Ironwoods cancer saga continues....

[Ironwood]

I didnt start a thread on my cancer previously, but I did mention it in a few other threads. Here's a quick summary of what has happened so far.

3 years ago I decided to get my knee repaired, because it was starting to give me some trouble (I ruptured the Anterior Cruciate ligament in a motorbike crash about 20 years ago)

Anyway I went to the Brisbane Private Hospital (same doctors the Broncos use) and had the job done. At home in Mackay 2 weeks later I started to get sharp pains in my chest with each breath, went to see my Doctor, she sent me for scans on my chest, which revealed I had Pulmonary Embollisms (blood clots in lungs) ,so off to hospital I went, my left lung had collapsed and the other one wasnt much better. I was put on drugs to thin my blood and prevent more clotting.

When they took the scan of my chest they also picked up that my Thyroid was enlarged, after a series of tests it was revealed I had cancer of the Thyroid.

Because of the complications of my blood clots and resulting medication the operation was very risky to remove my Thyroid, I was sent to the Mater in Brisbane, and given the best Doctor in Queensland. It took a 7 & a half hour operation to remove my Thyroid and 30 cancerous glands from my upper chest and neck. All went well and I survived.

I had to have follow up treatment, at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, which involved taking radioactive Iodine and sitting in an isolation room for 3 days. I had wait 5 months between each treatment, I had 3 treatments all up, until the scans came back clear (the cancer had also spread into my lungs)

After that I have been having regular blood tests, which were good until late last year, when the readings started to creep up again.

Well I had a biopsy taken on suspect node in my neck the other day, my doctor called this morning and said the results were not good. I'm going to see her in the morning, and discuss what is in store for me now.

[Sturdee]

I now know a little bit about how you must feel, about the uncertainty and the fears. Gook luck and keep your chin up.

Let us know how you get on.


Peter.

[Ironwood]

Thanks Peter.

I have followed your thread, I hope all is going well for you.

[Sturdee]

Yes I'm fine at this stage. Just started my hormonal treatment today.


Peter.

[prozac]

You've been through the wringer Ironwood. All the best for your continued treatment and a good outcome.

[Ironwood]

You've been through the wringer Ironwood. All the best for your continued treatment and a good outcome.


I went from a supposedly healthy, hard working, hard playing Diesel Fitter, to a physical wreck in the space of a few months.

Thanks for the thoughts Prozac.

[Ironwood]

I went from a supposedly healthy, hard working, hard playing Diesel Fitter, to a physical wreck in the space of a few months.

I should add that after recovering from the surgery, and things settling down from the loss of my Thyroid Gland, I did start to feel all right again after about 6 months. Just not quite my old active self.
I struggled a bit with the rigors of working as a Diesel Fitter, The heat was the worst thing, I seem to feel the heat a lot more now, cold doesnt seem to worry me though.
Anyway I gave up the Diesel Fitting after 26 years of it, and now own a Newsagency.

[Ironwood]

The results of the biopsy I had the other day were not good news. I have the cancer back in the Lymphatic Glands in my neck.

The surgeon who did my earlier operation, called this morning to discuss whats next. So it looks like more surgery in a few weeks back down at Brisbane to remove the offending parts, and then more Radioactive Iodine treatment later on once I recover from the surgery.

[Sturdee]

The results of the biopsy I had the other day were not good news. I have the cancer back in the Lymphatic Glands in my neck.


Sorry to hear it.

Peter.

[artme]

Not good at all Ironwood.:(:(:(
I hope that things can be sorted out for you.

[prozac]

Keep up a positive attitude, we're all barracking for you.

[Ironwood]

Thanks for the thoughts Guys, they are appreciated.

My GP rang this morning to discuss a few things that she was talking about with the Surgeon.
Its good to be in the hands of caring and very professonal doctors.

I am too busy these days to let this depress me like it did last time round, though if I stop and dwell on what is going on, I do feel a bit down.

