would be pulling it out with boredom. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. The doc seemed confident my PET scan in a few weeks will be negative, easy for him!
Walked into the ward and guess what, the boys were still watching the girls who were watching the boys who were watching the girls go by - da daaa da da - Aaaaarrrghh! Shortly followed by some Perry Chemo - heh heh! Just as well I'd brought my MP3 player and I was soon on a Highway to Hell.
In the big chair for 1015, hooked up to the saline IV, hopeful of an early infusion and back home on the 1515 ferry. My hopes were again dashed, same as Chemo#4 when the drugs didn't turn up until 1300!!! Infusion commenced 1315, all done by 1450 - Slackers!
The big comfy chairs have a recliner facility which one can ease back into an extremely comfortable 3/4 reclined position although after several hours of blissful recumbence, the vinyl covering doesn't half make one's arse sweaty. After five hours I had what the Queen would describe as an Anus Horriblis!
Back home on the 1800 ferry.
Big thanks again to Lauchy and Moira for the taxi service and the hospitality - you're the best.
Feeling a bit sick the noo, not sure if its the chemo kicking in already or watching the Toon get humped in Europe!
Keep up with the comments or you won't be invited to Daz is Cured/Hoose warming party.
Nighty night.............

Had to cool me down To take another round
Now I'm back in the ring to take another swing
'Cause the walls were shaking The earth was quaking
My mind was aching And we were making it and you
Shook me all night long............

What goes around..................

2007-03-12T08:30:00.000Z

Just back from a stressful two days up North East Scotland. Only two houses to view which were both crackers but 60 miles apart. Friday saw us in a place called Craigo, viewing a steading conversion - we immediately put a bid in via our solicitor, only to be told it had already been sold!!! What the hell are they playing at??? A bit pissed off, we were back in Montrose for an overnight stay at the Park Hotel. The hotel car park was full when we returned from the restaurant so I parked in front of the annexe where we were lodging. Got up in the morning to find one of my car tyres had been slashed - probably by the bloke who lives next door to the annexe who runs a taxi service and parks his cars where I parked mine. Revenge will be sweet. My wallet was soon lightened to the tune of £104 for a new tyre, and we were heading north to view a property near Inverurie. The house is a new build and a bit pricey but we might bid for it anyway, I can't take many more of these trips - especially as we had to bring the dogs this time as we no longer have a sitter since Lewis joined the Army. We have two dogs, a Scottie and a Yorkie. I don't know what he'd been eating but the Yorkie (Beavis) farted every few minutes of the journey - so we spent most of the 500 mile round trip with our heads poking out of the window getting windswept and interesting, although most of what remains of my hair blew off, so I just look interesting! Just in case you didn't know what a dog fart smells like, they're a helluva lot worse that a chemo'd Daz fart - and that's bad! Back home on Saturday - 1800 ferry.
One good thing out of this was that my chemo hangover completely disappeared on Thursday and I felt like a normal healthy person during the whole trip, I was even told that I looked good - howay man!
Its now the start of a new week and I'll endure the usual blood tests and Neupogen jabs prior to what will hopefully be my penultimate Chemo#5. My mouth has become sore and ulcerated and my gums are swollen like I have boils between my teeth - this is a sure sign that my blood count is dangerously low. When I go for today's blood test, I'll insist I have a Neupogen jab, rather than wait for the inevitable result tomorrow.
Fingers crossed my bid for the house is accepted and the property doesn't go to a closing date.

'But I will pray for you
And some day I may return
Don't you cry for me
Beyond is where I learn
Living on a razors edge
Balancing on a ledge
Living on a razors edge
The evil that men do lives on and on'

Rough

2007-03-08T20:00:00.000Z

Commence bleating................
Another bad week post chemo#4. As expected the hangover gets slightly worse and lasts a bit longer each time. Spent a few afternoon's in bed for an hour or two. Symptoms are still the same - an indescribable uuurrghh feeling which lasts all day (which is eased by lying down!), everything still tastes weird, hypersensitivity to certain smells - especially cooking smells, they really set me off (nausea). My bowels can't make their minds up whether its skitters or cannonballs! My hair is still coming out in clumps when I pull it - my heed is starting to look like a moth eaten couch. Quite a few headaches this week as well, a couple of them were migraines. I'm not getting any slimmer either, mainly because of Doctor Daz's fool-proof cure for nausea - a Cadbury's cream egg, on the hour, every hour! Still drinking loads of orange juice, I've read somewhere that this is some sort of cure-all - it certainly makes toilet-time interesting!
End of bleating.

House hunting again tomorrow - only if we get off the island, the weather looks shite again. We had quite a list of houses to look at, but ringing around yesterday to book viewings, we've found most of them are now sold - which leaves us two to view and one of those is under offer, the other is North of Aberdeen - they eat their bairns up there yi knaa!!!

Feeling a bit more lively this morning, might even venture out on the bike for an hour. I've a new bike on order via the 'Cycle 2 Work' scheme. If you have this benefit at work (government sponsored) you must take advantage - Any Halfords bike up to the value of £1100 for half price - yi canna whack it!

'Fat bottomed girls they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties oh yeah'

Masterchef gans large

2007-03-02T20:46:00.000Z

A bit off topic, but my bro David is through to the semi-finals of Masterchef. Won through the heats on Monday and tonight with some fantastic cheffery. He'll be on all next week - BBC2 - 1830-ish. Will he go any further? Tune in to find oot. See his blog site - Book the Cook, He'll come round to your hoose and mess up ya kitchen for a moderate fee but he turns oot a canny boiled egg and soldiers - Check it oot!
This is a picture from a few years back during our Great North Run days - fit as fiddles, unlike the noo!

