Saturday 21st May 2016
I always say I am going to be more active on the blog circuit,but life sometimes gets in the way-that's my excuse and I am sticking to it!
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy all complete-have had the six weeks "recovery" period from it,and have had MRI and CT scans. Went to see my new surgeon two weeks ago,and he showed me the 'before' and 'after' scans.It is actually the first time than I have seen scan results-was a wee bit daunting to think that this beast is growing deep in your body,waiting to do its' worst.
Anyway,the 'after' scan did show a definite shrinkage in the tumour,so the surgeon said that he could probably operate if the results of the PET scan are favourable-ie. no signs of disease anywhere else.He said that the operation is fairly major and it would be unfair to put me through it if there was other disease lurking in the body-fair enough! A bit of a deja vu feeling there-been through this last year!
The surgery involves total clearance of any organs in the lower pelvis-including the bladder.That would mean I would have a urostomy as well as an ileostomy-at least I will be well balanced!
I don't have a date for the PET scan as yet,but it will need to be soon as the surgeon has pencilled me in for the operation on 15th June! He says he needs to gather a team together-two colo-rectal surgeons,a urology surgeon,and a plastic surgeon to repair any deficits made from the clearance.
I have never had plastic surgery before,but I am quite sure it is not in the same league as that of the Kardashian clan, and I shall certainly not be posting any selfies!
The family continues to thrive and Chloe can now walk-there may be trouble ahead!
Bill and Paul and his dad ,Bob,went  to hospitality at the football a couple of weeks ago,so the WAGS(Claire,Maureen,Chloe and I) decided to go for afternoon tea-something I had never done,but had always wanted to do!It was really lovely-we went to a place called Cup in Merchant City in Glasgow.Would definitely go again!

Chloe with her two grans,Maureen and Anne

Claire and Chloe

eyes straight towards the cakes!

I have decided to to the Race For Life for CRUK this year,as I owe my life to them (and my surgeons,of course),because some of the chemo I have had over the years was developed by them.That takes place tomorrow,so I am hoping that the rain will stay off for at least an hour-should be fun!People have been very kind,and I have raised over £1,000 in sponsorship-wonderful!

Had a really lovely Christmas and New Year.It was a wee bit different this year,in that we all went to Claire and Paul's house for Christmas dinner.Everyone had a lovely time , and the meal was terrific ! Chloe was the centre of attention, as usual!

Little Miss Chloe

It's January 21st 2016 , and I have had nearly two weeks of my latest treatment regime. I get connected up to the chemo pump on a Monday and that gets changed every Monday for five weeks.I attend the Beatson every week day for radiotherapy.The chemo is 5fu,which I have had several times in the past.The radiotherapy machine is called a Linear Accelerator -Impressive piece of kit.I just lie on the table and let it do its' work.The radiographers are very thorough,and check your details and check that you are always in the correct position for treatment. So far,I am feeling well,and not suffering any nasty effects.I might not suffer any at all-everyone is different!.
I am getting on with life as normal.Bill and I went to see the new Star Wars movie-it was very good-a few hours of escapism.We also went, along with Rosie, to see the Chieftains ,who were performing in the annual Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow.It was a great concert,especially as a couple of their guests were Eddi Reader and Kris Kristofferson.Great night, although it was a bit surreal hearing Kristofferson singing "Me and Bobby McGee", accompanied by the Chieftains and the Glasgow Gaelic choir

Kris Kristofferson ,Glasgow Gaelic choir,and the Chieftains

Had a lovely lunch on Sunday ,with Paul's mum and dad and aunt and cousin. His aunt and cousin live in Aberdeen, and are not coming down for Christmas, so we had an early Christmas lunch , then went to the fair in George Square. We went to the Anchor Line , where I had been for my retirement lunch. The star of the show was Chloe-surprise!A great day was had by all !

I attended the Beatson yesterday for my planning scan for radiotherapy. It involved meeting with my oncologist to discuss the various side effects and to sign a consent form.He also gave me a booklet with all the information in it-I did read it, because he wrote it !
I got a photo taken for ID purposes , and this was placed in my notes-great idea !
I was then given Gastrografin to drink , to help outline the bowel for the ct scan.I think I have probably spoken about it before - it tastes of aniseed , which is fine if you like aniseed . I don't , but needs must ! I had the scan an hour later , and was marked with temporary markers .These markers pinpoint the area where the radiotherapy beams will be focused . I need to go back next week so that the markers can be made permanent- I've always wanted a tattoo! I will also have a continuous infusion of 5FU for the duration of the radiotherapy , so will just say this again-Thank goodness for the NHS !

