Rugby Saved My Life - So my team mate claims anyway ....

Today was going to be a busy day! Before you start chemotherapy, it is suggested for a man to make a sperm deposit as the chemotherapy could make you infertile. Even though we have NO PLANS for anymore children, there is always the "Why didn't you do it" question in the future.  So - I had been referred to Andrology Department at Hammersmith hospital. So off we went, dropped Ollie at school and made our way to Hammersmith.  Having never made a sperm deposit, this was uncharted territory. Nat joined me in the waiting room (I think more for the amusement factor than anything else - and the sheer horror of every other bloke in there) - filled out a ton of paperwork and was given a cup. "Room 1 Mr Cook" - "There are magazines in the draw or a DVD if you wish"  I entered Room 1.  Not wanting to touch anything. It was one of those situations - you don't want to be here, but you know you need to do it.  Magazines - I am not going anywhere near tha...

So - Tuesday comes around and it's off to The Marsden at Chelsea.  This is where they do all their surgical stuff. Nat is coming along with me for the meeting.  At this point - I really must say a massive Thank You to Nat's work for being so understanding and allowing the flexibility for Nat to come to all these meetings and appointments. It means alot to have her with me. Thanks Lee. So - I meet Nat at the station and we head up to Chelsea.  Upon arrival we are directed to the waiting room and we are called in to see the Professor Nicol - Consultant Urologist and Chief of Surgery to discuss the surgery. When and what - questions and answers - a way forward...... He examined me and checked the wound - which was now a scar. "Wow, I wasn't expecting that".  He was impressed with the speed that the infection had cleared up and how well I had healed. This then started a conversation around surgery v BEP Chemotherapy.  Ultimately, the surgery was a plan B fro...

So two appointments this week for Urology. Monday was at St Helier - post operative follow up.  Waste of time as they knew we were under the Marsden now. So we ended up going along, waiting for ages for him to have a look and say yes it's OK - and had to drag results of the biopsies from him. Still without much information. Which I have to say, has been the major factor in all of this - the lack of knowing what the plan is, what the options are - as EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.  Everyone will have their own version and their own treatment - so until you know what is right for you, it's very hard to understand what he hell is going on. On Friday - we went the The Royal Marsden Urology clinic.  A place where you feel welcome, a place where you are not just a number. I speak regarding the Marsden as a whole - you are treated as an individual. So today, we met one of the doctors and there were two choices presented.  Surgery to remove the Lymph node - or BEP5 chemother...

It was good to be back in the comfort of home again.  This time with less pain and less swelling. Nat was brilliant at playing nurse again changing my dressings and Mum and Dad were around until Wednesday to lend a hand where they could.  Again - Thank You. With Nat at work, I had to master the art of changing dressings myself which was quite easy after a few attempts - although I did find that changing the dressings unaided meant that more hair was caught in the dressings than normal.  Dressing removal was painful shall we say ! I went back to the office two days this week - It was good to be back in the office environment and was welcomed back and then also told no to over do it. Dressing changes in the office toilets were interesting lets say !  More than anything - I wasn't going to be restricted unnecessarily. I could drive, I could get to work. I was happy. I had to visit the Marsden on the Friday for blood tests and a PET scan (where they load you ...

Today was our first appointment with The Royal Marsden in Sutton. Scared, apprehensive are just two of the words to describe the feeling of shitting yourself about what you are going to be told today.   (Don't read this bit if you are eating)  I awake on the Friday morning, still in loads of pain from the operation, but something isn't right. I'm wet - must be a major sweat?? Nope. My pyjama bottoms are wet - So I immediately think I've wet myself. So, hugely embarrassed I make the attempt to get out of bed (which I have been needed help with all week) and manage to escape.  Weirdly - I have a full bladder so have a pee (still sitting down) and then catch a whiff of my pyjamas.  The liquid isn't urine but It stinks. My dressing is full and is leaking. What the hell is going on! I return to the bedroom to a towel and bed, covered in this ooze.  I am so glad we bought a mattress protector ! After clearing the bed, we change the dressing - all whilst trying t...

It was good to be home - although in alot of pain, not very mobile and man, the swelling was crazy.   But what should I expect? There's been a severe amount of maintenance going on down there - give it a few days and I'm sure it will be fine.... So I rest and sleep and Nat and the Boys are brilliant. Running around after me, making sure I have everything I need. I moved between sofa and bed during the day - trying to find that ultimate position to be comfortable in - eating painkillers all day.  Overnight I'm sleeping but having major night sweats, resulting in changing my clothes and sleeping on a towel to absorb the sweat. It's not pretty but I've read this could be due to the anesthetic. I go with it.....  The restrictive underwear is starting the struggle with the masses it's meant to be retaining.  Hang on - this swelling is meant to go down isn't it ?? Not increase ?  Maybe it's part of the healing process I tell myself. It's fine. More...

So today is the day - A right Orchidectomy - or to translate - removal of the right testicle under general anesthetic (why the hell would you do it with a local anesthetic is beyond me). So I book in and was greeted by a familiar face - a friends Sister was looking after me - after I'd confirmed that I was OK with that.  Honestly, it put me at ease knowing the person in the hospital.  I met the doctor and we discussed the operation and what was due to happen.  Keyhole surgery, remove the bad testicle, take a sample of the left testicle (to check no spread of anything) and then I had a choice - to replace the removed testicle with a prosthetic one. So I'd had some chats with mates over this. Mostly completely unhelpful "Can you pick the weight and size?" "Can you get a titanium one?" "Can you get an extra one added"...... Thanks chaps 😁 The Doctor gave me some details around the pro's and con's for each option and was told to think ...

Today marked the start of my new job. Goodbye to the daily commute to Colindale for The Home Office but a sad farewell to some great people. My new working location is just outside Gatwick Airport - which means I get to drive through the beautiful countryside, with hardly any traffic and I arrive 45 minutes later very relaxed to start my day. I'm working for a pharmaceutical company and my first meeting was with HR - for my induction to the company. The induction went well and then I had to share my unplanned medical news with her. Notes were taken and I shared my concerns about starting my new job and that the following Thursday I would be going in for an operation. "No problem Dan - you need to do what needs to be done. Health comes first."  Refreshing and minds were set at rest. Day 2 of the new job - I get a call from the hospital admissions team. We've moved your operation - see you on Monday !  Off I pop to see HR and my management - not an issue. So I...