"High Grade Bladder Cancer"

Having passed blood in my urine (just once), I got a bit of a fright and contacted my  GP, who immediately asked me to bring a sample.  Within one week I had an ultrasound in Stirling Health & Care Village, which was followed up with a flexible cystoscopy at Forth Valley Royal Hospital by the most amazing Urology Nurse Specialist, Leanne , who identified a tumour and offered spectacularly good care managing the shock of cancer. I was in the Care of Mr. Tweedle and his staff for a Trans Urethral Resection of a bladder tumour (TURBT) procedure and chemotherapy only two weeks later. Pathology news was again delivered by Leanne with care and consideration indicating I had a high grade tumour and would need further procedures.  I had a second TURBT procedure six weeks later under the Care of Mr. McIlhenny and I am please to say Leanne was able to offer good news with pathology this time around as the tumour had been removed in its entirety.  Next stage for me is immunotherapy with the BCG vaccine. 

I have gone from having little interaction with the NHS beyond local GP led care to having undergone an Ultrasound scan, a flexible cystoscopy. two TURBT procedures, two epidurals, chemotherapy a CT scan and chest x-ray, all within three months.

I now have a care package which includes 3 years of immunotherapy, 5 years of CT scans and 10 years of cystoscopy surveillance. I cannot fathom the cost to our NHS for my care. It is clear the NHS is incredible value for money. 

Having gotten in to my fifties with no invasive procedures to then have the shock that I would be getting a camera and surgical tools pushed through the relatively small hole of my urethra filled me with dread.  The reality was quite the opposite, I encountered the most considerate and caring professionals I could ever have hoped for.  I had the absolute treat of being able to watch my tumour being resected "live" as I had a spinal and was awake throughout the procedure! At every touch point the care was exceptional from Consultants, Anesthetists,  Practitioners, Nurses, Auxiliaries and support staff.  Interestingly I though my tumour would be dark and sinister but it proved to be quite pretty a bit like a sea anemone. My wife named my tumour Twoey (Audrey II) after the main protagonist in the "Little Shop of Horrors" musical, an alien with a need for human blood. This really helped manage the mental stress of the "C" word in a typically disparaging Scottish way. 

I have nothing but praise for the staff and the Institution of Forth Valley NHS, and if truth be tole have a bit of a man crush on the consultant urologists, I am in absolute awe at the skills needed to conduct a procedure, through my urethra to remove a cancerous tumour.  It may seem a bit incredulous that I am looking forward to immunotherapy but the fact is I have a high grade cancer which has been caught early and with immunotherapy the chances of keeping my bladder are very good, and I must say I am pretty fond of by bladder. I am now in receipt of the best care and surveillance possible for the next 10 years.  

The NHS may be used as a political football, but when push come to shove the NHS is always there as the cornerstone of society, looking after all of us in our time of need. 

Thankyou so much to all the staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital for your spectacular care and to the institution of the NHS. I know Scotland had a tradition of health care before Nye Bevan's formation of the NHS, but the NHS should be treasured for all the good it does.