Today – July 19th. The old boy had the results of his first scan since he started his chemotherapy treatment!

This scan was a very important milestone and an indicator of how the treatment was going and a key determinant of what would happen next.

The scenario would be fairly straightforward. The chemo was working and he would continue with treatment. The chemo wasn’t having an impact and decisions would need to be made regarding next steps in respects to treatment.

The nerves have been building over the course of this week. Not my own nerves. I have actually been relatively calm, il explain my reasoning behind this a little further down. My mum. Has repeatedly stated that she has been nervous over the course of this last week. My dad. Has also mentioned his own worries and concerns.

Has it spread? Have the tumours grown? Has nothing changed?

Me. I’ve been relaxed. Calm. Not nervous and not worried. Why? If you had seen my dad two and a half to three months ago you would know why!!

He is stronger, fitter, more active, more lucid, more conscientious and generally in a far far better place. Therefore, that says to me that the tumours could not have grown or his condition worsened. Otherwise, he would be in a similar or even worse place health-wise to where he was in early April. Which he is not.

That said, he has struggled the last few days, especially since Wednesday. Chemo day. He slept a lot of the day yesterday and has struggled through today as well.

We made our way to the hospital this morning, leaving at 11.30 for a 12.30 meeting with the chief, the top dog consultant who is in charge of this whole process.

On a couple of occasions, I did get a fleeting sense of nervousness. Am I being too blasé about this? What if I’m wrong in my thought processes regarding the old boys condition and the effectiveness of the treatment?

We walked into the oncology department, registered at reception and my dads name was called instantaneously by a nurse.

Weight measurement time. It was 12.20.

Dad returned two minutes later. The same nurse came back at 12.28. Alan Clasper – Dr Walters is ready for you.

The efficiency was almost startling. I felt as if I was in an extremely important scientific research center in Munich not a small oncology ward in Maidstone.

We walked into the room and shook hands with The Chief. This was my first meeting with Dr Walters. He was calm, collected and I trusted him. That last one, given the situation we find ourselves in, cannot be underestimated in respects to its significance for peace of mind.

He asked how dad had been, dad replied politely and fully, but I could tell he was keen to move onto the results of the scan.

Then when the doc moved onto the scan. A moment occurred, one where we all felt our hearts sink with disappointment. The doc said that the systems had changed and that the protocols had changed. He had his original scan at a different hospital and the Maidstone Hospital could no longer access those scans to make a comparison.

Now, my initial thoughts upon hearing this are not exactly appropriate for this blog. 🤬

Ridiculous ineptitude in respect to the logical thought processes behind that decision, and, what now then? Are the more polite terms that sum up my feelings and thoughts at the time. 😇

The doc then said, but I can!

I struggle to make sense of why he bothered to explain that whole scenario to us really. It was irrelevant. All that mattered was that he had the scan, that we were there to find out about. I couldn’t give a monkeys if Joe down the hall who’s been a nurse for 5 years could access the scan or not. I really couldn’t have cared less about that to be honest. 🙄.

The results:

Liver tumours have reduced 🙌.

Pancreatic tumours have stabilised and not grown 🙌.

There had been no spread 🙌.

Given that Liver tumours are stubborn and not easy to treat via chemotherapy. The fact that they had shrunk is a big plus.

Given that Pancreatic tumours are the most stubborn and resistant form to chemotherapy treatment. No growth, is also a big plus.

No spread. Also, excellent news!

The results are as good as they possibly could have been at this stage. The old boy will continue his treatment up until October. He should then be able to have a 3 month break from treatment.

Which is fantastic.

He can actually reap the benefits of going through this gruelling chemotherapy process. Go and do the things that he wants to do. Things that he is yet to do. Actually go and live life to his fullest before starting the next phase.

Even though he is still feeling the effects of his chemotherapy treatment on Wednesday and is struggling a touch in general atm. Today had been a good day! A very good day!

When you have your Friday night tipple this evening to welcome in the weekend. Make a toast, clink a glass, share a memory or just remember a time when he made you laugh.

To my old man and the monumental effort that he has made to get to the place he now finds himself in. Legend. I am proud of you!! And I love you!! 😘