'Turn on my V.C.R.
Same one I've had for years
James Brown on the Tammy show
Same tape I've had for years
I sit in my old car
Same one I've had for years
Old battery's running down
It ran for years and years'

Chemo-Savvy

2007-03-02T17:32:00.000Z

Had a good blether with my consultant during chemo#4 about the way to go with future treatments. Doc G thinks I need 6 months of chemo as she is convinced I am Hodgkin's 2B due to night sweats just before Christmas, but Doc E reckons my night sweats were due to 12 hours on the pish followed by a dodgy curry giving me mild food poisoning (I agree) - this would make me Hodgkin's 2A - meaning only 3 or 4 months chemo. So they will give me 3 months chemo (thats only 2 more chemo's to go) then send me to Aberdeen for a CAT scan and a PET scan. If the scans are negative I will receive no more chemo - woohoo!!!! However, I will then go onto a 4 to 5 week course of daily radiotherapy (in my neck and chest) - doh!!!! A few weeks post radiotherapy convalescence then back to the graft. If my scans are positive, I will resume the chemo.
So, fingers crossed for a negative PET scan in about 5 weeks time.

'I'm tough, rough, ready and able
To pick myself up from under this table
Don't stick no sign on me, I got no label
I'm a little sick, unsure, unsound and unstable
But I'm fighting my way back'

Chemo#4

2007-03-01T19:43:00.000Z

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday saw the usual rounds of blood tests and Neupogen injections to bring my blood counts into something resembling a healthy person.
A 'round the horn' ferry ride saw me into Ardrossan for 0915 and Neil was again there to whisk me into Crosshouse bang on appointment time. The Heamo nurse told me my last counts were fine and I didn't need to give anymore blood today - wehey! Into the chemo room for 1030 and was soon hooked up via my right wrist to some IV saline. Two and a quarter hours later I was still hooked up to the saline while they fannied about with my chemo drugs. Infusion finally commenced at 1300, completed by 1450 - No Problemo. Still no Bleomycin for this badass.
This chemo session was particularly stressful as they found a way of playing music through the ward TV via the DVD player. It soon became obvious that Ashley had been there before me and had left a load of his CD's behind as we were treated to Perry Como, Andy Williams and Bing Crosby - it was absolute torture. I was the youngest on the ward by about twenty years and the other cancer punters were luvin' it, feet tappin' aplenty and one old fella was singing his heart out, I kept looking around for a shotgun but none could be found.
Things started to look up when they brought me a cuppa and a big plate of posh biscuits. I tanned the lot!!!
Good news on my future treatments, but more on this later.
Back home on the 1800 ferry, home made curry for tea, fantastic!

'The boys watch the girls
while the girls watch the boys
who watch the girls go by.........'
Piss off, Williams!!!

On the up.........

2007-02-25T18:45:00.000Z

Our house-hunting expedition to the East coast on Friday/Saturday did not bear any fruit. Nice houses in bad places and vice-versa, were the theme of this visit. So its back to the drawing board. Another visit in two weeks time might take us closer to Aberdoom in search of our new love-nest.

Things are a lot better on the cancer front though, (I'm sure its the support you give me!) in fact I'm nearly back to feeling normal, even the lump in the throat seems to have disappeared. My last rant must've done trick to chase this last chemo away. Better make the most of these next few days, chemo#4 is on Thursday, then it'll be back to the shite! Even managed a few miles on the bike today (see picture), my first exercise since December!!!! Might even chance a swift 9 holes tomorrow - easy boy, don't go overdoin' it!
Thanks again for all your words of encouragement, its reassuring to know folks are reading this pish..............

'Now Im not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes'

Urrrrrghhh!!!!

2007-02-22T09:05:00.000Z

Its been a horrible week since chemo#3. The hangover kicked in on Saturday night and is still here. Although I didn't get the Bleo-blahs, I still got plenty of other blahs. I feel like I've developed a lump in my chest that is pressing on my throat and giving symptoms of severe indigestion - none of the off the shelf remedies seem to help with this and its now 5 days! I had this symptom after chemo#2 but thought I had strained something after a particularly violent bout of hiccups that I couldn't get rid of (hiccups - it don't get tougher than that!). The usual lethargy is also here and the whole world seems numb at the moment, and everything is grey and threatening - no I'm not in Aberdeen yet! Spent quite a bit of time curled up on the couch with a cushion clutched to my chest. One thing I don't have this time is the chest and stomach pains - small mercies I suppose. Most of my other bodily functions are quite normal this time.

It hasn't just been horrible for me, its been pretty horrible for those around me because I'm extremely irritable at the moment. Everything is a real hassle, even simple tasks seem like an Everest expedition to me and I just don't have the patience anymore. All these big ideas about spending time doing things I wouldn't normally have time for are out of the window - I just can't be arsed, and I'm sooooooooo friggin' bored!!! I wish I could just sleep the whole thing off and wake up in 6 months and it'll all be over. A glass of wine at night gives some momentary respite, in fact I could remain pissed for the next 6 months - that would help, wouldn't it?

As you can probably tell from the tone of this post I'm at a pretty low point and I'm struggling to be my usual positive self. Just trying to tell myself that I've got it easy compared to some in just a few short months it'll all be over, but even a few short months seems like a lifetime away feeling like I do at the moment.

Even though I'm nasty and irritable and horrible and idle, Marie remains a constant and ever loving support. I'd probably die without her ever present care and affection.
My boy Lewis is away to Irvine today to swear the oath of allegiance etc - that'll be him formally joining the British Army REME Corps and will be flying the coup for good in a couple of weeks. I bet he can't wait.

