My Cancer Story - To help others.

[grober]

I was wondering also whether you'd read The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, by Siddhartha Mukherjee. This was recommended to me by my son's haematologist. If you haven't read it and are in remission, then I think it would be a brilliant read for you. I won't go into details here, you can find those yourself, what I will say is that reading is my passion and I consume books at an alarming rate, but nothing touched me or educated me as much as this book did. Pleased also to say that we gave some of our time pro bono (VFX) to the TV series that is now accompanying the book.

For anyone interested the 3 part TV programme is available in its entirety on YOUTUBE.
[YOUTUBE HD]e1l0xVKzX_s[/YOUTUBE HD]

 

[brucemillar]

Folks

Great news today for Clan Millar. Another Cancer all clear from my latest (routine) CT scans. I now get them moved out to six month intervals.

Feeling good am I.

 

[boxbrownie]

Onwards and Upwards..........brilliant news Bruce

 

[acej]

Great news Bruce another milestone reached.

 

[brucemillar]

Well yesterday I reached another milestone. I took my three surgeons and their boss for 18 holes of golf at the London Club in Kent. This was something that I promised them we would do when I was in hospital. It gave me something to aim for and yesterday we managed it.

What a fabulous day we had. Accompanied by my companies MD, who looked after me and my family while I was ill, along with some close friends it was just a perfect day. The damp weather did not dampen our fun. Being around these gentlemen who saved my life in a relaxed environment was just fantastic. My golf was not where I wanted it to be but that didn't matter. The day was over far to quickly. I shall treasure the memory and hope to repeat it next year.

 

[AMGeed]

Well yesterday I reached another milestone. I took my three surgeons and their boss for 18 holes of golf at the London Club in Kent. This was something that I promised them we would do when I was in hospital. It gave me something to aim for and yesterday we managed it.

What a fabulous day we had. Accompanied by my companies MD, who looked after me and my family while I was ill, along with some close friends it was just a perfect day. The damp weather did not dampen our fun. Being around these gentlemen who saved my life in a relaxed environment was just fantastic. My golf was not where I wanted it to be but that didn't matter. The day was over far to quickly. I shall treasure the memory and hope to repeat it next year.

That is something to aim for every year Bruce. I think having goals to achieve like an annual golf GTG is fantastic.

 

[Jonesy161]

Boll ox to the golf Bruce, sounds like your surrounded by the incredibles, brilliant.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

I'll bet it was a very proud and emotional day for all of you Bruce.

Many happy returns on your anniversary day. I hope you'll make it an annual golf day.

Your story will be a true inspiration to all that read it.

Take care mucca.

Ant.

 

[daveslk200]

OK

I am writing this not for me but hopefully to help you and yours and anybody you know who may just need this help. Please read all the post as it may just have something that helps. I want this to be a positive message and not to upset anybody on here who has, or is losing anybody to this dreadful disease.

Symptoms:

After spending months of increasing discomfort when eating and several visits to my GP who diagnosed indigestion. I insisted on being seen privately. This was after I noticed that I had started to bleed internally (black poo).

Important bit:

My symptoms meant that I had an appetite (normal). When I ate food I could swallow normally but then the food would get stuck before it got into my stomach. I could feel this and would describe it as a backing up of stuck food. or the food was hitting a blockage.

So in May 2014 I was sent privately for a CT Scan followed within 24 hours by a Laparoscopy. 48 hours later I was asked to come in and meet with the specialist responsible for me. I was told that I had Cancer of the Oesophagus, which was visible as a tumor at the join of my stomach and my oesaphagus. The prognosis at that point was dreadful.

I am considered young (59) for this cancer. So I was sent off to meet a surgeon who MAY be able to operate and give me some hope.

Next phase:

I met with Dr James Gossage in London Bridge Hospital. He explained in great detail what things meant for me and what the next steps were.

1) More detailed scans (off to Harley street)
2) Another endoscopy (carried out by himself)

Both done in the same week, I was back sat in front of James. He was now confident that he could operate and as importantly he could see no visible signs of SPREAD.

3) Onto Chemotherapy to shrink the tumor. This was done at home with one visit every three weeks to the local hospital to be topped up.

In August I was scanned again. Good News. The tumor had shrunk and was now operable.

On the 1st September 2014 I went into St Thomas's Hospital in London to have my oesohagus and 2/3 of my stomach removed by James Gossage. Massive surgery done in a superb place by the most brilliant team of doctors and nurses.

5 days later I was told that my cancer was gone!!!

I am now on chemotherapy to limit any chance of it's return. We pray that this is successful.

Life now:

I recovered well from the surgery. I have a rather attractive scar on my neck and a less attractive scar across my body. I can eat solid food in tiny portions and drink (not gulp) pretty much anything. I am pain free and have lost 4 stone in weight along with my hair.

I feel good about life and positive about my future. Only time will tell how that proceeds.

