Another One Bites the Dust!
Posted: 20 May 2013, 17:19
Hi guys. Some of you may have read my post a week or two back about the wonderful treatment I got on the NHS when I was referred to the Ambulatory Care clinic because of a lung infection. Some of you have also enquired how I've been doing.
I've just completed three weeks of antibiotics for the infection but all the doctors that I met were adamant that something must have caused it - hence the thorough tests. I've suspected for some time that the news was not going to be good and the consultant I saw last week tells me that the CT scan shows that I have mesothelioma. This is a rare cancer that is caused by inhaling asbestos dust and has an incubation period of 40-50 years! I still have to have a biopsy to assess how advanced it is and then a final assessment by the consultant with some sort of palliative care treatment that ends up with me drifting off into the sunset.
I've never worked with asbestos but in the 60s and 70s I serviced my motorcycles with drum brakes and asbestos in the shoes. I was constantly blowing brake dust out of the drum and scuffing up the shoes with a file to get more braking power. I've read that auto mechanics, even amateurs, from those years are considered high risk because of this.
I've already spoken to some of the forum members by PM and the management have agreed to let me post this news as I wondered if it was inappropriate. I'm really quite sanguine and relaxed about the news as I've had a remarkably good life and will be leaving the family in a comfortable situation.
I'm quite happy to talk about what's happening to me and my philosophy and also the practical aspects. As a lot of people don't like facing up to death I thought it might be helpful to talk openly here as it may help others prepare. The thing is, it's going to happen to every one of us eventually and there aren't many easy exits. The only difference between me and you is that I know how and will soon know when! Having notice allows me to 'put my affairs in order' and make the transition for Karen as easy as possible.
Anyway, there'll be plenty of time to chat about it (or not!) if you want to. Please don't make a fuss or treat me any differently, I'm not in the least sensitive or depressed and happy to answer any questions. I know I'm not the only forum member with serious health problems but everybody deals with it differently. I've always been one for speaking openly about myself but I appreciate that others have to deal with things differently and I hope that they are not upset by my approach.
Hopefully I haven't depressed you too much. Sorry if I have
Ian
I've just completed three weeks of antibiotics for the infection but all the doctors that I met were adamant that something must have caused it - hence the thorough tests. I've suspected for some time that the news was not going to be good and the consultant I saw last week tells me that the CT scan shows that I have mesothelioma. This is a rare cancer that is caused by inhaling asbestos dust and has an incubation period of 40-50 years! I still have to have a biopsy to assess how advanced it is and then a final assessment by the consultant with some sort of palliative care treatment that ends up with me drifting off into the sunset.
I've never worked with asbestos but in the 60s and 70s I serviced my motorcycles with drum brakes and asbestos in the shoes. I was constantly blowing brake dust out of the drum and scuffing up the shoes with a file to get more braking power. I've read that auto mechanics, even amateurs, from those years are considered high risk because of this.
I've already spoken to some of the forum members by PM and the management have agreed to let me post this news as I wondered if it was inappropriate. I'm really quite sanguine and relaxed about the news as I've had a remarkably good life and will be leaving the family in a comfortable situation.
I'm quite happy to talk about what's happening to me and my philosophy and also the practical aspects. As a lot of people don't like facing up to death I thought it might be helpful to talk openly here as it may help others prepare. The thing is, it's going to happen to every one of us eventually and there aren't many easy exits. The only difference between me and you is that I know how and will soon know when! Having notice allows me to 'put my affairs in order' and make the transition for Karen as easy as possible.
Anyway, there'll be plenty of time to chat about it (or not!) if you want to. Please don't make a fuss or treat me any differently, I'm not in the least sensitive or depressed and happy to answer any questions. I know I'm not the only forum member with serious health problems but everybody deals with it differently. I've always been one for speaking openly about myself but I appreciate that others have to deal with things differently and I hope that they are not upset by my approach.
Hopefully I haven't depressed you too much. Sorry if I have
Ian