I should be hearing from the surgeon some time today, to work out dates and times, it sounds like he wants me down there for about a week and a half. I will try and talk him into condensing it down to under a week if I can, there sounds like a couple of days wasted in the schedule he has so far.

[Ironwood]

Well I'm back.

I went down to Brisbane last Tuesday had a CT scan and Utrasound on my neck and chest. They could only find the one node on the tests.
Went into surgery on Wednesday, they took out the enlarged node and a few other close by, tests came back the enlarged node was cancerous, but the others were clear. The Doctors were happy with that, so I guess I am too.

Only a small scar this time, about 4 inches long, from near my Adams Apple to around under my right ear. Its healing well.

They let me out of Hospital on Friday, went to stay at my Sons place near the RNA showgrounds, the garden show was on so I went and had a bit of a look around in there (pity the Wood show didnt line up for me like that).

At this stage it looks like I will go back down to Brisbane in July for another round of Radioactive Iodine Treatment.
I have to wait that long because they injected me with some dye for the CT scan, and I have to wait for it to fully leave my system, or it will clash with the Radioactive Iodine.

[jmk89]

It is good to hear that the doctors are happy - like most professionals, most of them that I have dealt with are hard-working, professional and caring and get a bum rap from the few careless, greedy or callous ones that make the media headlines. Best of luck on the recovery trail.

[Ironwood]

Well I am off to Brisbane again next week to go through the Radioactive Iodine treatment routine, this will be the 4th time now.

Saw my GP the other day, my blood tests since the last operation to remove the cancerous lympth node in my neck have come back good.
The Thyroid Antibodies are <1 (considered undetectable), so that is good news.

I have been off my medication now for 3 weeks, (I have to go off the Oroxine tablets and stop eating seafood and other iodine rich foods for a month before the treatment), so I am feeling really run down and tired lately, very cranky too apparently:?.

Anyway I should be down there in the isolation cell for only 3 days, then back home and back on the tablets, I've got my fingers crossed that this is the last time.

I've made an Ironwood Burl black titanium Sierra (pen) for the Dr that looks after me during the treatment. He has been using an old Blackbean slimline for the last 3 years that I have known him, all the gold plating has worn off, but the wood has a beautiful patina now, given to him by a former patient. I am hoping he will pension it off and use mine.

[tea lady]

Good luck in there. I guess they don't let you take a lathe in the hospital. Just a stack of books and DVDs perhaps. :rolleyes: (Ironwood pen sounds like a beaut. :2tsup: )

[Ironwood]

Good luck in there. I guess they don't let you take a lathe in the hospital. Just a stack of books and DVDs perhaps. :rolleyes: (Ironwood pen sounds like a beaut. :2tsup: )


Thanks TL. No lathes allowed I'm afraid, as you say books and dvd's are the go, not much else to do, no visitors allowed either. Just a quick glimpse of the staff as they poke your food through the door.
Not much fun involved in these visits :(.

[tea lady]

Thanks TL. No lathes allowed I'm afraid, as you say books and dvd's are the go, not much else to do, no visitors allowed either. Just a quick glimpse of the staff as they poke your food through the door.
Not much fun involved in these visits :(.No one telling you to do anything and unable to do anything 'cept read and watch movies? Sounds like heaven.. Pity you have to go through hell to get there. :doh:

[Sturdee]

Anyway I should be down there in the isolation cell for only 3 days, then back home and back on the tablets, I've got my fingers crossed that this is the last time.




Good luck mate. I don't fancy being in isolation for three days, whilst my treatment is longer at least I'm surrounded by lovely smiling young ladies who look after me, much nicer I think.


Peter.

[Ironwood]

Good luck mate. I don't fancy being in isolation for three days, whilst my treatment is longer at least I'm surrounded by lovely smiling young ladies who look after me, much nicer I think.


Peter.

Thanks Peter. It"s not much to endure, and it does save your life, but can be lonely.

