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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A Facebook Conversation

Denis Wright That's it. Unless someone has remarkable powers of persuasion, I'm prepared to meet my Maker rather than go through chemotherapy again.
5 hours ago    · Like · Comment


Jack McCaw Best wishes Denis! I am sure you have this thing bagged and tagged!
4 hours ago · Like


Jane Horton It sounds like to is time to portacath!
4 hours ago · Like


Tracey James That's it for chemo Jane. Only Avastin from now on.
4 hours ago · Like


Denis Wright: It's not just finding a vein, Janey. It's the discomfort, nausea, upsetting of bodily rhythms, tendency to produce seizures, tiredness, lethargy.... which under other circumstances I might be prepared to put up with. I don't want to discourage others in different circumstances. Their reasons could be very different. It helped, for a while. It could save the lives of others. Each case is different. And thanks, Jack!
3 hours ago · Like


Diana Helmrich but it was your last session anyways :)
3 hours ago · Like
Thanks, Dee - and that's true. Being optimistic is good for the brain, and tumours hate optimism and love negativity, if any of you watched that 'Happiness' programme on the ABC a week or two ago.


Jane Horton I hope you were wearing your Survivor buff for your last session!
3 hours ago · Like
Maybe that's where I went wrong in not having it physically on my head for that session, Jane, but don't you think my handsome visage under that buff might distract those nurses too much while they were digging around looking for oil? :) But I always have it around, don't worry, and am determined you won't be getting it back for a while yet.... 


Diana Helmrich And the scarlet coloured undergarment
3 hours ago · Like
Denis Wright: TOTALLY forgot about it!!! Heck, that might have been the seat of the problem! :)


Wendy Cannon I'm hearing you Denis. Big cheers that chemo is done. XOXO
3 hours ago · Like
Denis Wright: You, and too many other people I know, know exactly what it's like. I'm sure you can understand this, but it almost seems like letting go of a crutch as well, and that can be disconcerting. But if you don't, how do you know whether or not you will do better without it?


Tracey James Dee: the Oncologist could always change his mind. I don't think Denis will be though.
3 hours ago · Like


Denis Wright: I respect the Oncologist. He's good at what he does considering the number of patients he has. As far as I can see, he has a very good idea when things might be working and when they aren't and we always listen to him carefully. But in the end, yes, I'll decide. So far we've been in perfect agreement with decisions - all three of us. And our trusted GP as well.


John Gee You have done well Den!
2 hours ago · Like
Denis Wright: Ahhh, Johnny Gee, who is like a rock of support to us - who knows far too well what it is like to nurse someone, in this case my youngest sister, through to the end in cancer treatment, with huge love, patience, intelligence and compassion - who did all that was humanly possible and more for her and will always be my brother - thanks, mate. Many good and happy memories as well over nearly 40 years and we do hope to see you in January.


Diana Helmrich The oncologist can go jump in the nearest lake!
about an hour ago · Like
Denis Wright :) Only if we think he's rocking the boat.... but I truly doubt it! He tells it like it is and I appreciate that.


Michael Gibson Den, I think you are bloody amazing. I take my hat off to you.
about an hour ago · Like
Denis Wright: Thanks, Mike, but the truth is, I am no different to anyone else that I know who has gone through this process. In fact, in terms of pain and suffering, what I put up with is so far, far far less than what others endure in treatment. Women might rightly say that they suffer more every month than I do. Even in the first stages of childbirth, they have much more to contend with. A child burnt terribly by a car bomb in Kabul suffers far more in an hour than I have all year, and haven't even started to live their lives. Other cancer sufferers have to put up with horrendously painful operations. It may seem strange, but I have been lucky in some ways. 
What is going to be the difference is how this ends up, and we know the difficulty of having no way to predict that. Ay, there's the rub... and we can only take it as it comes. My family may well have to be a lot braver than I....

1 comment:

  1. PS When I said, Ay, there's the rub... it reminded me of the whole verse, and incredibly, how apt it is when read line by line. Ah Shakespeare, you've done it again!

    HAMLET:
    To be, or not to be: that is the question:
    Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
    The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
    Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
    And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
    No more; and by a sleep to say we end
    The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
    That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
    Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
    To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;

    ReplyDelete

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