The results are in!

A belated post folks, still not cut out for this blogging business!  I had an appointment last week at the Royal Hallamshire to see the surgeon, Mr Wyman (think I've been misspelling his name on previous posts).  This appointment was primarily a progress check and to receive the results of the chopping and slicing they did on my stomach.  Results then, drum roll please.............. I had very early stage stomach cancer.  Yes, by definition I've had stomach cancer according to Mr Wyman.  They found six patches of stomach lining that they didn't like the look of, and further analysis showed early developments of tumours.  Lymph node testing indicates that this was early stage and localised to the stomach, so further treatment isn't required at this stage.  That said, they are not able to offer me any guarantees and I need to be monitored.  Right from the start of the genetic testing roller-coaster I've honestly felt lucky and never hard done by.  Now I feel like the luckiest guy in the world, they reckon that these patches were due to turn pretty nasty imminently,  so the testing has without doubt saved my life.  I'll never complain about our health system again, apart from the food, room for improvement and in need of Messrs Oliver and Ramsay!

In other news...... I've joined the Cambridge University HDGC Research Project in the hope I can give something back and help others going through this.  This will mainly involve filing in questionnaires based around quality of life and well being.  The rest is a case of  'same old' really.  The eating's going well, still discomfort and a little pain, but nothing major. My weight has levelled out and I'm not losing any more.  It would be a miracle if I did though given that I never stop eating.  I managed a Chinese takeaway the other night with friends.  I didn't have much and steered clear of the hot stuff to avoid a 'turbo lax' effect (one for Dumb & Dumber fans) and it went down well.  Even managed half a glass of wine in very small sips, which also was uneventful!   Energy levels are steadily rising which comes in handy when you have a Duracell charged 2 year old running around.

So, the pathology results have certainly assured me I made the right decision.  Not that I needed assuring, but some people did say "Why are you having the op so soon, why not wait a while?", doctors included.  Hopefully anyone reading this with a CDH1 mutation and a stomach will be encouraged to have the TG and give them self every chance of survival.