Disappointing scan results
31 Jul 2012
I try to keep this blog positive so I'm sorry to be bringing disappointing news. I saw my oncologist on Monday and received the results of the bone scan and the latest CT scan - my first for 6 months. They showed that the cancer has deteriorated and - the biggest shock - has now got into my bones at one point in the spinal cord.
The deterioration explains why I was finding it such hard work to breathe on the hills when cycling in last week's bike ride. Because of that I wasn't so surprised that the tumours had spread, but I really was not expecting the movement into the bone. The good news is that it's not yet extensive.
I knew it was bad news from the moment I saw my oncologist, whose expression gave it away. But he broke the news as well as anyone could, getting straight into it without preliminaries and then giving me a clear explanation of what it all means.
I'm still reeling from this and will take some time to think about the many options I was offered for the next phase of treatment. These range from sticking purely with the complementary approach, but upping the intensity of the diet, supplements and enzyme treatment, through to chemotherapy or going on a Phase 1 (experimental) drug trial. Somewhere in the middle is the option of going on the drug Tarceva, which can sometimes stabilise lung cancers. I need a few days to absorb the news and to make decisions.
Meanwhile, at least I was able to get to the Olympic Park to watch Team GB beat Argentina 4-1 in the hockey yesterday, which helped take my mind off things. The atmosphere in the park was terrific and the large number of volunteers really contributed with their warm greetings and friendly banter. The transport system was working well and there weren't too many empty seats in the hockey stadium (although those that were unfilled were, as usual, the best seats).
We walked the long way in from West Ham to the Greenway Gate and it couldn't have been easier, although by the time I had also walked to the the hockey arena, which is at the very far end of the park, I was shattered. Even going up a short flight of stairs now leaves me breathless.
Cancer Books
I've been helped dealing with this news by an excellent book that I'vejust started reading. The Cancer Survivor's Bible was written by Jonathan Chamberlain after an 18 year journey that started the day his wife was diagnosed with cancer. It's full of really helpful, unbiased factual information and is just the book I would have wanted to find when I was first diagnosed. I'll have more to say about it later but I will now add it to list of my essential cancer reading, which is:
- The Cancer Survivor's Bible by Jonathan Chamberlain
- Anti-Cancer, A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber
- Dying To Be Me by Anita Moorjani
- Cancer Concerns by Xandria Williams.
- It's Not About The Bike by Lance Armstrong.
and best article (on statistics):
The Median Isn't the Message by Stephen Jay Gould.
User Comments
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Jon Ellis - 31 Jul 2012
Cancer books
Sad to read your post today.
Another book you might like to add to your list is Lance Armstrong's 'It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life'.
Mike writes: You're right. It had a big effect on me, although I read it well before I knew I had cancer. It's added to the list. Thanks for the reminder.
Geoff Barton - 31 Jul 2012
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Mike
I'm so sorry to hear this news - we all will be. We follow you with such admiration and are so inspired by your resilience, as well as the way you write so eloquently, even in the toughest times. Obviously you have tough decisions ahead and, as I'm sure you know, we're all rooting for you. Stay strong and best wishes.
Geoff
Mike writes: Thanks Geoff, you've always been so supportive with your comments ....hugely appreciated.
Chris Husbands - 31 Jul 2012
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Dear Mike
I'm really sorry to read this - everyone will be. Your story is so absorbing and your resilience utterly inspiring. Everyone we know in common asks after you - all behind you. Best wishes - keep on
Chris
Geoffrey Alderman - 31 Jul 2012
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Mike. Am praying for you. Stay positive!
Geoffrey Alderman
Lisa Prior - 31 Jul 2012
Found you through a retweet and have just read some posts on your bog. Feel compelled to send you a warm message of good wishes.Can't imagine how tough it must be but, reading your posts, you seem tougher! Stay strong.
Ros Fryer - 31 Jul 2012
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Hi Mike,
I'm sorry to hear this news. I was thinking of you while watching the hockey match on tv, I'm glad you were there. We are going next week.
Well done on the bike ride. Great achievement.
SUE LITTLEMORE - 31 Jul 2012
Amazing
To cycle 30 miles in a day takes more fitness, stamina and strength than many have ( ok, yes, I particularly mean me - I feel proud when I swim 25 lengths ( short pool )) .
Keep writing and exploring and enquiring - you'll find the right decisions . Keep campaigning - you are raising awareness and shaping attitudes. Keep living and enjoying life to the full - you are a brilliant role model on this and all of the above. We are staying positive.
Love Sue
Aled Owen - 31 Jul 2012
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I'm sorry too. Geoff is so right - even this blog reflects your writing skills and your resilience.
Some of us have been through the mill and have come out at the other end so there is light at the end of the tunnel. Involve your family and friends in the decision process if you can but the option you choose must be yours - think carefully. I know you will.
Aled
Nicola Sugden - 31 Jul 2012
your latest results
Dear Mike,there is nothing quiet as shocking as bad news in the oncology clinic in my experience - very sorry about your results and well done for taking your time to decide what suits YOU best in terms of treatments in response. Looking forward to hearing your plans for continuing to give the cancer a hard time if thats how you decide to play it, very best wishes
Joshua Rozenberg - 31 Jul 2012
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Mike,
You and I go back a long way and I have not posted on your cancer blog before, though I have read every entry since you started.