It seems like months since I chopped my hair off to pre-empt it falling out anyway. Its now starting to fall, only the grey ones though!

We've accepted an offer for the house, so we're off house hunting tomorrow - there'll be road rage all the way up the A9.

I look forward to reading your comments and emails everyday, most of the hits on this blog are me checking for comments. I don't usually reply to them but I do read them all and take a lot of support from them, so please keep them coming - good or bad.
Enough whinging for now, later dudes........................

'You know how hard it is for me
To shake the disease
That takes hold of my tongue
In situations like these'

Chemo#3

2007-02-16T21:05:00.000Z

My list of people I will owe big favours to, once this is all over, just gets longer and longer. Big thanks this time go to Lachy for ferrying me to and from the hospital and also to Moira for the chip butty - Champion!!
Got to Crosshouse for 10am and was immediately threatened by Doc G. with an overnight stay if my bloods weren't up to scratch - bloody hell. A nurse promptly turned up and took more blood and sent them down to the lab for emergency analysis. While this was going on the doctors were discussing my poor blood Neutrifil counts and what could be done to alleviate the problem. They have decided to withhold the Bleomycin from my treatment (that's the 'B' in 'ABVD'). Apparently there is a lot of discussion in the medical world whether this drug has any real influence in the treatment of Hodgkin's and is outweighed by the irreversible damage it can cause to the lungs in a lot of people. This is good news as most of the chemo side effects are caused by the Bleomycin - we in the cancer club call them the 'bleo-blahs' - its an exclusive club, the waiting list is huge!!
We also discussed again the amount of treatment I will be getting, for now it is the full 6 months of chemo but if I (or the company-hint hint) can fund a PET scan in Aberdeen in 2 months time and I'm found to be clear, then I could be back at work several months earlier than expected (the NHS will only fund 1 PET scan per patient and only after all treatment is completed). They also hinted I might get zapped with kryptonite for a few weeks after chemo - doh!
Blood test results came back and I'd just scraped in - woohoo, no overnights for this fat lad.
Into the chemo room, stretched out on the recliner, canular into the left wrist this time, infusion commenced at 1300, all done by 1530. Had an alarming moment half way through the treatment when I felt severe abdominal pains. I then realized my belly was being sliced in two by the waist band on my pants - I wouldn't be normally bothered but they're my biggest pair!! What a fat twat. Must stop this weight gain before I end up like Mr Creosote or worse still TFTF - the laughing stock of the offshore industry. Back home on the 1800 ferry.
Gan Canny
'Just when I thought I could not be stopped
When my chance came to be king
The ghosts of my life
Blew wilder than the wind'

'A right kerfuffle'

2007-02-14T18:39:00.000Z

I've had more jabs these last few days than Iron Mike had in his whole career, and all to no avail. My Monday blood test count was zero (remember it needs to be above 1 before I can get the chemo). Neupogen jab on Tuesday gave me the usual arse jip with the aching bones but Wednesdays blood test revealed my bloods have only come up to 0.3. So instead of chemo tomorrow, its a trip back to the quacks for more Neupogen then hopefully chemo on Friday. Might be a blessing in disguise as tomorrows forecast is horrendous, might get stuck over there, that's if I get off of course! I knew my counts would be low as my throat was sore and my gums swollen and sore also. The doc had a look and said they weren't too bad and that there was 'no puss yet'. No puss yet!!! I should friggin hope not!!
So with my immune system on the floor and a mooth like a Mongolian wrestler's jock strap, there'll be no Valentines day rumpy pumpy for this bad boy!
Had some house viewers today, they all seemed well impressed. Big advert going in the Banner this weekend, we'll see what interest this brings, might be sold up before we know it. Hopefully we'll be viewing houses ourselves next week, chemo effects permitting.

This week, I will be mostly getting pricked!

2007-02-09T11:45:00.000Z

A cracking week in store for me, starting off with a claret sample on Monday followed by Neupogen injection on Tuesday, another claret sample on Wedneday then chemo#3 on Thursday - fandabidozee!!!
Will this torture ever end.............................

Who ate all the pies............................me!!

2007-02-08T18:58:00.000Z

Now a week since chemo#2 and nowt much to report. Although I have been pretty sickly all week but not quite as bad as chemo#1 and not too much couch hogging either! However, the side effects are as expected, similar to chemo#1, with the usual cannon balls (thankfully, still no ceramics), fatigue and just feeling blah (its the only way I can describe this horrible feeling). The trouser trumpet has calmed down and the dogs are out of hiding. What is worse this time is my taste is all to hell (no, I'm not wearing flares and kipper ties), what I mean is my taste buds are numb, everything tastes weird, even water! It hasn't kept my snout out of the trough, quite the opposite. The steroids I'm on to lessen the chemo side effects make you absolutely ravenous - even when you feel sick?? Not good news for us fatboy's as I put weight on by thinking about food, so as you can imagine I'm gaining by the day. I've put a stone on since December. I think this is partially due to my none exercise regime at the moment, I'm just too knackered to do anything! Anyhoo, gotta go, time for tea.
Please leave your 'fatty' and 'baldy' comments below. Thank You.

We're selling up!

2007-02-05T10:43:00.000Z

The events of last weeks chemo delays, burdening friends with lifts and stop-overs etc. that we have decided with great regret to move across the water to the mainland. There are several reasons for this, not least the ones above. Another 4-6 months of chemo, the possibility of several weeks of daily radiotherapy, regular hospital appointments and CT scans for the next 10 years - initially every 3 months.
We intend to move nearer to my work in Aberdeen so I can at least spend time in the office during my better chemo days and hopefully be of some use!
Fear not dear Corrie reader, we will regularly call back to see the great friends and neighbours we have made over the past 6 years - has it really been that long?

