This is something I aim to keep up to date. Mostly for education and information. It's all to easy to forget some of the
turmoil in getting here and the frequencies of injuries and hospital visits.
It proves a reminder of just how complex and painful cancer can be. Plus it's part of my journey
and something I feel I need to remember, how far I've come and lucky I've been in that each day is a blessing.
I have included photos a diary and a qualitative pain ranking based on my experience of pain so far.....
1 Hit by coach in serious road incident
6th Feb 23 : Pain Ranking 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔🤍
Description - concussion 10 minutes, fractures to back and neck. Ambulance to hospital 3 weeks in A&E - released on crutches and neck brace for further healing at home
Impacts & Adjustments -
stable but critical. Felt like life just stopped. , normality ended. Took several months for fractures to heal. Bends remaining in lumber, 2 cm lost in height
Sleep at a back angle for comfort.
2 Stage 4 colon cancer BRAF
9th Feb 23 : Pain Ranking 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
Description - At this stage I wasn't told it was a BRAF mutation or stage 4 , albeit easy to work out given it had spread to the liver / a secondary site.
Impacts & Adjustments -
The mental pain was immense. It was clear to me at this stage my previous dreams of growing old with my family are now very unlikely to happen, felt like an instant death sentence hanging over me
3 Right Hemicolectomy
2nd Mar 23 : Pain Ranking 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔🤍🤍
Description - Emergency removing 40cm colon via open surgery First apt with oncologist in morning. they could see something wrong. Rapid deterioration in condition and severe stomach pains and sick.
Impacts & Adjustments -
5 days in A&E retrained bowel and healed stomach muscles over next 3 months Hard after the operation, after yet another near miss and stint in A&E, at this stage I had final conversations in hospital with my family.
Avoided for several months certain foods. Still avoid some food.
4 Severe finger burns & blisters
26th Apr 23 : Pain Ranking 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔🤍🤍
Description - 6 fingers affected and some toes also, a few days in A&E before release.
Impacts & Adjustments -
4 weeks for blisters to mostly heal, lost 5 nails after due to this - 6 months+ to regrow. around 8 months on to recover almost all of function Poorly growing finger nails torn finger nails plus slight residual pain. Development of plantar palmar syndrome in feet self managing. Registered disabled Walking stick and other supports
Needed support for basic tasks for months, constant dressings, risk of infection. Took 8 months to regrow 5 finger nails which dropped off.
5 Mandibular surgery
1st May 23 : Pain Ranking 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔🤍🤍
Description - Fainted whilst walking to restroom,
concussion 10 minutes and jaw fractured in 3 places. Permanent metal gum implants inserted.
Impacts & Adjustments -
Around 9 weeks total treatment break, to regain mobility following the surgery and concussion, move off of liquid food, and removal of wires holding jaws together.
Looked at cemetery sites as felt on my last legs and very close to death. Key was having a lot of well being support. Residual injury, sensitivity to certain foods, face to cold etc..
6 Drop Foot
1st Feb 24 : Pain Ranking 💔💔💔💔💔💔🤍🤍🤍🤍
Description - Left Foot swollen, could lift foot up easily. Able to walk but lopsided
Impacts & Adjustments -
Unable to walk veryfar without support. foot inflamed and painfull
7 Partial blockage
3rd Mar 24 : Pain Ranking 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔🤍
Description - Current effects following successive chemo, traumas and recent radiation treatment. Partial blockage and build up of poo in intestine. Intense bowel pain lasting weeks, even with continual strong meds and morthphine injections
Impacts & Adjustments -
Bowel challenges following radiation treatment temporal (SIRT) Heavy tiredness at points during day, bowel challenges due to recent radiation. Self managed for a while but pain grew, trips to A&E required. Latest visit over around 30 days and counting blockages. Lot of intense bowel pain. Transferred to London clinic circa 38 days in. A week later emergency stoma op needed. Now in recovery
