November 2024

 November 2024

 

Its been quite some time since my last update celebrating the ten year anniversary of my first cytoreductive surgery. Here we are some four years later, and I’m pleased to advise not too much has changed but the disease is slowly progressing as you may expect.

When I was re-diagnosed, we knew that there was another reoccurrence of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (my third diagnosis) around my bile duct and close to major arteries making it difficult to access. At the time it was some seven millimetres in size. Fast forwards to February 2024’s scan and this had grown to around seven centimetres.

I have spoken a number of times to the team at Basingstoke regarding what to do next? A bit of a dilemma it seems…..

Right now, I’m enjoying life and living it to the max! I’m afraid my long- term hobby of caving has taken a back seat and been superseded by scuba diving! Why didn’t I start this at an earlier time in my life?!! Its an amazing hobby that has brought about some truly amazing experiences with some amazing people (the Dreamscape divers family!). In the four years since my last post, I have progressed from a PADI open water diver to a rescue diver and due to do my 100th dive on my next trip. From diving top ten wreck sites in the world to diving with wild Atlantic grey seals the sport has given me so much, its true to say I’m utterly addicted. I owe a great deal to the team who have taught and continue to support me through my diving journey.

But can you dive with cancer I hear you say? The simple answer is YES!

 I know I’m not the only Psuedomyxoma patient who enjoys scuba diving as a hobby. Clearly it all depends on the individual and how the disease presents itself or the side effects of treatment. I’m really lucky in that right now I have no side effects and I’m leading a normal life. I’m also really lucky in that I have a great HSE dive doctor who has supported me throughout and whom I see every two years (providing nothing has changed) to undertake a medical and get signed off.

So my advice to anyone who is thinking about learning to dive is “Don’t procrastinate, go do it”! Had I learned earlier in life I’m pretty sure my life would have taken a different path…

So back to my dilemma….

At my last visit to Basingstoke to talk to my consultant following the results of my scan we discussed what are the next steps?

• The disease, whilst still there is slow growing and not giving me any side effects and I’m living an active and normal life. It may be 6 months, a year, 5 years or 15 years before I get any side effects.

• The longer I leave things the greater the risk of additional areas of disease appearing. Obviously, I also get older and there are associated risks that come with this particularly with such a big operation.

• The operation will be another big one and with what needs to be done will have an impact on my day-to-daylife afterwards….

• If I asked, the team would do the operation now.

 

So what to do…..?

For now I have decided to crack on with life, continue for as long as possible enjoying my family and hobbies for as long as I can. Living my best life.

I appreciate that not everyone in my position would make the same choice. 

What would you do?