Considering mental state and therefore the levels of stress hormones have well documented impact on health and recovery, you’d think that a primary concern for treating any serious condition would be treating the patient as much as their disease.
I cannot imagine that putting patients through additional psychological drama in addition to what they already feel helps in any way.
I’ve had the meeting with the oncologist and there were reasons why my oncologist cancelled the lung op in favour of the liver. The problem has been different departments have all said different things.
Lesion on liver is alot larger than lesion on lung so they want to do liver first. Onwards and upwards.
So get these two ops done and then see where we are. Preop assessment for liver is this thursday so hopefully I will get an operation date then.
This was all booked before. Nothing has changed as yet. I have had all the lung preop assessments and tests. Once I have seen liver surgeon and preop assessment on thursday I shoukd be all booked in.
It’s not that nothing has been happening, it’s been the length of time it has taken and the cancellation of the op.
It should never have been booked in first place from what they are saying.
The complication has arsien from having to do 2 ops and working out logistics of what to do first.
So let’s see what happens next. For me the problems have been communication, lack of clarity and length of time it has taken.
I think also because lung lesion is growing slowly they see liver as priority.
Been a roller coaster emotionally going through all this. I need to keep being strong.
Thanks. We have a plan to book scans as necessary in between ops for the lung to be scanned so lung surgeon has up to date information.
I think the overall plan is clear now and all should be good.
The hope is to get these two lesions removed and to be free from cancer. The reality is there is likelihood of the cancer coming back. This is what oncologist said and I agree with that.
It’s not going to stop me fighting and hoping for the best.
It’s how I work, which is prepare for the worst and hope for the best!
Hopefully everything will now go to plan and put an end to the uncertainly. I know that liver and lung resections can be done simultaneously, which would get it over with at once, so there must be overriding reasons for doing them separately. Maybe the oncologist explained the thinking. As you say, all you can do is hope for the best. Fingers crossed!!
Might I suggest a go at Mindfullness? I sometimes work myself into noticeable depression when my brain just won’t SHUT THE FERCK UP about whatever old bone it’s decided to gnaw at.
These days that’s often the physical state of me with having to deal with constant pain from an old multiple vertebra burst fracturing now accompanied by partial hearing loss and a couple of other spinal discs that have become dry and flat.
Also, you might try some meditative practices. I like a more Zen-based method. Find somewhere quiet, put in a couple of ear plugs and spend half an hour just examining your thinking process with your thinking process. Calms me right down.
Of course, not for everybody but you might find these tools provide the occasional mental oasis when needed.
I remember reading Thich Nhat Hanh’s “The Miracle of Mindfulless” many years ago whilst going through a stressful period in my life so I agree with you Mike.
Thanks @Ardbeg10y. I was angry and upset last week, especially on Tuesday. Since then I have been working and spent time with 2 of my 4 children at the weekend. That fills my soul with joy. Working, listening to music, watching TV this week.
I think that my oncologist is on the case. It just didn’t feel like that. Let’s see what date they come up with for liver op on thursday.
Just got to keep going, stay positive and express feelings as they come up. By feeling angry and upset and letting it out, I now feel calm and positive.
I have my concerns on record, with PALS and I will be very pushey with treatment. But there’s nothing more I can do at the moment!