Another Bump in the Road

**steve n rose** · 01-18-16

Well, I thought I'd join the club.

I noticed that my stools were getting darker, did a home stool test prior to Christmas and it came back with a positive result.
The colonoscopy was done last Thursday showing a small growth with a few lesions in the Caecum area of the large intestine.
I saw the surgeon yesterday and have a week or two of testing prior to Right Hemi Colectomy surgery on Monday, Feb 1.
I could think of a better way to get a couple of weeks off work.
At least it was found early enough to only require the surgery and, hopefully, no chemo etc.
So, folks, the moral of this story is check your poo and get it tested regularly.

**guidoveloce** · 01-18-16

what a bad news!
I'm very sorry to hear that. I hope that, as you said, everything will be solved only with the surgery.
my best wishes!

**TheMeteor** · 01-18-16

Steve, so sorry to hear that but sounds like you have an early discovery. Good luck with the surgery... got many folks wishing you speedy recovery.

**notacop** · 01-18-16

Rabbit died, bad news. My oldest brother died of colon cancer. all the bros's got checked and I was a very clean machine. no polyps or anything but shiny clean tubing. One brother had a couple small polyps.
Here's to a good recovery from the experience.

**IanA** · 01-18-16

Oh Noooo!!! Is it something in the water in our part of the world, Steve? The silly thing to say would be "welcome to the Club", but since I'm sure you have absolutely no desire to belong, I think "Hoping for an early expulsion" is more appropriate. Good luck with your procedure mate, and may you never darken that club doorway again!
Give me a call if I can be of any help at any time, transport or whatever, I'm not far away.
Cheers, Ian A.

**steve n rose** · 01-18-16

Ian, it's not something in the water.
I think it's something to do with not knowing there were so many carcinogens in the world back then.
As an apprentice I was working in transformer oil full of PCBs and cleaning stuff down with a strong solvent cleaner that not long after was banned from use as it was found to be carcinogenic.
Everything else was made from Fibro full of asbestos or had asbestos insulation or flame retardant material.

But you eventually have to die of something and you don't have much of a choice over how or when.

So, all you can do is live your own life to the fullest.

**TelemarkTumalo** · 01-18-16

Chin up Steve. Thinking about you. Carpe Diem!

**trevor** · 01-19-16

Bugger!

**notacop** · 01-19-16

Steve, what you mentioned to Ian... I worked in a similar environment. Caustics and poisons and carcinogens, oh my!
The food we eat has a factor too.
If it's any consolation, there is archaeological evidence that illness of varying types did in our ancestors too.
Maybe the forum members in Florida can find De Leon's' fountain and bottle the magical waters for the rest of us.
Then I could enjoy the cigars and brandy with less concern!

**de100kb** · 01-19-16

Bad news Steve but it sounds like you saved yourself a lot of misery by finding it in time. Hope the procedure and recovery will be trouble free and swift.

**Wonkey Donkey** · 01-19-16

God bless Steve and hope all goes well

**DWS** · 01-19-16

Glad you caught it early Steve ... that's the key.
With everything out there trying to do us in ... I'm surprised that life expectancy is on the rise ...

**IanA** · 01-19-16

I too am horrified when I look back at what I was exposed to in my past activities. Just about the full set of solvents, organic and inorganic reagents in laboratory and industrial settings, agricultural chemicals, fuels and lubricants, lead, tin, chromium, cadmium, copper compounds and vapours, and some real exotic radiolytic products from plastics when I was involved with gamma irradiation sterilisation research. The culprit? who knows? My current suspicion is either the volatile amine components from epoxy laminating systems I have been messing with for the last 30 years or the ubiquitous glyphosate weedkiller, which has been positively linked with lymphoma. Since my brother has also been diagnosed with lymphoma recently, can we also throw in a genetic disposition? Dunno. The truth is probably that we are simply no longer 21 and invincible.
If it is any consolation Steve, you have inspired me to go and have the review colonoscopy that I have been putting off since I had some polyps removed three years ago. Thanks!
Where is showtime going to be on Feb1? Uptown or the bush?
We've got your back, friend.

**steve n rose** · 01-19-16

Ian,
the procedure will be at Warragul hospital, so you'd class it as the bush.

As for the colonoscopy, get the needle ready for the night before.

**notacop** · 01-19-16

"As for the colonoscopy, get the needle ready for the night before"

You mean there is some less tortuous means of getting cleaned out? When I had the procedure I took some vile liquid I called Butt Blast 10,000. Musta worked cus the Dr didn't send me away for a better purging.
Friend of mine wussed out on the clean out and was sent home to try again.
I figure after 60 years and having a clean bore, eating the same diet should keep me clean for the next 60 years.

