"The moral of my cancer journey - listen to your wife!"

After feeling very tired for a while a G P's appointment and blood test confirmed that I was very anaemic and had traces of blood in my colon. An urgent colonoscopy was arranged at The Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy where a tumour was found and tests confirmed this to be cancer. I also had a CT scan to determine if the cancer had spread.  A couple of weeks later I met with my surgeon Mr Robertson and my colorectal nurse Wendy to discuss my case and it was decided that surgery was the best option as indications were that my cancer was contained within my bowel.

A couple of days later I attended a prehabilitation session at the Maggies centre a chance to talk things over with others going through similar experiences. Two weeks later I attended my surgery pre assessment clinic for tests. One week later I was admitted for surgery.

I had a right hemicolectomy at the beginning of March.  After spending a day in the high dependency unit I was moved to a general ward I was well looked after in the ward and was up and about very quickly. As my blood cell levels were still a bit low I was given a transfusion which helped my levels to return to a level where I could go home .  As lymph nodes had been removed to check for cancer spread I had to wait a couple of weeks for pathology results to come through and these proved to be clear of cancer.  I will need monitoring for 3 to 4 years.   

I am so very grateful to so many people who have given me my life back to my GP Dr Robson for recognising the urgency of my case, to Mr Evgenikos  endoscopy unit, the Anaesthesia team, to Mr Robertson and his team at the surgical unit, to all the Wendy's Jayne and Katie of the colorectal nursing unit for their care and assistance; it is very reassuring that they are only a phone call away for any questions I may have.

Throughout my time in hospital everything was explained in detail every step of the way and with great compassion.  It cannot be easy telling someone that they have Cancer. Despite the disruption of covid my case was dealt with very swiftly and I am eternally grateful for that. I have no complaints and only good things to say about my treatment   thank you also to my wife for all she has done for me,   

Finally the moral of my story is this:  When your wife tells you that you look ill and you should go and see a Doctor - go and see a Doctor!