The learning:

Don't believe everything you Google.
Stay positive.
Trust the doctors and surgeons. If you don't ask for a second opinion.
It's your life. If you feel ill, get seen quickly. Late diagnosis can be a killer.

My wife and family never changed. They stayed positive no matter how low I got. I could not ask for more than the love that they have given to me. I am here today in part through their love.

Dr James Gossage is now my hero. He never gave up. Instantly likeable as a man he exudes confidence. He was the last man I saw when I went into surgery and first I saw when I came out. He called my wife as soon as surgery was over and was as caring on that call as any man could be.

Next steps.

Back to work in January.
Restore my W124 300TE - 4Matic that I kept putting off.

Offer any help that I can to anybody who is where I was.

All the very best m8

 

[John]

For anyone interested the 3 part TV programme is available in its entirety on YOUTUBE.
[YOUTUBE HD]e1l0xVKzX_s[/YOUTUBE HD]

Damn it.

1H41M in and they've binned it.

Might have to buy it on doovde.

 

[brucemillar]

Well I have made it past the two year point since diagnosis. Life is different in so many ways, most of them positive. I have survived a couple of major frights and several operations. What an amazing thing the human body is.

My weight has now stabilised at 9 stone and will most likely stay there. I can eat almost everything that I could before I got ill, just in much smaller amounts. My tolerance for alcohol is very low (maybe not a bad thing). My feet get drunk before my brain does.

My beautiful wife and daughters have never once given up on me despite the terrible strain I have placed on them.

I am blessed to have got this far. So many do not.

I have made it something of a personal challenge to try and help Cancer Research and in particular to try and promote early diagnosis.
Put simply: Early diagnosis gives you a better chance of surviving than anything else out there today. Do what your instinct tells you and do not believe everything that the doctor tells you. 75% of people with Oesophageal Cancer are still being diagnosed "late" with a large percentage having made repeat visits to their GP before diagnosis.

Many many of you on here have reached out to me with kind words and offers of help. That means such a massive amount to me and my family. I thank all of you for doing so. Many have become personal friends and have jumped in and given practical help. Thank you.

A lasting reminder of my surgery is the development of Hypoglycemia (sugar intolerance). Sadly as a result of this I managed to fracture my spine in two places. That has curtailed my golf and some other activities as I try and recover. Small price.

But from where I was, to where I am now, is simply astonishing and a tribute to the brilliance of my surgeon, James Gossage (give him a Google) and all of the medical staff at St Thomas's & London Bridge Hospitals. They never give up and never complain. When we need them (and most of us at some point will) they are our saviours. Cherish our "Junior Doctors" and nurses - give them your support.

 

[Mike Walker]

Great post Bruce and good to hear of your continuing progress. It takes a large amount of courage and determination to do what you are doing. Long may it continue.

 

[MarkII]

Bruce, that's really good to hear!!

Your comments regarding family, perspective, the role of our specialists, doctors & nurses and the wonders of the human body are so true.

I would also endorse the 'know your own body' approach to early diagnosis and being persistent if you think there is a real problem (my own case was mis-diagnosed initially).

Good for you Sir - 'Keep on keeping on'

 

[Justin1600]

Great news Bruce, you are a inspiration to others

 

[Deleted96908]

Great news Bruce.

Where you walk, others will follow.

Best wishes,

Chris

 

[Steve320]

Fantastic news Bruce, and my very best wishes out into the future.

A really strong message for us all, as you say, to stay tuned-in to what our bodies are telling us.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

It's always great to read updates from you Bruce.

Keep pushing mucca.

Ant.

 

[flango]

Bruce thats great news really pleased for you.

 

[brucemillar]

Everybody

Thank you for the very kind comments.

I have to say (not being self centered here). It is important to remember that I was a passenger in all of this. The surgeons, doctors, nurses and medical staff must take all of the praise. I could write a book and more on the care that they gave me. This would still not do justice to their dedication, love and respect.

What I found, is that when we get ill (hopefully you will not) most of us behave in a similar fashions and want very similar things with respect & dignity being at the highest followed by no pain or sickness in equal measures. The medical staff who treat us are usually well versed in this and yet still manage to make it personal to you. That in turn make you want to fight for them as much as yourself.

The will to stay alive is all consuming, sometimes when we wish it were not so (the very, very black times). To have people who will sit with you all night holding your hand like a child and re-assuring you constantly is just incredible. To leave that environment is tough. You want to leave but it is scary. I still miss all of the people who looked after me and have become firm friends with my surgeon.

Onwards and upwards.

 

[Deleted96908]

Hi Bruce

Hope you don't mind me sharing this with you (and others who've shared their own experiences with cancer on this forum).

I've just been listening to Start the Week on Radio 4. Andrew Marr interviewed author Michel Faber who wrote a series of haunting and very graphic, yet beautiful poems about the death of his wife following her protracted struggle with cancer.

If you've not been listening to it yourself then I'd recommend listening on iPlayer when its available. Or you can find the book here, which I couldn't resist.