"The journey to terminal cancer"

I have suffered from COPD for perhaps four years, this May I was invited to the COPD clinic for the annual review. I had been suffering from headaches and a back pain. My doctor was called about the results and I was informed should the pains I was experiencing in my back return, I was advised to take myself to A & E or even call an ambulance. Appointments would be arranged for me at the Cardiac and Urology departments.

In mid June my daughter arrived at my home and within a couple of hours I found myself in The Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy A & E, quite a long queue but it seemed to be reducing quite quickly. Triage nurse was very efficient and had me checked out recorded and passed to the doctor. In the Admissions department I had X-ray, ECG,  the usual BP, oxygen and pulse repeatedly and informed that was being admitted. Must be something wrong, this COPD has gotten serious. Soon enough I was in an admissions ward for the night, thank goodness the reports on the Telly about waiting around in corridors was false at least here in Kirkcaldy.

A couple of days in Admissions and another trip to the X-ray and MRI department to have a scan with contrast, then I was informed a move was imminent and a bed was becoming vacant in ward 23. Oops this is a Cardiologist ward. I was duly visited by several doctors all curious about my reason for self medication of oxygen I had acquired online to help my COPD, it helps a bit with energy loss. Anyway the outcome is I should be in ward 43 the Respiratory ward. Dr Fairbairn had me brought up to ward 43 to the treatment room where his magic pen produced a porridge like substance in three containers from my back which he would send away for analysis, the results would be back in a few days and in the meantime I would return to ward 23. I was in the wrong place as my ECG results indicated that my heart was strong and in ok condition. This is despite having an MI (myocardial infarction) some 30 years ago. 

Regrettably it was time to leave this ward who have I must admit have been great, nurses and doctor’s alike I’ve been promoted up to respiratory Ward 43. Another X-ray and Scan with contrast.

The following day I meet Dr Lee who will be going to fit a drain in the plura which is a sack around the left lung in my case. He will also put a tube with a camera with the facility of retrieving biopsy’s in the area. He will stitch up the hole but leave drain tube, I could be on medication and oxygen for sometime. Fine I thought no problem there.

Next day the porter arrived and to take me to the operations waiting area a nurse referred the area as the recovery room. The team with Dr Lee consisted of two others plus an observer a young man from Ward 43.

I remember some tapping going on on my back then nothing more. Apparently I was in there an hour but it didn’t seem like that and I was quite tired when I got back to the ward. I was receiving pain killers in the form of paracetamol and alternately oral morphine seemed a good idea but I had no pain, with that the morphine stopped, these medical people know what’s required.

I had now been in hospital for 9 days and was feeling much better. Along the way I had received an additional medication to reduce the swelling in my ankles which was referred as water retention, this medication causes one to go to the toilet quite a lot in the afternoon. So now I know the heart is good no need for trip to Cardiology and the water retention medication is working wonders with the urine so no need for a trip to the Urologists. Just a case of getting this fluid out of the plura and perhaps that’s the COPD also taken care of.

On the 10th day I have the drainage removed from the operation and the pipe remains for the district nurses to take over draining this Plura. A meeting has been arranged before I am discharged with Dr Fairbairn and clinical nurse specialist Ed.

At this point I am about to find out what’s the results of the analysis on that porridge Dr Fairbairn removed some days ago.

Not good news the reported results that the material is untreatable cancer cells. No treatment from either radiotherapy or chemotherapy, there would be a possibility of immunotherapy dependent on the report on the biopsy’s taken earlier but most likely the results have got to be greater than 50/50

Well so much for my worries about COPD.

My Doctor assured me I had a clear X-ray 18 months ago.

There you have it my journey from COPD and a breathing problem to being told I have an untreatable cancer and an estimated prognosis of 7 months. All in the short space of 10 days. 

In this 10 days I must say I have met with some outstanding people in the NHS, the A & E departments, the Admissions doctors and nurses, ward 23 where I was made welcome and looked after, Ward 43 with their Efficient nursing staff and Doctors including Dr Fairbairn and Dr Lee. Now my appreciation goes to the lovely young ladies from the district nurses office in Rosyth, Audrey. Amy, Emily & Karen, so efficient and smart.

Trust the process these people are professional even to the settling down again at home, my doctors surgery informed, the DWP informed and benefits arranged, oxygen supply arranged, and Ed is available to relieve any fears or worries.

Thank you and God bless.