Back again! Had PET scan and MRI scan last week , and was away to Beatson this morning for results.No nasty surprises were thrown up , so I am starting radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the new year-getting a planning scan next week , and will take it from there. Was nice to see my oncologist again ,, although would have been better in social circumstances. Still , I am very grateful that there is treatment available for me , and I am very grateful for the wonderful NHS !
The MRI was a scan I had never had before , as I had been told I couldn't have one as I have metal pins and plates in my right humerus ,following an accident at work about twelve years ago.Anyway,I was able to have it -it was a bit noisy,but the staff gave me headphones to dampen down the noise-the whole procedure took about forty five minutes,so it was quite relaxing!The PET scan was relaxing too , and the results today were quite reassuring,in that the cancer is only confined to one area in the pelvis,which is gonna get zapped in the coming weeks! I think i will feel like James Bond , in that scene from Goldfinger - or maybe not x x

I have had the chemo before - on several occasions - and am glad that I still have the Portacath in , as it cuts out a lot of hassle . I am also very grateful to my baby sister , Rosie, for keeping the port in good condition,by flushing it every month x x

Hi di hi!  Here we go again.
Went for my routine ct scan-six months post op-consultant phoned to say that it looked like I had a pulmonary embolus and would need to go straight to hospital.
I was a bit shocked at this, as I felt perfectly well.I had had a PE at the start of last year,while on chemo,so was wondering if it was just a throwback to that. He wanted me to go in anyway,so I was admitted and started on Heparin injections-I was told I would be getting another more detailed scan of the lung,which would tell me if the clot was old or new.After a couple of days,I got the scan and it suggested that the clot was,in fact,residue from the previous one,so I was discharged home , to return the following week for full ct results.
The following week came-result not great! Small area of concern in lower pelvis-pretty much the same site that had been involved pre operation. Consultant said the best plan would be to get biopsies under general anaesthetic the following week. I dutifully went along to pre op assessment unit,and was assessed! Fit for anaesthetic. On the day of the op, I went straight to the surgical same day admission unit-great set up- turn up prepared for your op , then you get taken to a ward post op. I came through it all with flying colours, as usual and was discharged the following day,with an appointment to see the consultant the following week. That was last week-he told me that the area is definitely tumour,which should respond to radiotherapy and possibly surgery afterwards. Today I went for another PET scan-have MRI scheduled for later this week . Life goes  on ......
Have been to see a couple of shows this month. One was a one-man show by a guy called Miles Allen -he was very funny !
Yesterday , we went to see an interview with Brian Blessed-he was loud and funny -and the interviewer couldn't get a word in !
The most important family event was Bill's 60th birthday! We held a surprise dinner for him at the home of his favourite football club , Glasgow Celtic

Bill and I were also down in Manchester for the Beating Bowel Cancer Patient's Day. It was held in the Christie in Manchester. Was great to meet up with Twitter pals,and fellow patients , and the CEO Mark Flannagan , who does a great deal of work for the charity. Was also lovely to catch up with Paul again, as he lives in Manchester.We went to the Christmas markets while we were there,but I never bought anything!

was a delight to meet the lovely Jackie and her hubby Ray-Twitter and Facebook buddies

The bossman!

wee rosie cheeks

Paul did well to smile-he is an Aberdeen fan!

The fantastic Ben Ashworth-has had bowel cancer for a few years-continues to do marathons and fundraising for various charities

Paul and Claire

I can only apologise if anyone has been waiting on tenterhooks for my next post-I doubt there is anyone in that position,though!
I made a great recovery while in hospital , and had my urinary catheter removed on the Friday prior to my planned discharge on the following Monday. Unfortunately,my bladder decided it preferred the catheter being in,as I was grossly incontinent of urine-not a pleasant position to be in.I was given pads to wear and advised to go to toilet every hour-very degrading,as I was in a constant state of incontinence,and also had a new ileostomy to deal with! A less strong-willed person would probably have crumbled at this point,but I just accepted it-maybe I am too accepting of things,but I feel that there is no use crying over spilt milk,or in this case,spilt urine!
Anyway,the surgeon decided that I should have the catheter put in again and start bladder training.
I was discharged the following week with the catheter still in place and an appointment for urology in eight months-not urgent,then!
Was great to get home to my lovely family again,and I quickly settled in to life with my new companions,ileostomy and catheter. I bought a couple of long dresses as I felt they gave me more freedom to move around,and also covered everything up! The urine bag is strapped to my leg,so leaves a bulge if you are wearing trousers-looking a  bit like the worst case of varicose veins!
Had a few wee disasters with the bags,due to leakage,which mainly happened at night in bed-just as well I have a great husband!
I got lovely new bags via my stoma nurse in Glasgow,and problem was solved.
Poor Bill developed sciatica and was off work for over six weeks ,but he still managed to walk his girl down the aisle.
My main target after having this operation was to get fit for my daughters wedding in September-as you may see,the date is now October.I made it,and here are photos to prove it!

Claire

Paul having a cuppa before his sister gets married

I made it-and not a bag in sight(well hidden)

Mummy and her girl

proud father of the bride

proud parents

Chloe posing!

