Thursday, 29 October 2009

What's going on?

After peer pressure from friends and colleagues I'm having a first attempt at blogging, please forgive my lack of experience here.
So what's going on? In 4 days time I'm having my stomach removed, but I'm told I'm a picture of health at 31, what!. Along with the rest of my clan I began genetic testing in July this year following the diagnosis of stomach cancer for my mum and uncle in 2008 who both in turn lost their mum and grandmother to stomach/breast cancer. Mum has survived, but sadly my uncle Malcolm died in August this year. I'm no expert, but it looks like there's something genetic here.

So on 09/09/09 I got my results. I should have known the outcome with a date like that, yes you guessed it, I'm a carrier of the rogue CDH1 gene. Along with another uncle (Paul) I've had to decide whether I want to ignore this news, or act on something that will almost certainly finish me off. It's a no brainer really, you just got to do it. I must admit, I expected to have to carry out the op myself or visit the local butcher if I wanted it doing soon. But, to my amazement there isn't a waiting list as such and in less that 2 months from being told I'm a carrier I'll be having the op at the Royal Hallamshire in Sheffield along with my Uncle Paul.

So that's how I got here. I'll call that time for my fist post, I have 4 days to eat like a king and try and avoid my already slim build dwindling to that of a racing snake!