I've made another blog as a sort of 'flyer' for the house sale. I will probably make it a bit more official (estate agents etc.) in the coming week. Have a look, let me know what you think and spread the word - Kennetwell is For Sale.
Went to the two island estate agents to see what their selling fees are...............1.5%, hahahahaha cheecky b*******s!! That could be up to 6 grand for putting a photo in the window, I can't stop laughin'.

Chemo #2

2007-02-02T21:02:00.000Z

Up to Crosshouse for 9am, and on the ward to surrender more claret. Good news this time, count was 1.7, bring that chemo on baby!
Canularised in my right wrist this time, infusion began at 11:50 and was completed by 15:00. No real nausea to speak of, so no puking in my lap and no vein burning either. Got this Chemo cracked man!
Picked up by Frank and delivered to the harbour in time for the 18:00. Don't know how I'm to repay these favours, cheers lads and lasses, everything is so appreciated.
Back home now, typing this up. Chemo is just starting to kick in, felling a bit 'Blah'! Looks like a early night.
Nighty night yaw'll......................

Pelvis has left the building......

2007-02-02T09:00:00.000Z

This entry should have been entitled Chemo #2 but certain anomalies have conspired to delay the chemo by atleast 1 day. Gave a pre-chemo blood test on Tuesday, the result on Wednsday indicated that I was borderline Chemo as my blood count was 0.9. They will only administer when the count is above 1.0. They said I should turn up as usual for my chemo on Thursday as the count would probably be OK by then. Thursday came and I was once again whisked up to Crosshouse by my brother David who was making his way back to the North East after a couple of days in the island. Once on the ward I gave more blood to check the counts. The results were not good. Blood count was still falling and now down to 0.5. They would give me a jab of Neupogen (White cell growth factor) to accelarate cell production and keep me in overnight so I wouldn't have to travel back to Arran then back again on Friday. However, Neil volunteered to put me up for the night and I was soon picked up and given a whirl-wind tour of Irvine (I'm still tempted matey! - heh-heh). A bit of TV and some Big Brain Academy on the Nintendo DS (I'm gonna get one) then I was ready for my scratcher.

I was awoken at 3am by the most horrendous pain in the arse. No, not Neil wanting some company as he's still coming off nighshift and not satans cannonball either, trying to make an impromptu exit. The Neupogen had kicked in big time and the marrow in my pelvis was working the late shift producing millions of white blood cells. My bones were actually swelling and my Pelvis felt like it might explode. (Stop me if think I'm going overboard with the agony). Felt like I had my arse booted several times around the block by a pair of size 12's! On a scale of 1 to10 (10 being 'please kill me now'), I'd say it was a good 7, with lightening bolts of 10 shooting up my spine every few seconds which made me twitch - deep joy. So I lay there with a face contorted like an RPE chewing a wasp and twitching like a tiffie holding 24 Volts!! No matter how I lay, the pain seemed to get worse, I suffered for an hour before getting up to surf the kitchen for pain killers. Two paracetamol did the trick and the pain had all but gone within 30 minutes. A couple more hours of kip then back up to Crosshouse for more blood tests and hopefully Chemo #2.

This Charming Blog

2007-01-31T14:52:00.002Z

Had wor David around for a couple of days. In a gesture of haircut solidarity, he did this.........

Wait 'til you hear this 'un........

2007-01-28T12:37:00.000Z

This cancer malarky has just turned up another issue that I'm gonna have to get used to, aching bones!!! Had a blood test on Thursday and I'm due another this Tuesday - two days before my next chemo. The nasties that are in the chemo drugs attack rapidly dividing cells like tumours but also hair follicles (thats why your hair falls out), nails, mouth linings etc. But more seriously, they attack your white blood cells. Bad news for you but good news for infectious bacteria as there aren't enough white cells to fight 'em. More info here. Hence the frequent blood tests to count the white cells. If the white cell count is low you get an injection of a very expensive drug to stimulate the bone marrow to produce many more cells. The side effect of this drug is that the marrow produces far more cells than the bone can handle and your bones begin to swell. I've read this this can range from a dull ache to crippling agony!!! Me being a badass geordie will obviously feel nowt, just spare a though for the rest! Might get the injection on Wednesday if the counts are low, will probably be injecting myself several times per week in later months - champion!!

Tried to clip a nice taper on the back of my heed this morning which resulted in the guard falling off and gouging a trough just above my left ear. So I'm now down to a No.1 all over, lugs are stickin' oot like Plug's.

