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General Category => Oddball => Topic started by: RayW on January 26, 2020, 10:10:25 AM

Title: Bad News
Post by: RayW on January 26, 2020, 10:10:25 AM
On Friday I underwent a colonoscopy and CT examination to investigate the cause of a sudden heavy bowel bleed last November. Unfortunately, the colonoscopy revealed what seems likely to be a malignant growth in the bowel. I am due to see the consultant next Friday to get the full results and to see what course of action will be required. In the meantime, as you can imagine, my wife Penny and I are still coming to terms with the situation and trying to stay as positive as possible.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Jo on January 26, 2020, 10:30:54 AM
Sorry to hear that Ray  :(

Hopefully they have caught it early enough to be able to treat it  :)

Jo
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Alyn Foundry on January 26, 2020, 11:10:57 AM
The title says it all Ray....

You'll be in our thoughts, try to think positively.

All the best, Graham and Jules.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: steamer on January 26, 2020, 11:59:13 AM
I'm sorry to hear this Ray....treatments today are amazing....keep  up the fight!

Dave
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Ian S C on January 26, 2020, 12:26:48 PM
 :ThumbsUp:Hi Ray, I know the feeling, mine wasn't the bowel, but the brain, after 3 months, still on the upward journey. I'v had some grim outlooks on my lifespan (from experts). :ThumbsUp:
Ian S C
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: 90LX_Notch on January 26, 2020, 01:38:37 PM
I'm so very sorry to hear of this Ray.  My thoughts and prayers for good health are with you.


-Bob
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: dvbydt on January 26, 2020, 01:48:45 PM
Ray, that is awful news for you but they will find a way forward for you I am sure. Mine was bone cancer affecting my spine but after almost a year of chemo I am now in remission  :). I hope it is the same story for you. There is a lot of very skilled help available these days. It is still a shock when you are told, stay positive.
I measured my progress by marking every small achievement as a Major Triumph. As an example, I phoned my eldest daughter, excited by the news that I had been able to pick up my socks from the floor. Her reply was "That is good progress Dad, can you pop round and show a Husband and two teenage boys how it is done!"

Ian (Now over eighty and still machining.)
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Flyboy Jim on January 26, 2020, 02:00:16 PM
Ray and Penny..............colon cancer (if that's what it turns out to be) is one of the more treatable forms of cancer, so I've got my fingers crossed for a good outcome for you. Hang in there and keep us posted.

Jim
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: gerritv on January 26, 2020, 02:46:02 PM
My thoughts are with you.

Based on my cancer journey, take some time this week to learn about treatment options and then write up a list of questions to ask. And bring Penny with you, one of you needs to keep focus on answers to those questions. Which is not easy when you are in that position.

Gerrit
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: RayW on January 26, 2020, 02:46:25 PM
Thank you all for your messages of support. We are due to celebrate our Golden wedding anniversary in September, so I am determined to get this sorted out so that we can celebrate it properly. Will keep you posted how things are going.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: b.lindsey on January 26, 2020, 04:17:24 PM
Sorry to hear of this Ray. As others have said, try to keep a pisitive outlook. Hoping and praying for a positive outcome.

Bill
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: zeeprogrammer on January 26, 2020, 04:30:05 PM
Very sorry to hear this Ray.
I hope for the best. Stay positive. Your wife and family are your best assets.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Kim on January 26, 2020, 05:57:27 PM
Very sorry to hear this news.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Will be thinking of you and hour family.
Kim
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: TerryWerm on January 26, 2020, 06:29:58 PM
Keep your chin up, Ray. The initial news is not good, but we all hope and pray that there is better news in your future.


"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift from God, which is why it is called the present." -- Bill Keane

Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: cnr6400 on January 26, 2020, 07:44:42 PM
Best wishes Ray for a speedy recovery. The docs can do amazing things these days and as others have said colon cancer is one of the more easily treated types. One day at a time does it! Cheers CNR6400 aka Jeff
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: scc on January 26, 2020, 09:25:41 PM
Thinking about you both, as others have said try and stay positive and hope for a good outcome.  I had our golden wedding and suspected bladder cancer last year.....all has turned out well. I pray you have a similar result.          Best Wishes     Terry
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: RayW on February 05, 2020, 04:48:35 PM
I am pleased to report that things are looking better than last time I posted. Finally saw the consultant surgeon yesterday after the appointment had been delayed by a few days. As he had suspected, the growth did prove to be cancerous, but the CT scan revealed it to be smaller than expected and confined within the colon itself, with no evidence of it having spread outside. He is confident that it will be a straightforward operation to cut out the affected section of the colon and re-connect the two ends. The op will be carried out by keyhole surgery and, barring complications, no further treatment of any sort will be necessary.
To my amazement, he said that he had a slot available next Monday to operate, so that has been booked, and I am now trying to get various jobs done before I go in as I will be in hospital for 5-7 days and will then have to take things easy for the next few weeks until everything has healed and my strength has returned.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: gerritv on February 05, 2020, 04:56:48 PM
That is excellent news overall.
I will be thinking positive thoughts for you over the next week.

gerrit
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Jo on February 05, 2020, 05:06:47 PM
That is very positive news Ray, we will be thinking of you  :)

Jo
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: zeeprogrammer on February 05, 2020, 05:16:25 PM
 :ThumbsUp:

Good to hear.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Dreeves on February 05, 2020, 05:34:35 PM
Great News. Hope all goes well and have a speedy recovery.

Dave
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: propforward on February 05, 2020, 05:38:25 PM
Superb news! Looking forward to hearing the post op "all is well" message.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: cnr6400 on February 05, 2020, 06:03:41 PM
 :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: Best wishes Monday Ray!
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Kim on February 05, 2020, 06:42:51 PM
Very good to hear!  Hope all goes well with the upcoming surgery!
Kim
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Flyboy Jim on February 05, 2020, 07:26:26 PM
Great news Ray! You'll be back up and going in no time.  :)

Jim
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: jonesie on February 05, 2020, 09:28:52 PM
Ray that is good news ,hope all goes well and for a fast recovery.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: scc on February 05, 2020, 10:19:14 PM
Excellent news Ray,  Best Wishes    Terry
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Dave Otto on February 05, 2020, 11:21:05 PM
That is great news Ray!
I'm hoping you have a full recovery.

Dave
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Ian S C on February 06, 2020, 12:54:43 PM
Having just had slightly more complex surgery, I;ll be right there with you. When a friend asked a few days after surgery how he felt he said to the surgeon, a bit guttless, surgeon replied I know, I'v got about a foot of it in my office. Chin up, keep smiling, and don't go rushing off as soon as you get out of hospital.
Ian S C
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: b.lindsey on February 06, 2020, 02:06:59 PM
Best wishes for a very speedy recovery Ray!!

Bill
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: RayW on February 18, 2020, 07:03:25 AM
Had my colon cancer op on the 10th and all appears to have gone well with my surgeon happy that they have removed everything necessary. Normal recovery time is 5-7 days in hospital, but things are progressing slowly for me and my digestive system is completely haywire at the moment, producing enough gas to run a decent sized engine. Looks like I am going to be here for a while yet but the wonderful National Health Service staff are taking good care of me.
In the meantime, I am following along all the various builds and looking forward to being back in the workshop again.



Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Jo on February 18, 2020, 07:31:41 AM
Thanks for the update Ray, very pleased to hear that is over and everything is moving forward positively. Best wishes for your recovery  :)

Jo
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: RayW on February 18, 2020, 08:47:11 AM
Thanks Jo
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: deltatango on February 18, 2020, 08:54:21 AM
I'm very glad to hear that Ray, hang in there, it won't be long before you are back to normal. In the meantime, if they upset you, it sounds like you really could f##t flames if you had to.

Get well soon!

David
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Admiral_dk on February 18, 2020, 11:56:29 AM
Great news  :cheers:  now you 'only' need to do as much exercise as the doctor will allow you to do, in order to get as well as possible - and the older you are the more important this is + the sooner the better :old:

Best wishes

Per
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Vixen on February 18, 2020, 12:01:24 PM
Great news Ray  :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp:

I am pleased that everything went so well for you. And as for the gas......it will pass

Mike
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: dvbydt on February 18, 2020, 12:43:04 PM
Amazing progress, stay with the positive outlook, you'll be fine.  :)
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: cnr6400 on February 18, 2020, 01:19:38 PM
Good to  hear from you Ray, do what the docs and physiotherapists say to get  back to 100%.  :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp:
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: b.lindsey on February 18, 2020, 01:30:28 PM
Good to hear Ray, hopefully the rest will sort itself out before too long.

