This is probably the toughest blog post I have ever had to write, and it has taken a while as I needed to spend some time visiting family and letting them know what's going on.
Some of my Facebook 'Family' have already been following my story to a point and have been very supportive.
As already discussed I had an ultrasound scan in April which showed a mass in the liver. This was followed in May by a CT scan with contrast, an MRI with contrast and then the big one a Liver BIOPSY. This wasn't the most comfortable of procedures but it was done as a Day-case so I went prepared with some downloaded Netflix series and some magazines plus I got £35 from my Medicash Account.
I was a bit tender for a few days and then saw the oncologist a week later.
That appointment was a bit of an examination and information experience. My oncologist was awaiting some additional results from the biopsy but it was confirmed that we were looking at an inoperable cancer which might at least respond to chemotherapy, and we were allowed to go on our 2 week 'holiday' up to East Anglia to see our families and break the news to them. Ron asked him if it was 'life threatening', and he said it wasn't (although I know it is becoming life limiting and I am now having some symptoms).
On our return it was another two weeks before my next appointment, and on Wednesday my treatment plan was discussed. As suspected it is inoperable and radiotherapy is also not possible so I will commence the GemCis Chemotherapy regime (Gemcitabine and Cisplatin) next month. Annoyingly it is still not confirmed whether it is hepatocellular (liver cancer) or a cholangiocarcinoma (gall bladder cancer) but the proposed treatment will be the same whichever.
Unfortunately my blood sugars are now all up the creek and my diabetes is completely all out of control. This is despite my appetite being very poor and my further weight loss (I was 14 stone 8.8 lb this morning). My diabetes Nurse is seeing me next Monday to start me on Insulin - hopefully this will help reduce my current fatigue and maybe improve my appetite a little. Controlling my sugar levels will be vital as one of the components of the therapy is a steroid which will raise them even higher and increase my risk of secondary Diabetic complications. Somewhat annoyingly I have just received my Driving licence back from the DVLA for my 3 year renewal, an when I start insulin I will have to contact them again to let them know.
So there we have it, I have a large inoperable carcinoma in the middle of my liver. Ron and I have every hope that this treatment will halt and possibly shrink any further growth of my 'Alien', but by the same token I have no unrealistic hopes, I know unless a miraculous cure is found at some point this cancer will take my life but I am certainly not ready yet.
In my search for a name for my 'Alien', and with the current Conservative Leadership battle going on, it looks like we will be getting an unwanted invader trying to take over, who has a number of offspring and makes me feel sick (OK, and a little scared) - I shall call it BORIS!