The Sieg Heils

2007-01-26T11:36:00.000Z

Well, its been just over a week since the first chemo, and I bet your all wondering how its going........or not.
Got home from hospital OK on Friday, travelled on the bus of doom - No11 - Crosshouse to Ardrossan, if I'm gonna pick up some nasty disease in my chemo weakened state, it'll be on that bus. I'm pretty sure it roves around Ayrshire picking up the ill and infirm - its the last bus to Flusville!!
Anyhoo, spent the next three days or so mostly curled up on the sofa, feeling like a bad hangover but without the headache, really really really tired!! The poisons that are roaming around my system seem to be leaching out of my pores and I can smell the chemo stuff all the time. Waves of nausea come and go and are usually triggered by cooking smells - more lying down on the sofa. Eight days now since the chemo and most of those early side effects have worn off, no more naps and I'm managing to stay up long enough at night to take in a whole movie!
The worst of the side effects, and one I had not expected to take hold so early was the constipation. Sorry to harp on about what I hold most dear again - my arse, but a problem shared is a problem halved as my old constipated grannie used to say.
Now, I'm a regular twice a day man, but have been only twice in a week - a bloody week!!! Each occasion was a 'teethmarks in the door handle' affair that required more napping on the couch as a sort of post straining recuperation. I know what your thinking, you shouldn't be straining - you might pop something, more on that later. It hasn't stopped me farting though, quite the opposite. In fact, my fart to shite ratio is about 10,000:1. The smell is also something to behold, Marie says they are just their normal reek but I can smell the chemicals - not quite Jeyes Fluid though. The dogs are hiding behind the sofa and all the windows are open even though its Baltic outside. The last defaecatory episode was a particularly stressful encounter that has left me thumbing through the Screwfix catalogue for a new pan. Got myself comfortable, one hand on the sink, the other the window cill - looking like something out of Britain's strongest man - truck pulling final. One big push, nothing. Another big push, still nothing. I stood up to call it a day but a sudden movement 'in me back body' had me back down on the seat and pushing for England.................or Scotland. I started to make involuntary noises, grrrrrrr and oooooof, beads of sweat began to peal from my forehead. I could almost hear the midwife shouting 'I can see its head, deep breaths now'. Just as Lucifer's bowling ball began to dislodge itself from my bowels, there was a strange 'fwooop' sound and it shot back up as if startled by the sight of my hairy arse. Buggar!!!
After a few minutes of re-composure I began the struggle again. This time it seemed a little easier as I must have honed some sort of taper with my first effort and after another minute or so of gritted teeth and with a 'kersplash' and a 'clonk' it was done. Neptunes kiss gave some short respite to the ring sting and then it dawned, I bet I've popped a one!! A one what you say, dear reader. Nobby Stiles, the Duke of Argyle's, Farmer Giles, Nuremburg trials, yes you've guessed it, Emma Freud's. Being an occasional sufferer of this debilitating affliction, I know the last thing you want when you've got other stuff to deal with, is a dose of the Chalfont's (am I right, Donald?). A bit if shuffling about on the pan and some digitary exploration confirmed to my great relief that the 'Preparation Arse' can remain in the cupboard for the time being. I am Rectum Intactum! More than can be said for the pan though, as I'm sure this beasty must have cracked it somewhere around the 'U' bend. It reminded me of the one which blocked the offshore privvies last year (BJ - we know it was you!).
Its now come full circle and a few days later I have the skitters. I could regale you with tales about following through in bed and other rectal hilarity, but dear reader, I'll leave that to your own imagination, we've had enough toilet talk for the noo!
Take care everyone, and remember, five a day!!!

New 'do'

2007-01-23T16:59:00.000Z

My silver locks are well over-due their monthly trim. Although the finely spun threads of elven silk will be shortly falling out due to the treatment, Not wanting to grease Jimmy the barbers mitts with another 9 quid, I've taken the matter into my own hands! Shirt off in the privacy of the garage I proceeded to skim over my sculpted bonce with the clippers set to No.2. Not to the bone quite yet, but short enough. I must admit I rather suit the new style and have taken on a dashing Gestapo type look which I find rather favourable, unlike the Telly Savalas look that I will be sporting all too soon . Tomorrow I may march around the village eyeing folk through my army surplus monocle to see if its had the desired effect!!
Until then constant reader........
Auf Wiedersehen......................Pet!

Chemo #1

2007-01-18T21:00:00.000Z

My first of 12 chemo sessions is in the bag. Started me at 16:00 and I was finished by about 19:30. I was given a load of anti sickness pills, steroids and gout tablets before the chemo started. Four drugs were then administered, all intravenously. The first two drugs were large syringes, one of them was a bright red liquid which had later repercussions as it turned my weewee red! The remaining two drugs were large bags of fluid that were shielded in a red bag because they react to light - I think they turn to vodka and Red Bull. No real adverse effect during the infusion apart from a slight burning in my veins from the caustic Dicarbezene.

Kept in hospital overnight for monitoring - back on ward 303. All new faces on the ward apart from Martin - nappy guy, although the nappies are gone and he's on his feet, only just - he still seems shot away. I'm in Royston's old bed! Feeling a bit grotty now. Home tomorrow if I'm OK through the night.

'and our survey said.....................'

2007-01-18T15:30:00.000Z

Well, the results are in, and I must admit are better than I had feared. I have something called Stage II - nodular sclerosing Hodgkinson's disease. Which basically means the cancer still within my lymph systen and has not yet spread to my organs or bone marrow - Bonus!!
I have two tumours one in my neck approx 1.6cm diameter and one in my chest approx 1.4 cm diameter.
My treatment will be 12 fortnightly sessions of chemo (ABVD) - told ya so!
The treatment would have been just 6 or 8 sessions but my other symptom of night sweats (uuuurgh!) means I'll be getting the full bifta. All sorts of blood tests during chemo, mid-term CT scan and a completion PET scan in Aberdeen also to look forward to.
Lets get this party started........................

Crystal balls......................

