Little was I to know 24 hours ago that I would be starting a new chapter in my life / blog - in fact until yesterday I had no inkling of this new chapter and certainly what I would be writing about today.

So what happened?

Last week I had a body scan following a consultation with the urologist after a bout of haematuria (blood in the urine) and yesterday I went in to have a procedure so that they could take a closer look directly at my waterworks - let's say. The consultant, a Mr Wedderburn and his registrar a lovely lady called Lisa came to see me to tell me that they had discovered a tumour in my kidney which was the cause of the bleeding. I deliberately mention both of their names because I am really full of praise for their empathetic and professional approach. Having worked as a nurse in hospitals for many years I know that I have got lucky, as not all consultants have such great social skills combined with their knowledge.

So why am I writing about it here? Well to be frank I don't want to spend my time repeating the story.

This is simply a hurdle in my life, we all have them. The fact is I do not know the end of the story but I'm certainly not going to be morose or self pitying or concerned about things that haven't happened or may never happen.

What is important for me to do is get the practical things such as operation and treatments out of the way and move on in my life.

I always observed as a nurse that the patients who had a positive mindset and determination to carry on as normal were the ones that fared best. I used to encourage patients to be positive so I should heed my own advice. There is no point in getting anxious about what hasn't happened and worry certainly has a detrimental effect on your general health and any recovery process.

So I will mention my progress from time to time and especially if there are funny anecdotes or great characters who cross my path but basically I hope nobody who knows me will notice any difference. I love life and intend to enjoy as much travel, fun, and adventurous times with my family and friends as I can.

My only hesitation about writing this so publicly is that I haven't told my son yet who is currently backpacking with a couple of mates in Malaysia - but at the same time I am fairly sure that he won't read this blog.

There is one thing though at the heart of my message that I would like men especially of my age (65) to take on board. It is important that if you have any symptoms at all that you go and get them checked out, the earlier the better. Just bear this in mind, apart from the painless haematuria which only lasted for a very short time I had no other symptoms - in fact I had to ask the consultant which kidney was involved as I feel perfectly normal. That's right I feel perfectly well.

One final thing to add that is important to me - although others will pooh, pooh it. (how do you spell that pooh - you know what I mean) I have my faith and that is always a comfort in good times and bad.

So there - if you have read this I hope you understand why I am not down about this news. I realise I will get a deeper understanding of myself and others through a new experience in my life.

On Thursday of this week I will be going to the theatre and I know I will sleep throughout the whole performance.

OK - I jest!

It is of course the operating theatre to have my left kidney removed.  Yes I signed away my left kidney.  The specialist nurse who was going through my consent with me was at pains to emphasise that it was my left kidney.

She asked me more than once whether it was my left as she was writing it on the consent form.  I could only reply "so they tell me"  I am seriously not being facetious, it is just that I can't tell.  I feel well with no symptoms left or right.

Since I last wrote about my health when I first found out about my growth I have had several visits to Bournemouth Hospital for investigations and consultations.

The most eventful of these was a days admission into the Day Unit for a Kidney Biopsy under Scanner Control.  This was to be my second body scan in as many months with the twist (pun intended) that this time instead of laying restfully on my back, I needed to go into the scanner tunnel face down with my arms above my head.  I was also asked to lay really still for 30 minutes while they sited the exact spot that they wanted to get the biopsy bite from.  Now there were a few things destined to challenge me with those straight forward requests.

I was waiting for the nurse to roll her eyes in exasperation when I told her I had got a frozen left shoulder which restricts my arm movement above my head (I do sound a wreck I must admit!).  I had found a saintly nurse though who patiently set about finding the solution.  Ten minutes later after a lot of experimentation with pillows and sponge wedges I thought we had found a suitable compromise with a position I could tolerate for half an hour which still left access to the technician with his biopsy instrument.

So far so good.  Into the machine and relative isolation from all that was going on behind me.  There was a gentle hum that obscured much of the chatter down there.  There were cold things, damp things and various proddy things and even a sharp stingy thing, all of which were administered with muffled announcements that I couldn't make out in the depth of the machine.  Another weakness to reveal - my hearing is not 100% in noisy environments and the hum of the machine more or less put paid to any meaningful communication.  Anyway the team was busy and I was to lay as still as possible.  What could I do to spoil the show?

Well!!

It was clear to everyone there - (and there were quite a few but in my position I couldn't tell how many) - that the time had come for me to be really still as X marked the spot for the serious business of the session.  So what better time to get cramp in my foot!!

Now anyone who has had cramp in the foot will immediately have some sympathy with me.   When it happens in bed the best thing I have found to do, is leap out of bed and stand on my toes.  Well that usually works for me.  So deep inside a scanner with drapes all over me, and a team who seemed prepared to jump on me rather than let me move - my options did seem limited.  However - dah dah!! - the saintly nurse came to the rescue again and started to massage my foot - very effectively I must say.  In fact it was so good that my approach to any future bouts of cramp in bed might elicit a different approach - Babs are your reading this?

Anyway the fine team got four wonderful specimens (their words - not mine ) to send off to histology and I, none the worse for wear, was able to go home that evening.

There was a longish wait for results which is probably the most exasperating time.  It makes quite a difference what type of cancer cells are present and they needed to use several dyes apparently to pin the wretched thing down and give it a title.  It turns out that it is a renal cancer cell type and hopefully all within the offending kidney.  So it is due for removal this Thursday.

This time though I will be fully asleep - shame really - would have quite liked to report all about it but I guess I will miss it all in the land of nod.

Until my next update - I wish you good health yourselves - but do act if there is anything at all suspicious.  Early diagnosis leads to better outcomes.

• Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.
  
  
• Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.
  
  
• On the second day, the knee was better, and then on the third day it disappeared.
  
  
• The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
  
  
• Discharge status: Alive, but without my permission.
  
  
• Healthy-appearing decrepit, 69-year-old male, mentally alert but forgetful.
  
  
• The patient refused autopsy.
  
  
• The patient has no previous history of suicides.
  
  
• Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.
  
  
• Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40-pound weight gain in the last three days.
  
  
• She is numb from her toes down.
  
  
• Occasional, constant, infrequent headaches.
  
  
• I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical therapy.
  
  
• Skin: somewhat pale but present.
  
  
• The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993
  

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