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Post by humpyboy on Oct 25, 2014 21:47:38 GMT 10
G'day one and all, not been around much of late as I don't have any project on the go yet but thought I would stop by to inform those that do not know about my recent issues and to update those that do, I have recently been diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus,Yeah!!! thus far all the scans and tests that I have had have come back negative and nothing can be found anywhere else in the body so it is well contained and from all reports can be cured with the surgery they are planing for me in the new year, I am currently waiting to hear back from Peter Mac as to when they want me in for a CT scan to take precise measurements as to it's location in preparation for Radiotherapy, this will take place five days a week with Chemo one day a week for five weeks after which I will have a 4 to 6 week break then surgery followed by some more Chemo. As strange as it may sound I am in good spirits and am not at all concerned with my predicament it is what it is and we need to deal with it like we would anything else put before us the only upside has been a loss of weight and more to loose yet so I'll soon be a slim Jim like I was in my younger days, any one want to buy some fat clothes? will drop by from time to time to update anyone who cares to whatch this thread as to my progress, for now all is well and I believe it to be so into the future all be it with a few hurdles to leap over on the way.
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dave01
Full Member
MR ROADHAVEN
Posts: 234
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Post by dave01 on Oct 25, 2014 22:19:43 GMT 10
Hey Derk, Lil and I wish you all the very best and hope for a speedy recovery, bit of luck you,ll get another van finished in time for the next nationals. Take care mate. Dave
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Post by DC3Td on Oct 25, 2014 22:24:47 GMT 10
Hey Humpy.Not too flash news you`re dealing with but certainly like many other folk here wish you a good recovery.All the best & keep us all informed. gordon
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Post by Roehm3108 on Oct 26, 2014 5:45:06 GMT 10
Hi Derk
So sorry to hear your news, but glad you told us. You know you have a lot of friends here on this site and we're all barracking for a complete recovery. Keep up those progress reports and God bless you through these times.
Ray
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willow5075
Full Member
Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Oct 26, 2014 7:56:36 GMT 10
All the best with your treatment, you have a great outlook and that will help you a lot!
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Post by JBJ on Oct 26, 2014 16:56:42 GMT 10
Hi Derk,
All the best with your treatment, & a positive guy like you should end up with a good positive result.
Medical treatment is improving every day, with better & better results always happening.
We will think of you, & mentally support you like you did for me.
JBJ & Boots (Dennis & Sue)
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Post by toffeeman on Oct 27, 2014 23:04:03 GMT 10
Sorry to here your news mate thinking of you and wishing you all the very best for a speedy recovery. Agnes and Alan (Toffeeman).
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Post by humpyboy on Oct 28, 2014 11:52:55 GMT 10
Update, had my scan yesterday and am now all marked and ready to go, first treatment Nov 5th, Chemo in the morning then radiation in the arvo, every Wednesday will be like this with just radiation on the other 4 days, this will go for 5 weeks then I get a break of 4-6 weeks then my surgery followed by more chemo after that, am having the next 5 weeks off work YEAH!!!!!! (on sick leave cos I've got so much) then it's back for 2 weeks before the Xmas break (ha ha) so looks like I'll be on the chopping block mid January.
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Post by Roehm3108 on Oct 29, 2014 6:13:10 GMT 10
At least you won't be pinchin' timber from your neighbours for a while - gives the trees a chance to grow All the best with it all! Ray
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Post by boblor on Oct 29, 2014 16:27:03 GMT 10
Hi humpyboy Keep the chin up old mate, and keep your positive attitude and you will make it for another round.There will be a lot of VVers keeping an I eye on you. This comes from one who knows. I myself get further results next week. Cheers boblor
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Post by greedy53 on Oct 29, 2014 19:42:49 GMT 10
I think your just malingering while doing a stelth rebuild get well and come back better than before
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Post by humpyboy on Nov 1, 2014 9:21:49 GMT 10
Thanks for the well wishes everyone, Bob I hope it is all good news for you with the test results, I know how much better I felt every time they said mine were good, Ray, I don't pinch the timber from next door, I quietly assist Grahame clean up around the place so the cattle don't trip over the fallen stuff and Greedy if only I was doing a stealth rebuild, I haven't even thought about starting that one yet but wish I was starting.
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Post by humpyboy on Nov 6, 2014 9:15:36 GMT 10
Hello all, had my first big day yesterday, 4 hrs of Chemo in the morning followed by Radiation in the afternoon, only being the first day I pulled up good by the end of it all with no after effects (as yet ) only get radiation for the next 4 days till I again get the chemo on Wednesday morning, I wont post all the time but will come back from time to time so you are all aware that I am still above ground
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Nov 6, 2014 9:53:08 GMT 10
hi humpyboy
good to hear you got through the first round fairly easily.
we hope the rest of the treatment is as kind to you and wish the best of british for absolute success.
geoff 'n jude
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Post by humpyboy on Nov 13, 2014 17:28:38 GMT 10
Quick update on my progress, had my second lot of chemo yesterday along with some more radiation and as before I have come through it A OK, don't know why people make such a fuss of it all or maybe I'm just put together differently to everyone else as it has no real effect on me thus far or at worst they just aren't doing their job properly
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Post by Roehm3108 on Nov 13, 2014 18:41:06 GMT 10
Derk, have you had a chat with Betty next door? She's a nurse as you would be aware, and she can certainly give you a bit more drum about what to expect. Meanwhile, it's good to hear all's going to schedule with no major drama side effects.