2007-01-15T09:30:00.000Z

Good thing this Internet lark. It allows you to practically see into the future and scare yourself to death by reading other peoples experiences with Hodgkin's. In an effort to try and pre-empt my treatment, I've been doing a lot of reading up. There's dozens on personal blogs out there which detail folks personal battle with the disease. I'm now pretty sure whats to become of me and how I will be treated.
First of all, no matter where, how many and how large the tumours, the treatment for Hodgkins is nearly always the same - 6 to 8 months of chemo followed by a few weeks of daily Radiation treatment if required.
The chemo treatment I will probably receive is something called ABVD which are the initials of the four drugs that will be infused into me on a fortnightly basis:
Doxorubicin (pronounced docks-o-rou-bi-sin, originally called Adriamycin®) Bleomycin (blee o my sin), Vinblastine (vin blas teen) and Dacarbazine (de car b zeen). This is Dan-like detail for all you offshore viewers!! More info here

My treatment may start as early as this weekend. I will be kept in hospital after my first treatment to monitor for adverse reactions to the drugs.
Everyone reacts differently to the treatment - some only suffer for a day or two after each treatment and can lead a virtually normal life, others are ill for the majority of the cycle and recover just in time for the next infusion. Among the side effects I can expect are:
Lowered resistance to infection
Bruising or bleeding
Anaemia (low number of red blood cells)
Feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting - especially just before, during and just after infusion and maybe for a few days after.
Tiredness - Can be extreme fatigue
Hair loss - Will probably lose my hair within 4-6 weeks, can't say I'll miss this carpet on my back much.
Sore mouth and taste change - lots of mouth ulcers, I love Bonjella
Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
Pain at the injection site or along the vein
Weigh loss - Woohoo!!
Weight gain - Doh!
Allergic reaction
Constipation
Piles - Noooooooooooooooo!!!!
Fevers and chills
Changes in nails
Changes in the way the heart works
Changes to the lungs
Itchy teeth
Farts smell like Jeyes Fluid
Piss can be used as engine de-greaser.

I made up the last three..................it might happen!

Alongside the treatment I'll be receiving regular CT scans, blood tests and hopefully a PET scan if I can drag my carcass up to Aberdeen.
So, that's what I've got to look forward to over the next 6 months, followed by some sort of post chemo recuperation and strengthening. Can't really say what I'm fearing the most, weight loss will be good, weight gain will be very bad although numb hands is not without its merits!! Puking in the car while driving is a common one - you never get rid of the smell you know!

Later dudes................................

Thanks

2007-01-12T12:49:00.000Z

Many thanks to all who have taken trouble to wade through this drivel and taken time to respond, it is very humbling and uplifting to know there are people out there (some who don't even know me) that actually give a monkey's - cheers everyone, keep 'em comin'.

Neil and Kim R for ferrying my arse to and from Crosshouse, I owe you lots.

And again to Neil R and Jim for visiting last night, cheers lads. Fetch some grapes next time!!

Back home.....

2007-01-12T12:26:00.000Z

Was awoken once again by a nurse begging for more blood, I'm pretty sure now they're making black puddin' for our tea, like!

Even though it's blowin a hooligan again , the ferries are on. Just made the 0945 which actually left at 1015 because they couldn't get the car ramp down! Thanks again to Neil R for the lift, your a black puddin' (thats 2 black puddin's in the same blog - beat that).

Back now in the warm bosom of home, Marie fussing around me again, I'm alreet woman!!!

Due back in Crosshouse next Thursday to hear the results and how I will be treated, they might commence treatment on Friday so I should be out on Saturday.....................bring it on!

Crosshoose - day 2 - edited

2007-01-11T16:57:00.000Z

Tossed and turned all night, lots of strange sounds - Snoring, farting, nurses stealing my newspaper, chemo pump bleeping etc. Rudely woken up at 0730 by a nurse demanding more blood - what do they want with it all, I'm sure they're giving it to someone who needs it more!

Later, they wheeled an old boy into the ward who looked a bit rough, he was light green in colour. I overheard the Haemo telling him they needed blood and bone marrow samples - woohoo! Said later that he had only 10% of the usual red platelets, the rest was Creme de Menthe!

Lay on my scratcher watching daytime TV until 1500, where I had to consume 4 large glasses of thick white fluid, a bit like drinking snot, if you can imagine such a thing. This was in preparation for my CT scan (computerised tomography). Another porter arrived and I was again bogey'd around the wards eventually ending up in X-ray. Into the CT room I was hooked up to an auto-injection system and laid out beneath giant giant donut. The injection went in (100 mls - which is huge) and I immediately got a hot flush and felt like I'd wet myself. The scanner did the business of spinning and scanning as the platform I was lying on slid in and out of the donut. Scan complete, I was trolley'd back to the ward with a killer headache.

Tea time soon, then in for an early night, hopefully home tomorrow, ferries permitting.

The bloke in the next bed doesn't seem as doolally as yesterday, the green fella is not quite as green as he's now hooked up to some blood infusion gear and Royston is entertaining us with his made up war stories! Did I mention he had a wonky eye, every time I think he's talking to me, he's actually talking to someone else and vice-versa. It just get better and better here!

Nighty night yaw'll.......................

Crosshoose - Day 1

2007-01-10T13:13:00.000Z

Caught the first ferry over this morning, Clansman is the ferry just now as the isles is away for winter refit. Was met at the ferry by Neil who gave me a lift down to the hospital - cheers best pal!
Passed reception, I was soon through admissions and into my bed in ward 3A - Room 303. Its a 6 bed ward I'm sharing with 4 other codgers, they all seem much older than me. Two are out for the count, the poor bloke in the next bed is away with the mixer (sedated) and is wearing a nappy that I think needs changing! The chap opposite fancies himself as a singer.
Saw the nurse, she swabbed my nose for MRSA then took my lunch order of burger and onions, mmm, mmmm.

The Haematologist saw me for the first time. She had a quick feel...................of my lymph nodes and explained what would happen over the next few days. CT scans, heart scan, Kidney function, lung function, bone marrow etc. Said the chemo will probably be AVBD, no mention of Radiotherapy........yet! She also told me I would be seeing a haematologist for at least 10 years :(

Had a chat with Royston (the singer), he's got cancer in both lungs, in for more chemo, comes every 2 weeks and stays 3 days - has been treated for 15 years - bloody hell!!!!