I was admitted to ward 11 at Ninewells on Sunday 22nd March.I was given my own room ,with a view of some lovely cherry blossoms,my favourite tree-"must be an omen", I thought!
The day was taken up with lots of questions from medical staff and nursing staff. My surgeon came in to see me to explain the procedure again and to get me to sign the consent form.He fully explained all the risks,including the risk of heart attack or dying on the table, but I felt that , as it was a rather expensive procedure , he wouldn't be doing it if he thought I might die-silly , I know!
I then had the most horrendous bowel prep I have ever tasted! It consisted of lots of bottles of Lucozade (which I hate),Dioralyte sachets ,( which I hate ), and Kleen Prep (which I hate) . A couple of enemas were thrown in for good measure , so , all in all, it was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday-NOT!
Having said that , I managed to get a good sleep and was wakened at 6am to get ready for theatre . It is strange , but true , that I never felt nervous . I think this is because I had met the surgeon and anaesthetist and had total faith in them.I was wheeled to theatre in my bed and met up with the theatre nurses and anaesthetist. He said he would put an epidural in my back which would help with pain relief after the operation . He had seven attempts and eventually got it in- apparently nurses' backs are notorious for getting epidurals in due to the wear and tear and calcification -at least , that's what he told me!
The next thing I remember is waking up in ICU , twenty four hours after I had gone to theatre! I still had the ET tube down my throat , which I found quite uncomfortable , as I couldn't speak . There were loads of machines bleeping away , doing what they were supposed to , and a couple of nurses and an anaesthetist looking at me . I felt no fear at all- I actually felt very safe as all these people were here looking after me . I couldn't move , so couldn't check my wounds to see what had been done , but I felt no pain , so wasn't really bothered . In the afternoon , the anaesthetist decided that the ET tube could be removed ,which was nice - at least I could talk ! I had an N/G tube in place - not my favourite thing , and was on 100% humidified oxygen - another of my least favourite things ! It's not that they are painful , just a nuisance!
I also had a central line in the right hand side of my neck , which had five lumens in it for various uses, an arterial line in my arm , my PCA via epidural , and a urinary catheter in place. I checked under the covers and saw this lovely operation scar from my chest down to my bladder , and an ileostomy on my left side . There were also four drains in place .
I was told that the surgery actually lasted nearly twelve hours , so my poor family must have been out of their minds with worry .
My time in ICU was short , as I was making good progress , so I was moved to HDU the following day. This was a bit busier than ICU and I had to share my nurse with another patient - oh , the humanity!
My surgeon came and spoke to me and said that the operation had gone very well and all the cancer was removed - I could have hugged him , if I wasn't connected to all these tubes , etc. I had to concentrate on getting better now , but my condition was classed as "critical" because of the major surgery. I must admit , that shook me up a bit , but I am not one for feeling sorry for myself , so I just went with the flow !
I was on IV antibiotics , anti emetics , steroids , ( because I had chemo during surgery ) , antacids , but,as they all went via my central line , it didn't really bother me.

All the staff were tremendous-very professional and knowledgeable , and I felt very safe at all times . I didn't really sleep very well , but the Morphine via the PCA gave me some weird visual hallucinations- it was probably exacerbated by the steroids - it was like watching people moving fast frame -not pleasant at all !
About eleven days after my operation , my drains were all doing what they were supposed to , apart from one which had started to drain some bile . The surgeon was a bit concerned by this , so i had to go for a CT scan to check what was going on.That was a bit like a pantomime - I was wheeled along in my bed , monitors bleeping , IV infusions ,catheter and the rest . I was wondering how they were going to get me from the bed to the scanning couch , but I said I could stand up and transfer myself - they were a bit surprised , but I managed it with a lot of help!
It went ok , and I was soon back in HDU . The result showed a small pocket of fluid gathering around my small bowel . The surgeon said that it could be a suture that had come loose , or a fistula in the bowel . He said he would observe how things went over the weekend , but that I might need to go back for more surgery .
The weekend passed and there was more bile in the drainage bottle , so the surgeon came in and said I would need to go to theatre - I asked when that would be as my husband was travelling up from Glasgow to visit - he said I would need need to go to theatre in ten minutes ! I managed to phone Bill before he left , and told him what was happening - more worry for the family ( sorry !).
Ten minutes later I was in theatre going through the same rigmarole to get the epidural in again -the previous one had been removed a couple of days before , as I was doing so well.
Next thing I knew , I was in the recovery area . I had only been in theatre for three hours this time , so was soon taken back to the ward . The surgeon came and told me that there was fistula formation in my small bowel , so he had to perform a resection and anastomosis . I had more drains in , but felt fine , as usual.
This kind of slowed down my progress for a few days , but these things happen . I gradually got better every day , with tubes getting removed as things improved .
I will continue the saga in my next post x