Take Care
Ray
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Post by JBJ on Nov 13, 2014 18:44:16 GMT 10
Hi Derk,
I guess no one knows how anyone is going to react to any treatment. Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones that the treatment helps to cure, without too many side effects.
But we all only live day to day, so keep on with your positive attitude. I have heard that a positive attitude is one of the major contributors to you getting thru any infection/disease.
Keep on keeping on, as the poms say in a movie I remember
JBJH
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Post by seeshell on Nov 13, 2014 19:06:57 GMT 10
Hi Derk I was sorry to hear that you're not well, but very glad to hear at least that you're in good spirits and you aren't being knocked around too much by the treatment. You know what they say: No sense, no feeling. If you feel up for a visit some time soon, give me a ring, and we will pop around. Get well mate - Carley and Aaron
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Post by humpyboy on Nov 20, 2014 16:28:27 GMT 10
Well here I am nearing the end of week 3 and like before I'm on top of the world, feel better now than I did before I started treatment, still no side effects or reactions, all those looking after me are very happy with my progress and can not believe how well I look and feel, 2 weeks left after this and I wait for a date with the surgeon for my op.
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Post by humpyboy on Nov 22, 2014 20:23:50 GMT 10
Had a very pleasant afternoon entertaining Carley & Aaron AKA seeshell who popped over to see how I was holding up, thank you for the visit guys.
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Post by humpyboy on Nov 27, 2014 15:40:15 GMT 10
Now nearing the end of week 4, nothing new to report, double thumbs up from me.
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Post by humpyboy on Dec 6, 2014 9:55:06 GMT 10
Hello once again, well Friday was my last day of treatment, all done now and have an appointment with my surgeon on Tuesday 9th , I hope to find out a date for my surgery and if he wants any follow up scans or tests, I am feeling great health wise for now other than a bit of nausea which I had before treatment anyway so nothing new to me there.
I've had a few friends ask me of the symptoms I had that lead to my diagnosis, it started back in June with simple reflux that was severe enough to wake me during the night on numerous occasions, I saw my doctor who put me on medication to ease the amount and strength of stomach acid that was produced, this worked fine till I ran out of them, so I returned to the doctor for more and I was sent off for a Gastroscopy which revealed the true cause of my discomfort, I was talking with the specialist and he told me that in my case the constant reflux was the cause of my cancer not just over the last couple of months but it had been going on for years, I recall having Heartburn/Intergestion for many years and it was way back then that it began, with the constant reflux the stomach acid would burn the lining of the Eosophagus to the point that it kicked off the cancer cells into thier growing frenzy, now please don't go crazy if you also have reflux or are taking medication for such but as I have said to many friends if you have any concerns please go talk to your doctor especially if you have never had a Gastroscopy and discuss it with him, I have since had my two younger sisters organize a test, one has had hers done and is waiting on the results and the other has hers next week, I spoke to them both about getting tests done as 7 years ago we lost our older brother to the very same thing, I know there are blokes out there that don't like going to the doctors but please go talk to one, I'm glad I did.
I'm not trying to scare anyone but just putting the info out there, you make up your minds as to what you do, the choice is your's.
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Post by humpyboy on Dec 12, 2014 17:41:38 GMT 10
Hello all, saw my Surgeon and he was very happy with the reports from the Oncologist & Radiotherapist, he then sent me to get a CT scan done from neck to pelvis, he will look at these then make a decission as to which way he will go in, either through the chest or keyhole, I know which one I would prefer, I go back to see him again on the 23rd Dec.
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Post by humpyboy on Dec 23, 2014 14:24:59 GMT 10
Okay, so I now have a date for my surgery, 17th January, came away from the surgeons office today with a heap of info plus another referral for yet another PET scan, it appears there are now a couple of Lymph nodes at question, so get that done soon and then back to surgeon for more info on the 13th, he is talking keyhole to begin with to loosen all the bits he needs to work on then they will roll me onto my side and cut me so they can get in through the ribs to finish the job after having deflated my right lung, there after it is all about recovery, which I can say I am not looking forward to, gunna be a bit of a rough trot for a while but so long as it is all successful I don't care.
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Post by humpyboy on Jan 20, 2015 12:04:43 GMT 10
Well Well Well, who's been a lucky boy then, lost a bit more weight on Saturday probably only a few grams but lost it any way, plus one large Tumor which is now stored in the freezer for further training of new Doctors, I don't really care what they do with it now so long as they don't try putting it back. Got my my room at 1.00 Sunday afternoon from ICU have spent many hours sitting the chair and yesterday I did three laps of the floor that I am on one at a time, today I did three laps in the morning and have got back into bed after having done another three around lunch time and plan another three before the days out. So far all I get is crushed ice to keep my mouth moist, tomorrow we do some x-Rays while I drink a contrast to see if the join is leaking if it don't we then get to drink fluids and if it does we get nothing still for a few more days but I have no concerns, all the staff here and even my surgeon are surprised at how well I have bounced back after the surgury, so thus far all is GOOD.
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