**steve n rose** · 01-19-16

No, no less torturous means, the fluid just makes you that loose that you could "shit through the eye of a needle".

Don't you Americans know any of these old sayings????

**trevor** · 01-19-16

"without touching the sides"

Well that's my old dad use to say.

**IanA** · 01-20-16

"Subtle, like a cow on a bike " as my old Dad used to say....

**steve n rose** · 01-27-16

Well, folks, only a few days to go.

So I have altered my signature to suit.

"Always look on the bright side of life....."

**steve n rose** · 01-30-16

I went to see the surgeon on Friday about the blood tests from the lab and the cat scan prior to the op on Monday ( tomorrow here).

I don't know now whether I hate animals or love them.

The Lab tests on the blood showed a bit of a dicky reading on the one test and the CAT scan showed up a few spots on my liver. Looks like the PET is going to scan me now and it'll be the chemo path after all, once I have recovered from the colon op.

There lies the dilemma, I hate animals because they have found something else, but I love them for the fact that they have found something else and can get treatment on it as well.

Such is life or life is such !!!!

**Discflight** · 01-31-16

Righto Steve, I just found this thread update... All the best your way fella. I've heard that beer and riding motorbikes is the best possible therapy for such a situation, don't let them tell you otherwise! Be healthy amigo.

**DWS** · 01-31-16

Hang in there mate ...

**guidoveloce** · 01-31-16

Steve, this kind of surgery are very frequent (we could say "easy") and usually resolutive. My aunt was operated for the same reason one year ago, she did not need chemio, last month had a check up and she result perfectly in health.
the day after the operation she felt so better that she wanted to get up and walk… she is 87 y.o.

**TelemarkTumalo** · 01-31-16

Hi Steve. Hopefully, good news on the PET scan too. Sending good thoughts your way!

**TheMeteor** · 01-31-16

Good luck on the surgery, Steve.... and quick recovery.

**steve n rose** · 01-31-16

Thanks for the words of encouragement, everyone.
I'm off to the hospital shortly, so I'll catch up with things on here in a few days.
What ever you do, don't let the weird ones on here take over while I'm gone.

You know the ones I mean, and if you're one of them, you know I mean you.

**steve n rose** · 02-04-16

; has returned.

The surgery went well on Monday and I got home yesterday arvo and been resting fairly well since.
A bit sore around the incisions and when I pass wind or No2s, but the daily pain relief and regular paracetamol is keeping it at bay.
The surgeons had a bit of a look around while they were in there and things don't look too bad.
The tumour appeared to be rather aggressive but we won't know any more until the pathology report ad the PET has a scan of me and I get to see the Oncologist.
That's about it for now, but I'll keep you all posted.

**Argyll** · 02-05-16

Well, you'll be glad that the surgery's over and done with. Re-assuring to know that they've had a proper look around and can now deal with any problems constructively. I guess that it's a step by step process and I'm sure that these guys know what they're doing. Good luck with the treatment

**Discflight** · 02-05-16

Heal up matey

**TelemarkTumalo** · 02-05-16

You're sounding great Steve. Glad that you are doing well!

**IanA** · 02-05-16

I wandered down to Warragul on Wednesday to check on Steve and can report he was in remarkably cheerful shape, considering the severe assault on his punctuation (you're gonnahafta explain ; to the Illiterati on this thread, mate)

Glad to hear you are home and healing and we are all sending out the vibes for a good scan report.
Cheers, Ian A

**TheMeteor** · 02-05-16

Glad to hear the surgery went well. Keep up the good spirits.... and have a quick recovery.

**nkaj** · 02-05-16

Get well fast Steve

**steve n rose** · 02-05-16

Originally Posted by IanA

you're gonnahafta explain ; to the Illiterati on this thread, mate

So, which nationality are you referring to, Ian??

I suppose the Americans have trouble with English as they like leaving 'u's out of words and butcher a lot of the rest of the Queen's English, but there could be others that don't know what a 'semi-colon' aka ; looks like.

**Flook** · 02-06-16

The other year I had to have a camera put up the ole (you know what I mean), I never knew I had internal lighting, it was a bit mucky but clear.

I will repeat what a friend of mine say's when he is signing off, are you ready for this---- okay--- "keep your bowels open" mmm.

I hope you are well enough soon to ride that beast of yours Steve.

All the very best mate.