Bill
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Flyboy Jim on February 18, 2020, 01:38:56 PM
That's really good news Ray!   :) After some pretty major surgery like that, it does take a while to get to running on all cylinders again. It's all about tiny baby steps, but then the steps start getting closer together. As was already mentioned, any allowable exercise will really help, which is usually the last thing you feel like doing.  :shrug:

Jim
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: gerritv on February 18, 2020, 04:44:12 PM
That is great news, just get lots of rest now. And doodle ideas in a notebook so you will be busy mentally. Speedy recovery.

Gerrit
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: scc on February 18, 2020, 04:55:03 PM
Well done Ray,  Glad to hear good progress.  Take it easy and recover at a pace that suits you, no strains, etc.  Best Wishes    Terry
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: kvom on February 18, 2020, 06:27:46 PM
Glad to hear things look OK.  I'll have some snoop doctor exploring my behind in a month; you never know what the'll find once you reach a certain age.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Don1966 on February 18, 2020, 08:02:04 PM
Awesome news Ray good to here!.....


Don
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Flyboy Jim on February 18, 2020, 10:38:39 PM
Glad to hear things look OK.  I'll have some snoop doctor exploring my behind in a month; you never know what the'll find once you reach a certain age.

When I had my colon surgery 35 years ago and was being wheeled down to the operating room, my gurney driver told me that my surgeon was nicknamed the "Rear Admiral".  :lolb:

Jim
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Dave Otto on February 19, 2020, 01:10:43 AM
I'm glad to hear that everything is progressing well!

Dave
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: RayW on February 19, 2020, 10:51:45 AM
I can't thank you all enough for your messages of encouragement. I was due to leave hospital today, but an overnight problem has set me back hopefully just for a day
Jim I love your story. When I had spinal surgery a few years ago, my surgeon was Mr. Hammer!!
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: RayW on February 20, 2020, 04:26:50 PM
Still no definite date for leaving hospital as my blood potassium levels remain too low. Just to add insult to injury, a routine blood test has revealed a potentially infectious bug which I could have been carrying unknown for years. To prevent possible cross infection of other patients, therefore, I am now in temporary isolation in a room separate from everybody else.
My surgeon was planning to let me go home tomorrow but I will just have to wait and see.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: propforward on February 20, 2020, 05:08:21 PM
Well that is disappointing, but you're in the best place for dealing with it. Hoping for a speedy recovery for you - and consider the bright side - isolation means you don't have to listen to the other patients snoring!

All the best to you Ray.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: RayW on February 21, 2020, 03:29:06 PM
Home at last! All I need to do now is be sensible and gradually get back to full strength (before attempting to lift any lumps of cast iron). The Sphinx will just have to stay sitting on a table next to my desk where I can sit and admire it.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: tghs on February 21, 2020, 03:34:44 PM
home is always better, away from all those sick people.. relax and enjoy the "rest" time..
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Flyboy Jim on February 21, 2020, 03:58:56 PM
Home at last! All I need to do now is be sensible and gradually get back to full strength (before attempting to lift any lumps of cast iron). The Sphinx will just have to stay sitting on a table next to my desk where I can sit and admire it.

Glad to hear you escaped the clutches of the hospital Ray. It's amazing all the stuff they can find to be concerned about!  :shrug:

Jim
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Jo on February 21, 2020, 04:12:48 PM
Pleased to hear that Ray  :)

Jo
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: gerritv on February 21, 2020, 04:16:06 PM
Home is best place to be, at least no one is waking you up every 3-4 hours asking how your pain level is.

Gerrit
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: propforward on February 21, 2020, 04:46:47 PM
Glad that you're home Ray. It helps speed the recovery. Don't rush it, just take it easy.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: zeeprogrammer on February 21, 2020, 07:20:39 PM
Glad you're home. And like everyone says, take it easy.
Take it easy for longer than you think you need to.  ;D
When I had knee and later shoulder surgery, I thought I was good to go but I wasn't.
It's very easy to over do it.
Title: Re: Bad News
Post by: Dave Otto on February 23, 2020, 12:34:36 AM
Hi Ray

Happy to hear that you made it home.

Rest easy,
Dave
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