Life goes on

I still have a half marathon on 11th October in my sights - how realistic I don't yet know. I went for a jog/run/walk for 75 mins and saw my neighbour who had just come back from holiday. He did ask whether I had had my operation yet.

This time next week I should be back home after my operation to remove my lymph node. I wonder how I will feel.

To be honest I feel and look pretty good at the moment. My BMI is almost normal and skin is better too. Why should I ruin it by having an operation I wonder?

I di post a copy of my letter on Facebook yesterday saying I have had to cancel holidays. It seems to have stopped people posting their holiday snaps - guilt I wonder?

Its very wet here and across the whole UK it seem at the moment. So much for peak holiday times.

Just on my second beer of the evening. I am still cutting down on what I used to drink which is good.

Just wondering whether to buy a proper smartphone. My thinking is that I will be spending loads of time in hospital so will need a distraction but I have not worked out whether I will be able to use it on a ward.

I know the date now

I had a scan of my abdomen and pelvis areas on Thursday 23rd July. A lot of waiting around and not too much action.

Yesterday 24th July I had a phone call saying I have a letter informing me of an appointment on 28th July but to ignore it. Instead the lady told me I would have a lymph node removed on Sunday 2nd August. So much for what cabinet ministers say about the NHS not working at weekends.

I expect the letter today and might publish it on Facebook. I am thinking about doing the antidote to holiday pictures by posting various shots of wards and apparatus and selfies of me in hospital beds.

So far this year I have been 11 times to hospitals. Must be a sign of getting older.

Still waiting for details of my operation

I am going to get a lymph node removed from my neck soon. You will see from previous posts that I have had a pre-operation check. My guess is Tuesday 28th July - my surgeon operates on Tuesdays. I have a scan booked for this Thursday to see if or how far the disease has spread.

I have worked out that at the clinic, Thursday is a telling off day (you drink too much) and Friday is the bad news day.

A few more people, including one of my students know about my situation. Everyone seems kind and supportive. My boss's boss is a bit more reticent however but I will see her tomorrow.

Its quite difficult to get motivated by work at the moment but this might be the last week for a while. I am on holiday for 4 weeks starting on Monday 27th July - not much of a holiday with operations and probable cancer treatments.

How was your weekend?

Yesterday as a sort of defiant gesture I went into work for an open day. I told a few more people that I had cancer - mixed reactions as some knew, some didn't and some pretended they didn't know but did.

I am running at very high blood sugars at the moment and forgot to take my medication last night, but in reality the lymphoma and its treatment is most important in my mind.

I went for a cycle today - I think this will be my favoured exercise as running seems too strenuous at the moment and recovery time is long. I might even start cycling to work again.

I have been trying to relax. My wife gave me a concoction which is supposed to help during Chemotherapy and surprisingly it made me feel uplifted.

The good thing is that I have slept for 8 hours each of the last last two nights  so things are not too bad.

One week on since I was told I had cancer

If nobody had told me last Friday that I had cancer I would be none the wiser. I look fit and healthy.

I am trying to keep positive. I am in contact be email with 2 out of 3 of my estranged children. My mother (300 lies away is worried) but my wife is being as supportive as ever.

I am waiting for the operation to remove my neck lump (lymph node) and then wait for the results before starting treatment. The treatment has a high success rate but I will be out of circulation for a few months I reckon.

I have not told my students yet but don't quite know how to approach this.

As Eric Idle said - always look on the bright side of life do do do do do do do ......

Its consistent with NHL

Pre-op today including an ECG which I have never had before.

I went to my GP today too. He said the hospital had sent a letter saying it was consistent with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - another piece of the jigsaw.

Even though I was on leave today I went to see my line manager. I told him that I might not be around fro a while.

One gets resigned to things unfortunately.

I got annoyed before I went to my pre-op when I was tut-tutted at by a dog walker for not keeping my hedge in check. I retorted that when you had just been diagnosed with cancer you have other priorities than hedges - I managed to stop myself swearing at her.

Things are moving apace

Quite a lot happened yesterday. I have a hospital appointment for 23rd July to do a CT scan with contrast. I have had one before on neck and thorax but this one also includes abdomen and pelvis as well - to check the extent I guess.

Also I had a tea time phone call inviting me to the hospital tomorrow for a pre-op. I thought it was a nuisance call as it did not have a number visible but a message was left. The surgeon usually operates on a Tuesday but also does weekends as well so things might happen sooner rather than later.

If anyone asks me how I am I say do you want the truth - usually they are shocked and say I look well.

One of my sons contacted me a couple of times yesterday in an act of unusual kindness.

Today I told some colleagues that conceivably this might be my last day for a few months. Day to day work scenarios do become less important.

I also went to see my chiropractor today and his work eased some tension across my shoulder blades.

A change of fortune for the horse racing syndicate I am a member of. One of the horses managed to win - I don't have a share in it but it was the first one this year. One I have an interest in runs next Sunday. It is too far a way to attend in person under the current circumstances.