Well, I'm back, not very long in blog time but ages in hospital time. Right after lunch a porter came with a wheelchair and wheeled my sorry arse down to cardiology for a load of tests.
First the heart scan - a bit like a baby ultra sound test - OK. Then a lung function test - breathing various gases into a big machine - OK. Then an ECG - OK.
Wheeled back up to the ward for a rest. No sooner than my arse had touched the bed, the haematologist turned up to get some bone marrow - gulp! Curtains pulled around, troosers round me knees, I was turned on my side and pulled my knees up to my chest. After a bit prodding around my rear pelvic area they gave me a big local anaesthetic which knacked! They poked other big needles in and extracted marrow blood then a plug of bone marrow. Felt a bit uncomfortable but not as bad as the local. The worst thing was that I had a lot of wind and had been farting all morning. So picture this, me curled up in the foetal position, two doctors hunched over my bare arse and me about to deliver a lethal broadside, the pressure built to an intolerable level, I was just about to let rip and I nearly shouted 'stand clear' when the pressure suddenly subsided as some sort of internal relief valve lifted and I was able to hold on until the end of the procedure. Funny thing is, I haven't farted since, where the hell did all that go??
The anaesthetic has worn off now so now I've literally got a right pain in the arse! The bone they removed is about the size of an apple pip.

Another doc came round later on and asked a load of questions before extracting a gallon of blood. They also need to collect my wee wee for 24 hours to test my steak and kidneys. Only one test left, might get out tomorrow but the weather doesn't look too promising for the ferry.

And that was day 1 done and dusted. Nappy man has started talking to himself and Royston is tuning up the vocal chords! It's gonna be a long night..................

The ball is rollin'...........................

2007-01-05T15:50:00.000Z

Got a call from Crosshouse hospital this afternoon, going to be admitted on Wednesday 10th Jan - will probably be there for 3-4 days - Ward 3A. This will be for stage testing and include CT scans, blood tests and bone marrow tests (stick a drill in me arse - aaaarrrrgghhh!!). Hopefully I might get fed this time!

Kaboom!!!!

2007-01-04T18:09:00.000Z

Got a call from the hospital this morning. A rather sombre sounding surgeon who removed the lump. He apologised first for having to pass on the news in this manner but 'it was what we'd agreed'. Even before he told me what it was, it was obvious he wasn't going to tell me I'd won the lottery and I immediately got a hot flush and began to shake!! Although he didn't say 'are you sitting down' his next words were 'You have a form of lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma to be precise'.
I'd already put 2 and 2 together some weeks ago when I was surfing the net looking for neck lump stuff as Hodgkin's was regularly coming up on the searches, but it still hit me like a bombshell!! The quack said the hospital would be in touch and he was again sorry to have to break it to me over the phone, then he hung up. And that was that, a million things went through my mind in just a few seconds - mainly, will it kill me, how will Marie cope, what about work................
I was straight online looking for some facts before I got too wound up, and started wading through a mountain of material through glassy eyes.
This is what it is:
http://www.lymphomainfo.net/hodgkins/

Its oot...........

2006-12-29T04:01:00.001Z

Admitted into Crosshouse last night at 14:30, they missed me out of the tea time run at 17:30 (forgot I was there!!) The nurse said if I'm quick I might just make the shop before it closes - surely enough, it was shut when I arrived. The cafe had only carrot cake and prawn cocktail crisps, so that was my last meal before fasting for the op - bummer!!!
Surprisingly had a good nights sleep, showered then dressed up in the op gown which was too small, my bare arse was clearly on view as the gown fastened at the rear. Feeling like a helpless invalid, I was wheeled to the lift then down 5 floors to the operating theatres where I was 'stacked' for about 30 minutes. Soon enough I was wheeled into the theatre where I donned a large white hair net - that took me most by surprise, I don't suit hats!!!
Surrounded by what seemed a dozen medical staff (just for me!), they commenced the task in hand. A canular type device was introduced into my right hand (which bloody hurt -soft shite!) then the anesthetic was injected - I remember the anaesthetist saying ' you might feel a little woozy now' and me thinking 'nope, nothing yet................................still nothing' then waking up back in my room, lump removed, job done!
Bandaged stiff and sore I was allowed out this afternoon, just in time to catch the last ferry home. The surgeon said I would get a result sometime in the next 10 days.

Bricking it..............

2006-12-21T17:04:00.001Z

Spent the last couple of days bricking up my old back door - ooer!!
Still feeling a bit shitty but worst of all are the night sweats, waking up absolutely soaking, thought I'd pissed the bed the first time it happened, had to put the dehumidifier in the bedroom to try and dry the mattress out!
Got a call from the hospital, the biopsy did not produce enough material to get a meaningful result so I'm to be admitted on the 27th to have the largest lump removed for analysis. Said I might be there for a couple of nights as its a general anaesthetic.

Its been a wee while.............

2006-12-19T16:14:00.000Z

After an un-eventful few days, Marie, the dogs and I went back to the North East (South Shields) for a few days - mainly for Marie see her folks and to start the Christmas shopping, me to see Iron Maiden on the 17th - great gig but not enough old stuff!
Had a jolly boys -all day piss up on Saturday followed by a realy weird luminous green curry from a new curry hoose on Ocean Road.
The following day (gig day) I woke up in my brothers house feeling a bit dodgy, was it the piss or the curry from outer space or something else!!!
Kenny and I went up the toon the see Bruce and the boys bootin' arse, supported by Trivium (superb), still feeling delicate I decided not to 'mosh' with the big boys, opting to stand about half way up the floor still with a good view, sound was superb.
Back at Kennys house with a chicken fried rice which went mainly untouched as I totally lost my appetite between the chinkees and Kenny's. Woke up the next day feeling pretty much as I did the previous day. Drove down to Shields to have my teeth checked and cleaned then back up the road to catch the last ferry to Arran, leaving Marie and the dogs behind.

