It’s been a worrying 8 months since I was informed that I was no longer in remission and that my cancer had returned. When you are told something like that you immediately suspect the worst, and start thinking about organising your affairs. I had the recommended surgery in December, and then it was a long wait to find out whether it had been successful or not.
However, a visit to the oncologist this week has cheered me up no end. According to a CT scan with contrast done five months later, there is nothing to see at all; no lumps, bumps, or anything that should not be there. The oncologist mentioned more radiation treatment as a precaution, as surgery was right up to the margins, but due to possible horrific side-effects I decided to say no and agreed to 3-monthly scans instead. The possible outcome of 6 weeks of radiation is a severe sore throat and an inability to swallow (thus requiring another operation), also jawbone damage and loss of teeth. Understandably, having the treatment did not fill me with the utmost joy. I asked the oncologist if she would have the treatment given my circumstances, but she deftly skirted the issue!
I am encouraged by my family, who say that if they were in my shoes they would not have the treatment either. You have to balance your quality of life with the side effects of cancer treatment. Quite a lot of the time the treatment is worse than the symptoms of the disease. I have only had one symptom 11 years ago, and the rest is all side-effects unfortunately. I can live with them, but at the moment do not want another load on top of the ones I already have, which may well tip me over the edge into depression.
So, there you have it. I am as well as I can be. To celebrate Sam and I will be heading off to the Isle of Wight Festival in a few weeks, and I look forward to sitting on the grass and listening to the bands with a glass of Pimms in my hand. Cheers!
Stephany Tullis (@StephanyTullis) said:
Thanks for sharing Steve! I wish you the best of health, a continued positive spirit and outlook. May only the best of the best come your way!
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Stevie Turner said:
Thank you Stephany, and to you too!
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Stevie Turner said:
Cheers Beem. I’ll be happy with three score years and ten for now……
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beemweeks said:
So very glad to hear your great news, Stevie! I am wishing you only the very best! May you live to be 100 and full of life!
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The Opening Sentence said:
As the suggestion is a ‘precaution’ rather than treatment you’ve probably done the right thing opting for scans. So, hopefully it will all work out for the good and you get to crowd surf even more Isle of Wights and Downloads. (What’s the highest you’ve ever stage dived?)
Chris
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Stevie Turner said:
Taking into consideration my age and delicate health, stage diving is not a very good idea. The highest I go to now is at the top of the big wheel in the Isle of Wight arena. Download we gave up a couple of years ago – just a tad too heavy now!
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for your comment Patti. I don’t know what you think, but sometimes I get fed up with being prodded about. I feel that for the moment it’s time to say a big, fat ‘no’!
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PJ Fiala said:
Congratulations Stevie. I’m happy your healthy again. I am also a cancer survivor, so I completely understand your willingness to celebrate and eagerness to stay healthy. You go girl.
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Jan Hawke said:
Way to go Stevie – so glad you’ve had good news and kudos for choosing NOT to have treatment that could leave you feeling totally yucky with no real gain.
Have a blast on the IoW – I’ll raise some Pimms to you in Cornwall 😀
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Stevie Turner said:
Cheers Jan. I’m going to make sure I eat healthily and will have some alternative medicine as well. The only one who’s raised any concern is my 91 year old mum, who went through 6 weeks of radiation for a different cancer 30 years ago. She’s suffering awful side effects now.
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