An Update

Because one is long overdue.

The short version, because it's easier to read than my rambling first attempts - start the year in good spirits & full of good intentions.

It doesn't take long for someone to ruin this, an idiot customer walks into the takeaway that I worked at and coughed in my face without even trying to cover his mouth. 

Thanks to the inconsiderate idiot I come down with the flu a few days later. Combined with the long, grey, wet winter, the depression I've been constantly fighting for several years kicks back in with a vengeance.

Into February, just recovering from the flu and I get what feels like the worst cold I've ever had. (*It's not a cold)

My mother's health deteriorates, she's been in poor health for several years and this winter has not been good for her. More stress.

The cold eventually decides to leave me alone but now I have a persistent cough.

Well now it looks like I've got myself a chest infection (*It's not a chest infection.)

Between the part time job, being ill and the continuing damp cold manky weather I feel like I have no energy at all.

Mum is hospitalised with a serious infection.

Lumps start forming in my neck.

In spite of the best efforts of the hospital staff Mum dies at the beginning of April.

At this point I'm pretty much a zombie. Emotionally numb, getting through each day at a time.

I concentrate on making it to the funeral, then get myself sorted out.

The funeral is early May, I make it through the day, mourning my mother and saying my farewells, mingling with family & friends afterward, without having a physical or mental breakdown.

Spend a few days with my dad & brothers, then head home.

Book the first available doctors appointment at the local surgery. Doctor doesn't know what's wrong with me, but is gravely concerned and arranges for me to get some tests done at the local hospital the next day.

Arrive for tests the next morning. Blood pressure normal, pulse high, ECG - heart function normal, nothing shows up in blood tests.

The x-ray however shows not only lumps on my neck but a whole mass of them all down through my chest.

I spend the next two weeks in the cancer ward while they run every test & scan they can think of. More blood tests, more ECGs, CT scan, biopsies and a PET scan. 

The consultants are pretty sure what it is from the CT scan images but they need the results of the biopsy analysis to be certain.

With all tests & scans done they start me on a course of steroids to reduce the swelling and relieve the pressure where the lumps are pressing against my lungs and heart.

Kept in a few more days until they're sure the swelling has gone down, then sent home with orders to rest & a bunch drugs to take for the rest of the week.

A meeting with one of my consultants that friday, more blood taken and a chest x-ray that confirms the swelling is considerably reduced, then it's back home & just wait for the biopsy analysis to come back from the specialists.

The results came back last wednesday - classical Hodgkins Lymphoma, sub-type nodular schlerosing.

Basically cancer of the immune system.

It's a fast track cancer, very rapidly growing, malignant but very easily treatable with a high cure rate.

I had my first chemotherapy session last friday, so far just a couple of minor side effects.

I'm going to be moving out of my little flat & back to my parents place shortly, where I'll have family and friends around to help me out on the bad days.

I'll try to get some pics up in between packing my life back into cardboard boxes, but the next couple of weeks are going to be quite busy what with moving & more chemotherapy thrown in for good measure.

TL:DR It's been a s**t six months.

(*Initial symptoms of lymphoma resemble a nasty cold, next symptoms resemble a chest infection)