In the Waiting Line

The title of one of my favourite chillout tracks by a group called Zero 7.

For me it was waiting to see the oncologist in the hospital to get my results from recent tests.  While I wouldn't complain I finally saw the doctor over an hour after the appointment time.  The tests suggest spread of cancer cells towards the lymph nodes in my pelvis.  If there were any good news there was absolutely no evidence of cancer cells in any other part of my body from head to knee (I really hadn't appreciated how much of my body had been scanned recently).  Radiotherapy is the treatment recommended which, because of the areas of concern will be need to be targeted over a widespread area across my pelvis. More than six weeks of daily treatments, allied to this is hormone therapy that will start straight away.  Before treatment can start a further scan to allow for precise targeting of the areas to be irradiated.

Feeling a bit numb tonight, we went over all of the possible side effects from the therapy, hopefully not as severe or extensive as the warnings that the doctor had to give before the consent forms are signed.  It must be done and the treatment will protect me in the next few years from advancing cancer, but I can't help but wonder what the cost will be to my quality of life.

I was left waiting in a corridor outside the consultant's office for the final ten minutes, with this sign opposite me.  To make matters worse a constant beeping from a security door was like some delicious form a water torture.