Like everyone else who follows you, I admire your fortitude, resilience and honesty. If anyone can find a way through all this, you can.
Stay determined and fight on!
Joshua
penny - 31 Jul 2012
stay very strong Mike
Hello lovely Mike
We missed you when we left us to find Chrissie to take you back to London. In such a short space of time, so much shared. Your support for our extraordinary adventure went so far as to even join us on it but of course we realised very quickly that you were absolutely up for extraordinary adventures. I saw it the first time you slalomed past me on your bike going down a massive hill, probably at about 40 miles an hour! You were so patient with us; we felt very bad that we had all just subconsciously left you to navigate us all through Wales without it ever having been a democratic decision! You were however a very bad influence on Carl, who loved the fact that you laughed at his very bad jokes about you having being sent by the anti-cycling league and his exhausted reciting of Racine as he pedalled or walked his bike up the hills.Lille to Marseilles will of course be planned for next year so please stay very strong and go with the all raw diet, the enzymes, the new drug, as much exercise as you can possibly manage, whatever it takes so that you (and Chrissie!) will be cycling with us next year. We promise to share out the map reading and all eat raw food together. Thank you Mike for being such an important part of 'the ride.' In the months and weeks before, when Reka and I were not sure we could make it happen, you had already started fund raising and training and I distinctly remember one particular day when Reka and I were a little despondent and suddenly there was an email from you, suggesting a better route in Wales and our spirits shot up again and 'the ride' felt possible again... I remember too your huge smile when we arrived (the mad English/French/Hungarian team with, as you rightly say, the bikes and hampers hanging off the little van!)Thank you to lovely Chrissie... we think of you as one of our core team.. will send you a mail with how to put yourself on the blog as a rider but meanwhile, don't believe statistics, they are there to be the exception to... and I'm afraid the 3 of us are not very average... much too focused with a healthy dose of need for adventure and discovery.. and a real belief that actually half of this cancer stuff we can sort out ourselves... so be doubly strict with your own management of stuff with lovely Chrissie's help... and stay pedalling every day. Photos to follow with all the evidence of your involvement in our extraordinary adventure.... with lots of love, Penny x x
UCAS Events Team - 01 Aug 2012
We were so sorry to read your latest post Mike. We are all thinking about you and sending you our very best wishes.
Angela Harrison - 02 Aug 2012
latest blog
Dear Mike
Very sorry to hear about the scan results. Wishing you ever more strength. Well done on the fund-raising cycle.
Angela
Wilfredo Aqueron - 03 Aug 2012
Cancer Documentary
My name is Wilfredo Aqueron, I am a Cancer patient as well. I was diagnosed with a Defuse Pontine Glioma (June, 2008). I remember when I was diagnosed I spend days looking for other survivors who have beaten the odds. My intention is to create a documentary that will collect some of these survivors. I want to provide hope.
The only thing that I am asking is for you to check my campaign page and help me do my documentary.
www.indiegogo.com/thankstomycancer
Jane and David - 05 Aug 2012
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We think of you all the time and send all our positive thoughts and goodwishes to help and support you in your latest challenge.
Jane and David.
Suan and Colin - 05 Aug 2012
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Mike Colin and I are so sorry to hear your news. We feel sure that you will think long and hard about the next stage and approach it with positivity and strength which has been your hallmark all along. Keep smiling and enjoy the games !
Amanda Hepton-Patchett - 07 Aug 2012
Never give up, never surrender!
At the risk of introducing a little levity into the conversation, the above quote from the (rather bad in a good way) sci-fi film Galaxy Quest, is often cited in our house. The serious purpose behind it is to say 'don't give up'. You are a person of great strength and courage Mike and I send you and your family every positive wish. Amanda
George Turnbull - 09 Aug 2012
disappointing results
Hi Mike,
This is the first time I have responeded to your blog, although we have corresponded privately. You may have decided by now, what course of action you will take. What ever that might be - I hope that it is the right one for you. Thinking of you always, and your family,as you go through yet another difficult stage of your life.
Best wishes,
George
John Izbicki - 14 Aug 2012
You,r latest message
Have just read your latest message on our return from France. I cannot tell you how distressed I am at this news. But I know you will come through this hitch in the same way that you have managed to eliminate all previous hitches. You are a fighter and a winner, Mike, and you will soon be back on your bike!
John
robin Kent - 19 Aug 2012
consultant's body langage
When 14year old son James had, on relapse, what his consultant described as "the most virilent leukaemia he had ever seen" I knew that he expected the worst outcome possible for James when over 30years of reading body language as a journalist clicked in automatically. I couldn't stop myself as the medical news for some time continued guarded and the body language continued dire. Over 8 years on from a bone marrow transplant, James has just completed his penultimate year as a medical student at the hospital where he was a patient. I never learned to switch off my ability to read the consultants' body language, but I did learn that,as they said, sometimes a patient will beat the odds!
Thinking of you.
best wishes
Robin Kent