The Doctors have spoken

This has been a busy week.

Met with the surgeon yesterday. She is still very happy with the rate of progress. No talk of reconnecting the rectum to the colon yet. She is leaving the Toronto General Hospital and going across the street to join Mount Sinai Hospital.  She is taking her patients with her. We are not in the mood to forge new relationships. It turns out that the hospitals, at least in Ontario, are beginning to specialise. The Toronto General Hospital specialises in liver issues including cancer, as well as transplants. They also specialise in a couple of other organs, but I forget what they are.

Mount Sinai specialises in colon cancer amongst other things. This makes it the perfect place for her to practice her trade, and by extensions the perfect place for us to be. All these changes will be taking place starting in May and finishing sometime over the summer. Future emergency visits will be at Mount Sinai as we terminate our relationship with the Toronto General. It also appears that virtually any hospital dealing with cancer is related in some way to the Princess Margaret Hospital. That relationship continues. There is a walkway between Mount Sinai and Princess Margaret. How much closer do you want them to be.

I mentioned to the good doctor that one of the reports we read referred to a rectal stump in my body. What exactly is a rectal stump? It turns out that the tube that goes to my rectum is about 15cm long and is stapled at the top. Goes nowhere. Having said that, it does discharge stuff, and stuff is where we will leave this. It is not stool or anything like that, just stuff. I developed a rash in the rectum area and was curious as to how this could happen, since the rectum is basically inactive. I was told to use the same stuff we use on a baby’s tender derriere, except the heavy duty stuff. Works really well. This may be more than you wish to know. That is what you get for reading this blog.

Met today with the oncologist, Dr. Hedley. Two things came out of today’s meeting. The first is a reaffirmation that my cancer is complicated. No more information than that. It is complicated, and given its nature, will require fine tuning at some points along the way. Considering everything, he was very impressed with my condition. My hair is growing back, I appear to be in good spirits, have put on a bit of weight, all good things.

He has a student from the UK studying with him. He asked if it was OK for the student to spend some time with me while he looked after someone else. No worries. The student asked a lot of questions going to the very beginning of the experience. Even asking such questions as to how we felt when we were told that I had cancer. That was seven or eight months ago. How time flies. I answered most of the questions without any problems. He seemed relieved to get straight answers. I think he was a bit surprised at the nature of the relationship we have with the Doctor and his staff.

Janet just mentioned that she thinks the doctor does not trust me fully. I put on brave face he said today. He is right, but not in front of him. He does not know that of course. He asks Janet for most of his answers. He thinks she will feed him the straight goods. While I am a two faced two bit liar.  Joking. We have a great relationship with the Doctor. I think he is relieved on some level to have a patient who is easy going and in good shape relatively speaking.

I think I will make an appointment to go see my family doctor, just to say howdy-doodee. You all know how much I love her. I have not seen her in 7 months.

I am in great shape right now. In a good mood and feeling very strong. Took a long walk on my way to the hospital. The Neulasta has not kicked in fully yet. I am expecting that to happen tomorrow or Friday at the latest. Everything is progressing as it should. I am also hoping that my general well being will help me withstand the assault that is Neulasta.

That is all for now. All is good. Strong and feeling good.