The first time I went in, there was a young girl (9 years old) with the same cancer, was put in one of the other rooms. She had a very hard time apparently, couldn't be without her family. I felt very sorry for her, life can be cruel at times.

On another trip in there, I remember an old Aboriginal man from up in the Gulf was going in also, he had never been away from his family in his life, seemed to be having a bit of trouble understanding the "why?" of it all.

In the same part of the hospital are the many kids with Leuceamea (sp?), makes me very sad to see that also.

[Ironwood]

Here is a pic of the pen I made for the Doc.

Black Titatanium Sierra in Cooktown Ironwood burl finished with Lacquer.

110821

[prozac]

Lovely looking pen Ironwood.

Pitty they can't put some of you together. Or would you radiate each other?

All the best.

[Buzza]

Keep on the sunnyside Ironwood. All of this stuff does comes as a shock when it hits us. A great looking pen by the way. :)

[Ironwood]

Lovely looking pen Ironwood.

Pitty they can't put some of you together. Or would you radiate each other?

All the best.


Keep on the sunnyside Ironwood. All of this stuff does comes as a shock when it hits us. A great looking pen by the way. :)

Thanks Prozac and Buzza.
The Doc loved the pen, he kept poking his head through the door telling me how good it was. Glad he liked it.

It would be nice to be able to talk to the others in the ward during the day, but I guess it would be more area that we would contaminate while we are glowing in the dark, and I guess the staff need to be able to move about freely outside our rooms.

It all went well this time, I didn't get nearly as sick as the last couple of times, didnt even spew :2tsup:.

My scans came back clear, and the early blood tests are very good, they think I may have gotten rid of all of it this time. More tests in 3 months hope to prove this, fingers crossed.

My saliva glands are copping a beating from the radiation. After the last dose 18 months ago, I have constant pain from them, since this dose my mouth is a lot drier, I'm hoping it wont be permanent.
While your in there you have to drink plenty of water and eat lollies and chew gum, so you urinate plenty and keep the saliva flowing.
I drink more than the 3 liters a day minimum they recomend, closer to 5 liters a day.
But I dont like lollies and chewing gum, I usually take a few packets of fruit tingles, and a couple of kg's of dried apricots to chew.

I was hoping to come home and have a bit of a relax, but while away, my shops delivery van b#ggered the clutch, so I had to fix that when I got home, I just got the gearbox back in this afternoon.
If its not one thing its the other :rolleyes:.

[tea lady]

Yey! He's back. :wave: :2tsup:

[dai sensei]

Sorry to hear the saga Ironwood. Can only hope your treatment gets on top of things and your situation improves.

Great idea of the pen. Been thinking about giving my docs one each and bought a number of the medical clips.

[Ironwood]

Sorry to hear the saga Ironwood. Can only hope your treatment gets on top of things and your situation improves.

Great idea of the pen. Been thinking about giving my docs one each and bought a number of the medical clips.


Thanks DS, feeling a lot better today, the thyroxine tablets must be starting to kick back in, thank goodness.

I havent seen the medical pen clips, I'll have to keep an eye out for them.

[Big Shed]

Thanks DS, feeling a lot better today, the thyroxine tablets must be starting to kick back in, thank goodness.

I havent seen the medical pen clips, I'll have to keep an eye out for them.

Glad to hear you're feeling better Ironwood, the medical pen clips are available from a few different places, here is one"


http://www.cws.au.com/cgi/index.cgi/shopfront/view_by_category?category_id=1107146429

[Ironwood]

Thanks Fred I'll check them out.

[rotten_66]

...a couple of kg's of dried apricots to chew.


It's not the radioactive part, the apricots are why they need to keep you in isolation.:fartnew2:

[Ironwood]

It's not the radioactive part, the apricots are why they need to keep you in isolation.:fartnew2:

It does get a bit ripe after eating them for 3 days :-