Peter’s Hospital Diary

I was going to start this with an interesting fact (I like to be informative!) But I had a consultant visit last night – a bit too late to update last nights post which was already a bit long.

So, after the registrar, the consultant came round (maybe the registrar told him I was asking difficult questions – I hope so!). Really nice chap so we had a long chat about clinicians we knew, my medical history and about the current situation. They definitely think this is a mutation of the original into this more aggressive form. He confirmed that they are controlling the prednisolone carefully to avoid overloading the kidneys from the tumor lysis and that the calcium build up was caused by the tumour. The tumour cells express an enzyme that interferes with calcium metabolism so it builds up in the blood faster than it can be excreted. That is now coming down. It is also the reason why I felt so listless and tired over Christmas although it was so gradual that I didn’t notice it.

The amount of chemo in the past is an issue, but they are going back over the records to see what is what (really pleased that there are so many of the team that treated me in the past are still here – notes are fine, but having the author of the notes present is even better!)

So not an immediately straightforward treatment path. The plan is to keep me in for about 7 to 10 days to get the tumour debulked, while the optimum treatment regime is worked out!

I did say we needed to get this fixed as I have a lot of plans for this year! I’m glad to say that he strongly agrees 🙂 ! Very good rapport and absolutely confirms that this the place to be! So not straightforward, but very positive!

So that’s pretty much where we are! As an aside I managed to get the bed controls unlocked so the nurse could make the bed – always knew an engineering degree would be useful!)

And now for “the interesting fact”!

There is a new cancer centre st Guys as I have mentioned before. It’s a first class facility with an international reputation and stands in the Guys estate in the shadow of The Shard.

Unlike The Shard it is only about 6 stories high. But the intesting thing is that it weighs more than The Shard because the Radio-therapeutic equipment is on the first floor rather than in the basement. These very powerful x-ray (gamma) radiation sources need a lot of lead shielding and it is the huge amount of lead that contributes to its overall weight!

(You might wonder why I updated my blog so early – I had my daily steroid dose at 6 am this morning so I’m bouncing off the curtains now!)

Onwards and Upwards (almost literally at the moment!) 🙂