Our well respected friend Dougie is currently in Guy's hospital waiting for a (possibly life saving) procedure that has been postponed again today for the second time. 

We've been exchanging private messages but he didn't want to 'go public' as he didn't want sympathy but I think he needs more moral support than I alone can give and I know other members will want to give it.

 I've been trying to persuade him to post on here and I think I was winning him over but his disappointment this morning of the postponement has forced me to take matters into my own hands.  I sincerely hope you don't mind Dougie!  I'll leave the rest to you but be assured there are a lot of caring members on TWO. 

Sending my very best wishes, Dougie. I hope your procedure happens in the near future, goes really well, and you make a full recovery.

Take care, fella.

Thanks for the best wishes Martin and Ben, it's much appreciated. I would also like to thank Caz for dragging me here, kicking and screaming after suggesting that such a thread could be therapeutic, and may be of some help to other cancer fighters, present or future in handling what can be a very difficult disease to combat, both physically and mentally. Thankyou Carol, you're an angel.

I will attempt at some time later to give a brief outline of my experiences, which started with an innocent enough enquiry at my local GP back in November last year.

Best wishes Dougie. Hope all goes well.

There was me thinking that life-saving procedures would be prioritised, but I guess I thought wrong.

Anyway Dougie I hope you have your operation soon enough and I wish you a speedy recovery.

No.  I'm not an angel but having lost my mum to cancer last month, I know what you must be going through. Well, no, I have no idea actually but I do know talking helps and I know that talking about your own cancer only comes after you've come to terms with it yourself.  

There are people on here who have experience of cancer, either their own or close relatives.  It's a subject we're not good at discussing and because of that it causes isolation and it shouldn't.  It's a time when support is needed most so we need to talk about it and share it.

Doug, I was kinda hoping you'd gone to theatre for your stent, as I hadn't seen you around.  Fingers and everything crossed that it happens before Friday!  But you can always sound off on here!  Or we could always start a 'cancer treatment moaning' thread!    

Thanks Brian, TWO to the rescue, again.

Thanks for the wishes Scott.

You are of course right about life saving procedures. In my case, it's very much long term, as it effects my ability to eat, which has been a huge problem for me over the last six months. The insertion of a stent into the Oesophagus should allow  for a better passage of food/drink into the stomach. Liquid diets are ok, but very boring, especially when we are bombarded all the time with adverts for all sorts of yummy looking meals/snacks on the TV and the Internet. To eat a proper meal to me would seem like I was in heaven

Thanks again Scott.

Wish you all the best with the treatment. A trouble shared is a trouble halved..... 

Thanks Art.

Not heard any more Caz, still looks like Friday unfortunately. Behave about starting new threads, one is enough

The level of attention at nursing level is tremendous, I could not ask for better. It's when you start to go up the chain that the problems start. Maybe it's because Guy's is a teaching hospital with virtually every doctor non English, at least up to consultant level. When the doctors come round, there are  usually 2 or 3 extra's watching on, and there is some confusion between them, primarily because of language difficulties. Some of these junior doctors come back on their own later on to check on me, but it is fairly evident they are not fully up to speed with the situation. This, I think is where the confusion as regards timing comes from, as they are still trying to book me in for tests already done, so everything gets put back.

I mentioned briefly the nurses, they start work at 07.30, and don't go home until around 21.00, a long day. OK, their normal working week is four days, but because of shortages, they invariably work extra shifts. They are all so kind and attentive, and again about 75% of them are not from these shores. I stand corrected if anyone knows better than me, the workings of teaching hospitals.

When I get any updates I will post here Carol - thanks once again.

 Sorry to hear about your parents Ben, how awful to find out about the two of them in such a short space of time. I am also encouraged to hear of a successful conclusion.

It's not quite so straight forward in my case. The primary tumour in the oesophagus is inoperable, and in addition, there are around 20 seeds dotted around my body. I received chemotherapy of six cycles before they ceased treatment, as it had not stopped 2 of the seeds from growing, although it did control the primary. I was to have started an alternative chemotherapy treatment 6 weeks ago, but this was before complications set in. A mini stroke, DVT, and internal bleeding, all accounted for a delay in chemo restart, although I have received Radiotherapy in the meantime to stop the bleeding. Once the stent is fitted the resumption of the chemotherapy should only be days away - hopefully.

You're welcome Dougie. Take care.

All the best for those whose bodies decide to go a bit crazy on them!

Sounds like you've been through the mill with it Dougie, sorry to hear that. I really hope things pick up for you, and hopefully the next cycle proves more effective. 

Thanks Westv. This is the problem, you think you are all ok, but things can and do change very, very, quickly. It did for me.

Yes, I think it's what is known as an adult portion.

Best wishes Dougie and I hope the procedure goes ahead ASAP without any further complications. 

Thanks Michael, me too.

Best wishes Dougie. I hope things start looking up for you very soon

Best Wishes Dougie. Hope things will go well for you. 

Thanks Matty, I hope all is well in your part of the world.

Thanks ozone, if others thoughts could cure me, I would be well by now.