Flook

**Dooder** · 02-16-16

Not much can be said without sounding trite or condescending and all that crap, (oh my, was that an offtake of ";" ?). Rooting for you, for what it's worth.

**trevor** · 02-16-16

Originally Posted by Flook

I hope you are well enough soon to ride that beast of yours Steve.

Flook

Come on that's no way to talk about Rose

**steve n rose** · 02-16-16

What other sort of a comment could you expect from a Kiwi.

**TelemarkTumalo** · 02-16-16

Originally Posted by steve n rose

What other sort of a comment could you expect from a Kiwi.

More sheep talk?

**Flook** · 02-17-16

This seemed to be a year of health issues does it not! A good friend of mine hs just been diagnosed with asbestosis, from work he used to do with asbestos.

Flook

PS I meant the bike, not the lovely Rose, huh some peeps do have a warped mind at times

**oxytotl** · 02-17-16

Originally Posted by steve n rose

Thanks for the words of encouragement, everyone.
I'm off to the hospital shortly, so I'll catch up with things on here in a few days.
What ever you do, don't let the weird ones on here take over while I'm gone.

You know the ones I mean, and if you're one of them, you know I mean you.

Wot - weird - me?

Many of us have had the dread of a camera up their bum (why do they need the sound recordist, producer, best boy, grip to go in as well - that's how it felt to me) - us lucky ones resulted in a 'No Fault Found' - there by the grace of God. We're all with you Steve. I hope you'll be well enough to continue riding soon. All the best mate.

**steve n rose** · 02-17-16

Terry, at least you admitted to it, unlike the rest of them on here!

I saw the Oncologist yesterday regarding the PET results.
Looks like I've got another 2 ops now. There's the couple of spots on the liver and a small node on the bottom of one lung ( no indication that it is active from the scan).
MRI scan, more specialist visits, liver and lung ops and then 6mths of chemo to come, hopefully that will fix it all.

**ST404** · 02-17-16

Originally Posted by oxytotl

Wot - weird - me?

Many of us have had the dread of a camera up their bum (why do they need the sound recordist, producer, best boy, grip to go in as well - that's how it felt to me) - us lucky ones resulted in a 'No Fault Found' - there by the grace of God. We're all with you Steve. I hope you'll be well enough to continue riding soon. All the best mate.

With that lot going in with the camera................ I'm surprised you could ever ride anything again 😨

**TelemarkTumalo** · 02-17-16

"Stick a camera up your Oh-oh"

**steve n rose** · 03-03-16

Wow, this is really getting exciting.
Over the past couple of weeks I've seen the liver specialist, had an MRI, seen the lung specialist and back to the Oncologist to get the treatment regime.
The MRI of the liver has shown 2 tumours in the liver and a few other little spots also.
The spot on the lung is very small, approx 5mm dia, and they can't tell if it is active or not due to it's size.
So, it's now 3 months of chemo, starting next Wednesday, to reduce the tumours and knock out the small spots in the liver, lung op, followed by the liver op and 3 months of chemo to mop up.

Oh, and it looks like the company I work for, which is currently under administration, may have new owners as of next week.

Impeccable timing or what !!!

Rose and I have pretty much written off the rest of 2016 for now.

**oxytotl** · 03-03-16

Employment issues are the last thing you need at this stage Steve, you're taking this (hiccup in life) with apparent supreme indifferent humour, I take my hat off to you!

I've not been in this situation - and hope never to be (I do have age related problems but nothing that pills/diet can't cure), I'd hope to have your mind-set if it did happen - but I suspect I wouldn't, I'm not very good at being ill at the best of times.

Chin up Steve - you're not alone as we're with you

**steve n rose** · 03-03-16

Thanks, Terry, but I do try to maintain looking at the bright side of life and see the positives from things.

For instance, one of the positives with the chemo is that it will wipe out the sunspots on the back of my hands and forearm (too much working outside in sunny Queensland)
That'll save me the cost of a doctors visit to have them burnt off.

**nkaj** · 03-03-16

Good luck and get well quickly Steve. I do think about you. Keep up the good spirits and keep in touch.

**TheMeteor** · 03-03-16

Steve, sorry to hear the news. As Terry says, you got a bunch of folks pulling for you here. And of course the most important ones, Rose and your family. They say a positive attitude makes all the difference so that can an only be a good thing.

**steve n rose** · 03-03-16

Originally Posted by TheMeteor

you got a bunch of folks pulling for you here.

Gerry, I can see you don't come from Aus, otherwise you would've just called a lot of folks wankers.

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