Anthony Minghella helped me, from beyond the grave; that was very nice of him especially because I loved 'Truly Madly Deeply". The day I heard he had died I was in the bath and noticed a very small lump in my neck on the left side, nothing much really, but asymmetrical (not on the right side). 10 years ago I would have just ignored it! I was working in Glasgow at the time, but made a note to check with my GP when I got back to London.
(This is where I was happy that I have been paying BUPA for many years.)
On April 10 I saw Dr Court - he wasn't panicking (he never does!) but still he sent me to get an X-Ray immediately, and to an ENT consultant. On April 16th I saw Jeremy Lavy (a commuting cyclist like me) and he had a look (with that device that goes down the nose) and a feel. He could see nothing untoward in the throat, but wanted me to have Ultrasound and a guided FNA for a biopsy. So I got an appointment at the ENT hospital the next day (April 17) with Tim Beale (another commuting cyclist). He wasn't too concerned about the lump either. I saw Jeremy Lavy again on April 21 and got the news I didn't want to hear. Biopsy results indicated a Malignant Secondary Tumour. He passed me on to Guri Sandhu whose PA organised an MRI at Charing Cross Hospital the next day (April 22). On April 23 I saw Guri and the MRI reults confirmed the FNA biopsy, but of course we still had to find the primary tumour before any treatment could be devised. Guri sent me for a PET Scan at Alliance Imaging on April 24 and also booked me in for some Mouth biopsies and Tonsil Removal at the London Clinic on April 25. In the meantime I spoke to my dear friend Matthew Manning who was a little concerned about the Tonsilectomies, and when I mentioned this to Guri he agreed to just take one Tonsil! (but he felt anything less would be negligent) So in a funny way I felt that my blend of complementary therapies was already coming together very nicely.
On April 30 I saw Guri again for biopsy and PET Scan results. They found the primary at the base of the tongue (oddly I forgot to ask how big it is). Guri sent me to see Simon Stewart at the Charing Cross Hospital on May 1. Cancer Treatment is decided by a team in the UK, and the team's decision for me was the treatment I am now starting. Simon wanted me back in Charing Cross ASAP to start chemo on May 6 (immediately after the bank holiday). So this didn't really leave me time to get a second opinion which I had always intended to do. However I was very impressed by the focus and professionalism of everyone that I met hat I decided to trust my instincts and go with it, also because I didn't want to demotivate the team by taking a week out for a second opinion..... They offered me quick treatment, and I believe early detection and quick treatment is a good approach to cancer.
On May 2 I went to see Claudia Nielsen and got Hypno-therapeutic advice, and then Bob Jacobs who had a raft of supplements available including one particularly interesting (and new to me) one: Avemar
And so after a wonderful relaxing Bank Holiday weekend, here I am.
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