2006-12-14T02:00:00.000Z

Took the first ferry to the mainland this morning - weather is absolutely shite again, proper cats n' dogs and blowin' a hooligan. Not looking good for getting back!
Got to hospital for 09:55, they saw me straight away even though my appointment wasn't until 11:30. Specialist had a good feel of me neck lumps then stuck a camera up me nose and down to my throat - a weird and very uncomfortable experience - felt like it was about a yard wide and ribbed!!! Everything on the camera appeared normal. Next my blood test results were reviewed, again everything OK, except for higher than normal cholesterol - nowt new there!
Next, he sent me off to see another doctor who performed a needle biopsy on the largest lump, another uncomfortable experience, nee local anaesthetic like!!! If the biopsy results are inconclusive I will have to go back to have the node removed for testing next week.
Back in the van for 10:25, the weather turning even worse I headed off towards the ferry terminal. Stopping at Frank's house for a chinwag to kill a bit of time before the un-hopeful 12:30 ferry. Frank dropped me off in time, I hung around the terminal a while expecting to bus it up to Gourock but the ferry emerged from the mist and rolled into its berth about 20 minutes late. An absolutely nightmare sailing back across to Arran saw me in the house for 14:00.

2006-12-12T23:06:00.000Z

Went around to Marv & Marion's house to finish off some electrical refurb work.
Feeling OK, although the 'curry gland' feeling has returned and my neck feels more swollen than ever, apart from that, alreet!!

Another shite day though, seems to have pissed down for the last 4 weeks without let-up. Ferry went to Gourock again, might be OK tomorrow for the hospital as the wind is due to die down for a bit.

Keeping off the rowing machine this week until I'm sorted at the hospital, still feel pretty fit though, only 45k to go to reach my 2006 target of 2 million metres!!

'Its one of those 70's neck lumps???'

2006-12-11T23:59:00.000Z

That's me on the right, my boy Lewis on the left, taken last year somewhere in California.

About 10 weeks ago I discovered a painful lump on the side of my neck - about the size of a pea. Nothing remarkable there, I'm always finding lumps here and there as I'm prone to sebaceous cysts and have many around my body. The lump which has caused most hassle during the last 15 or so years is right on my right kneecap - it's like kneeling on a marble so I try to keep off it. Although it has been removed on two separate occasions it still remains, coming back like a Rocky sequel!
Back to the lump on my neck. I've ignored it for a couple of months but though it was time to let the Doc know as I found a few smaller lumps just below the collar bone. Reading the Internet about lumps just opened a huge can of possibilities - none of them good.
So it was off to Corrie surgery on Tuesday 5th December to see the doc. The Doc had a good feel of the original lump and also confirmed the existence of additional lumps below the collar bone. His initial diagnosis being swollen lymph nodes. He would make a further appointment for me to have blood taken for testing and a chest x-ray before the end of the week and would also try to squeeze me in to see the surgeon on Friday - he day-trips from the mainland on Fridays only.

Surely enough, I was called to Lamlash hospital on Thursday to spend an uneventful 10 minutes in the X-ray theatre.

Friday came and I was summoned to Brodick surgery to surrender blood, the doc took 5 or 6 samples before sending me on my way to Lamlash hospital for the first appointment with the surgeon - Dr Diament. Bang on time the surgeon turned and wasted no time in stripping my shirt off and had me sitting there with my tits oot for all to see, my ample gut hanging over my overly-tight jeans. Soon after I was on my back, trousers around my ankles and family jewels on full display as the doc kneaded my groin area.
The upshot of all this was swollen lymph nodes between my ear and collar bone down my left side and further swollen lymph nodes down the left side of my groin.
The doc didn't beat around the bush, he said there was every chance that there may be something seriously wrong with me - meaning tumors, leukemia, Hodgkin's etc. Although on the bright side chest x-ray showed no swollen nodes around my heart - whatever that means! Plus I looked fine to him and showed no signs of illness. The only real way to diagnose the problem would be to remove the neck lump for analysis which would be done under general anaesthetic, but even worse, would have to be carried out on the mainland................bollox!!!! The doc said I might not be at work for a while, at least until the diagnosis is complete. Rang Neil from work to put him in the picture - very supportive, cheers mate. Feel a bit guilty though, should be offshore for Christmas and New Year, feels like I'm 'pulling a flanker'.

Got a call from the surgeon today, I have to attend Crosshouse hospital on Wednesday at 11:30 to see Mr Dempster - there is a chance the lump can be biopsied without a general anaesthetic. Living on Arran is not without its problems and getting to the hospital may prove difficult, with Calmac just looking for excuses to cancel the ferry and the forecast for Wednesday not looking too healthy, we shall see.

The swelling in my neck seems more prominent today and I found a small lump on the right side now and have a constant feeling of salivating - a bit like when your 'curry' gland goes when your hungry and you get a whiff of onion badgie!! Haven't told Marie about my latest lump, no point in worrying everyone else.

Anyway, this is the reason for this blog, to document any potential illness. Hopefully the problem will turn out to be nowt and the blog will only run to a page or two and be the shortest, most boring blog on the net or is a long winded doom and gloom affair where potential sufferers can can visit and hopefully read in real time what will become of them. I quite fancy the short boring version!!