Hope all goes well next week Andy.
I agree with the "caught early enough" statement, however, sometimes people don't even realise there is something wrong until the cancer is at a more advanced state (I've just lost one of my best mates to cancer this morning - non Hodgkins Lymphoma or something, but it had spread).
Similarly, it's not always diagnosed correctly in the early stages, as happened to my Sister, but apparently duodenal cancer is quite rare.
My sympathies for your loss Graham.
You make a great couple of points above, and if I may say that's exactly it. If breaking the taboo and unspeakability (I made that word up
) of it all means someone can possibly identity or suspect early onset, it's all been worthwhile. If I'd have known 2 years ago what I know now, I would have insisted my doctor send me for a colonoscopy instead of accepting the "it's probably haemorrhoids" line she gave me, when I first found blood in my stools. Would it have made any difference? No idea and until they invent the Tardis I don't really care in my case, we are where we are
But moving forward, for any one of you guys, you know the questions to ask and to push for. If it turns out to be haemorrhoids, then great; if not you're a little bit ahead
And whilst there are always tremendously sad stories such as that of your friend, there are also plenty of success stories; my ex-wife's step brother has just been given the all clear after contracting Non-Hodgkinsons Lymphoma a few years ago. I've no idea how it was picked up nor how debilitating or far gone it was, but a success story is a success story.
I hope no-one feels that I'm in anyway belittling or ignoring those who have suffered or are suffering from terminal versions of cancer and I'm in no way saying its all plain sailing, just that it isn't the death sentence it once was.
NGUNS!!
