A tale of two cancers

Dear family & friends,
This post opens up new phase in my cancer story. With good health, no symptoms and routine follow up tests, the blog has been somewhat dormant these last 12 months. But now there has been a complete change in the outlook, and it is not too cheerful.
My last post reported the episodes of reflux, and this was followed up by gastroscopy with Dr Chris Ashton on 11 June. On Monday 15 June Lynne and I got the news from him that there is cancer at the pylorus [bottom end of the stomach]. The pictures of the cancer were not pretty. He was unable to determine how far it spreads beyond and behind the pylorus, but now the results of the CT scan take on more significance. Remember that it is just beyond the pylorus that the liver, bile and pancreas empty into the small intestine. The CT scan found a suspicious shadow in lymph glands in the region of the bile duct.
Once again we have received superb service from all the specialists; Dr Ashton arranged an appointment with surgeon Dr Charles Mosse on Wednesday 17 June. Having in front of him the results of the gastroscopy and the CT scan he said the combined results were not good; he has called for a PET scan next Monday 22 June, which will hopefully outline the extent of the cancer. He felt that more surgery 'would not do me any favours'; he said that there may be scope for further chemotherapy and /or radiation and also some corrective surgery. But reading between the lines, it seems that this could be the end of the road for me.
Well, we shall see. I feel surprisingly well right now. The regular daily headaches I got each morning have lifted, and I have been free of them for four days now. I have had no reflux for about three weeks. I have had a few bouts of severe muscle cramps in the legs.
We mentioned to Dr Mosse that we planned a trip away to Queensland for several weeks, starting next week. He said that in my circumstances it was probably just as well to head off while ever I felt capable. So, a PET scan at Liverpool Hospital will be the start of our trip away!! In Brisbane we will be staying in an apartment opposite the Wesely Hospital!!
The results of the PET scan will be faxed through to Dr Mosse, and he will then arrange a group meeting with other specialists to map out a plan of action for me. I will probably ring Mosse during the week to find out the news.
I am trying to keep all friends and family informed and this blog is a good medium for that. Well I feel rather relaxed about it all right now; the dice have rolled and I have got a bad number. Guided by the experts opinion, I will probably have some choices to make soon about how I want to handle the endgame. Lynne is right with me all the way.

Sweet dreams to you all

Peter S Davis
Canberra, Australia
snusher@gmail.com