Towards a Diagnosis

5 January 2015

An early morning call from our GP gave us the information that the right kidney appears very likely to be the primary cancer source. Now we have to wait for her to make appropriate referrals. I also know I have to be super-careful of my back and pelvis because the bone has been so compromised in my hip that I am very vulnerable to dislocation or fracture. In fact there are already 2 small fracture lines visible. That’s good enough for me – I’ll be careful!

It was later in the afternoon when we next heard from the GP. It had taken her many phone calls all day to locate an ‘oncology’ bed somewhere in Victoria. Now it was “Quick get to the hospital so we can transfer you by ambulance to Geelong hospital.” Off we went in a grand hurry, grabbing bits and pieces with no idea how long we would be away.

It was an interesting ambulance transfer – first by road to the Hamilton airport. Along the way we had a 20 minute stop at the tiny country township of Branxholme, in order to stabilize a person who had fallen off a ladder, until another ambulance arrived. (I like that! Stop and help a mate along the way!) Then I joined another patient to travel by air ambulance to the Geelong hospital.

And bed-bound! For me this is quite a cross to bear, but quite frankly, I’m just happy that the pain is being controlled.

8 January

The past few days have merged into a daze of being wheeled around this rambling hospital for a series of tests, assessments, scans, biopsies and the like. I have swallowed pills, worn patches, been radio-active for a day, and suffered numerous bodily indignities. What an amazing health system we have to be sure, though I have been less than appreciative at times when I was the recipient of these diagnostic procedures. Only once did I feel anxious prior to a procedure, and that was the bone biopsy in my left hip (which turned out to be a vascular biopsy – same end result though (to isolate some of the cancer cells to determine their type and origin.) Just prior to the procedure Brian had read me an email from a faithful Christian friend, and her words echoed what my nephew (local pastor) had said to me the day before about sharing in the suffering of Christ, and placing our fear at the foot of the cross. This became my mantra for the whole procedure. And guess what! No pain, no anxiety, just minor discomfort.

From being totally bedbound, I have progressed to being able to use a supportive frame with staff assistance. This enables me to ‘hop’ on my good leg (which, strangely enough, was the side that ‘spat the dummy’ with painful spasms on Christmas Day.) Under no circumstances is my ‘bad’ hip to weight-bear and my ‘good’ right hip is cooperating well though my lower back grumbles.

January 9 2015                   A diagnosis

The battery of tests that I have undergone over the past days, have pretty much confirmed the earlier scans.

·         Yes, it appears confirmed that the cancer is a renal cell carcinoma – originating in the right kidney.

·         The cancer has metastisised to three new visible bone locations - the left hip joint region, and two smaller spots on the spine at T7 and T12

·         No further cancer ‘hotspots’ were detected on the bone scan

So what now?

Firstly it was made clear to me that my left hip is severely compromised.

I was quite shocked to see slides from the CT scan. The cancer has invaded not only the ball and socket of this joint, but also part of the surrounding pelvic bone. It is clear that for me to walk again I will need a complex hip replacement.

So, where to now?

The Orthopedic Team and Oncology Team have been debating this, and the most likely scenario to begin with is the following: (I say ‘most likely’ because the plans I am discovering are prone to change at a moment’s notice)

Anyway I will probably begin with 2 weeks of radiotherapy in Geelong, followed by some chemotherapy, then further assessment before looking at hip surgery in Melbourne.

It’s good to have a plan of attack.

In preparation for radiotherapy, I have visited the Andrew Love Cancer Centre adjoining the Geelong Hospital. There is a short walk from one building to the other, and I couldn’t quite believe the ‘pope-mobile’ wheelchair that arrived in the ward to transport me to the centre. It was a large wheelchair with a plastic canopy covering in case of rain, so off I was wheeled away in splendor, through the hospital tradesman’s entrance, past rows and rows of linen trolleys and bins, and off to the centre. Here I was measured up and prepared for radiotherapy which is to begin next Tuesday. The measuring is meticulous, and I now am sporting my first ever tattoos – seven tiny freckle-sized dots tattooed onto my torso!