Still Alive........

..... If not totally well. The title is slightly tongue in cheek. I hope to start posting more frequently on this blog.

Normality is slowly returning, though it will be many months before my leg is healed internally. I currently have to wear a pressure garment on the leg, which I am now quite used to. I have been told I have to wear this for approximately 6 months to 2 years.

The leg is slightly infected and being monitored by hospital doctors via outpatients and treated with anti-biotics. There is one small wound being reluctant to heal and oozing a little bit of puss & serum, where one of the surgical drains exited my leg. I have been told that if it continues beyond the next couple of weeks I might have to go back into hospital and possible further surgery.

I am quite mobile and can drive ok. Commuting by public transport, particularly bus, can be quite arduous, especially some of the Veolia buses which don't allow much leg room forcing me to sit back on the seat causing pressure on the leg. The back of the leg is hard & swollen & will be that for some time, though there has been gradual improvement since I left hospital. It's like sitting on a lump of cardboard with lumps of hard rock embeded in it.

In January I have a few outpatients appointments scheduled, including opthamology (the surgery took its toll on the eyes - 5 hours lying on my belly under GA during surgery - detached vitreous gel); oncology (yet more radio therapy coming up); orthopedic reviews & scans going into February.

I probably won't know the outcome of all this until March/April 2008. (Though I would hope to have an indication by the end of February.)

I would describe cancer as an ordeal to be endured, rather than a battle.... at least that's the way it's been so far.

I still haven't blogged about my stay in hospital & surgery as I intended to. I may yet do so.

It's New Years eve and I would like to wish my readers a happy & prosperous 2008.... take care.

cheers

Rob.