& My Flexi Result!

& My Flexi Result!
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Hi,

so today, as ever with some trepidation it was off to The Royal Gwent for a Flexible Cystoscopy - this time was in the urology center where they have larger and clearer HD VDU screens.

The increased high definition showed up many of the scars from previous resections and clearly showed the resection of New Year's Eve, once the position of the ureter stump was found (stump of course as mine was removed when I had my left kidney removed in 2001).

The site of that resection, which had started out as a T3, was looking very healthy and similar to the surrounding wall of the bladder, which was very reassuring.

 To enlarge the pic. double click it

I'm not sure who was most surprised at just how clear my bladder was so scarring not withstanding it was an all clear.

I do have a feeling that if I entered the middle lobe of my prostate in a competition it might just win at least a placing that size! However as yet it is no serious problem and with all the future flexis the opportunity is there to check it every 6 months or so.

Then a visit to the urology unit where I have now been a patiet for 13 years!!!! Many changes of staff as a number of the original staff have now retired but the genuine interest and humour of those who have watched my progress and helped to keep me alive is a huge encouragement when you consider around 6,500 people a year are diagnosed with Kidney Cancer with a morbidity rate of around 5,000+ within the 5 years that classify as cured if you can last past the 5 years!

Bladder Cancer is also more prevalent than many believe with over 10,000 diagnosed a year in Britain:

Standardised (AS) Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population,  UK, 2008

		England	Wales	Scotland	Northern Ireland	United Kingdom
Male	Cases	6,322	432	487	149	7,390
	Crude Rate	25.0	29.6	19.5	17.1	24.5
	AS Rate	19.1	20.3	14.8	15.6	18.8
	AS Rate - 95% LCL*	18.7	18.4	13.5	13.1	18.3
	AS Rate - 95% UCL*	19.6	22.2	16.2	18.1	19.2
Female	Cases	2,469	152	265	59	2,945
	Crude Rate	9.4	9.9	9.9	6.5	9.4
	AS Rate	5.6	5.6	5.7	4.6	5.6
	AS Rate - 95% LCL*	5.4	4.7	5.0	3.4	5.4
	AS Rate - 95% UCL*	5.8	6.5	6.3	5.8	5.8
Persons	Cases	8,791	584	752	208	10,335
	Crude Rate	17.1	19.5	14.5	11.7	16.8
	AS Rate	11.6	12.1	9.6	9.3	11.4
	AS Rate - 95% LCL*	11.4	11.1	8.9	8.1	11.2
	AS Rate - 95% UCL*	11.8	13.1	10.3	10.6	11.6

.
The Morbidity Rate is not as encouraging as one might wish!

The number of bladder cancer deaths and mortality rates for the constituent countries in the UK are shown.

 

So I guess on this alone my survival is unusual and then considering the TCC Tumours in the abdomen and the cancerous Lymph Node(s) the stats have been against me with chemo and Radio Therapy - I have been incredibly fortunate!

Consider Steve Povey who I knew of and had spoken to a couple of times - at 53 he was diagnosed with lung cancer in August and died last weekend CLICK HERE

I also note that Robin Page, a friend of mine with prostate cancer who you may know from his days on 'One Man & His Dog', his oncologist who is in her 40s ignored a pain in her lower back and is now facing serious spread opf cancer which is now being treated but with a poor prognosis I understand.

We all know all too many who are facing the challenges of cancer and I hope they will find they have the good fortune I have had and the team that has supported my fight against this pernicious collection of diseases!

Good Luck - At the moment I seem to be clear and long may it last :-)

ANYONE wanting help or a chat - an amateur view from someone who has been there, got the TShirt and been subject of the video do feel free to contact me if you feel I might be able to informally help!
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I Have Been Fighting Cancer since 1997 & I'M STILL HERE!

I Have Cancer, Cancer Does NOT Have Me

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way. .

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com  
TWITTER: Greg_LW
Health/Cancer Blog: http://GregLW.blogspot.com  

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Mary ARCHER is not alone!

Mary ARCHER is not alone!

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Mary Archer on her battle with bladder cancer

Mary Archer, the wife of Jeffrey Archer, the novelist, has disclosed that she has overcome a potentially terminal form of bladder cancer.

Lord Archer is greeted by his wife, Lady Archer  Photo: PA

By Andy Bloxham

11:54PM BST 19 Aug 2011

Dr Archer, 66, an energy scientist, had the diseased organ removed and a new one fashioned from part of her small intestine.

She said that, despite her husband’s turbulent past – including extra-marital affairs, three political resignations and jail term for perjury – she turned to him for valuable support and is due to return to work within days.

Dr Archer said in an interview with the Daily Mail: “It is a highly sophisticated plumbing job. I had to wait for the joins to heal and they then tested it for leaks.

“It is a formidable operation for the surgeon, let alone the patient.”

The cancer was discovered last November, when Dr Archer found blood in her urine and the tests came back showing she had an aggressive form of the disease.

However, it had been caught at an early stage and she was offered a choice of either exhausting chemotherapy with a risk of the cancer returning or the more advanced operation to replace the bladder.

Lord Archer said: “I thought about it for 60 seconds, panicked and said: “You must have it tomorrow. Immediately.” But Mary, calm as ever, was not rushing into it.” 

The couple initially decided not to go public with news of the seven-hour operation, which was carried out in April. 

Their adult sons William and James were told just weeks before the operation but were also determined that their mother should have the surgery. 

The couple have now decided to describe their ordeal to inspire other sufferers of the disease and improve awareness of the condition, which is much more normally seen in men. 

She said: “I have no known risk factors. I’m not male, I don’t smoke, or drink a lot of alcohol.”

The operation was carried out at Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge where 2ins of her intestine were removed and made into a pouch which was sewn back into the hole from which her bladder had been removed. 

She said: “I found it difficult to come to terms with the fact that, although I felt healthy and never went to the doctor from one year to the next, I had been diagnosed with a potentially dangerous condition. 

“It’s not easy to face losing your bladder. However, having discussed the options with Jeffrey and the boys, it was a no-brainer. They were bricks throughout.” 

Dr Archer is perhaps best known for the description of her in a 1987 libel trial against the Daily Star, which had alleged her husband had paid a prostitute for sex. 

Mr Justice Caulfield said: “Remember Mary Archer in the witness box. Your vision of her probably will never disappear. Has she elegance? Has she fragrance? Would she have, without the strain of this trial, radiance? Has she had a happy married life? Has she been able to enjoy, rather than endure, her husband Jeffrey?”

Yesterday, she admitted: “He has had a roller-coaster life and so I have learned to cope with crises and ups-and-downs, but I do love Jeffrey very much indeed. 

“I don’t stand by him because of a sense of duty. I do it because I want to.”

To view the original article CLICK HERE 
.

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs

To Spread The Facts World Wide To Give Others HOPE

I Have Been Fighting Cancer since 1997 & I'M STILL HERE!

I Have Cancer, Cancer Does NOT Have Me

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way. .

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com  
TWITTER: Greg_LW  
Health/Cancer Blog: http://GregLW.blogspot.com  

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