Page 3 - Ken Muller' Experience

Presentation by Kenneth Muller

treatment. Being faced with the necessity to select one We all tread the same road of utter shock, bewilderment,
out of two very different oncology options on offer, is an or abject helplessness, on learning of our specific
important case in point. diagnosis. Subsequently, our individual journey entailing
either palliative care, pre- and post-operative treatment,
Tip two
as well as a wide variance in the actual extent of each
On being discharged from hospital at the end of February surgical procedure, leaves us with a myriad array of
2015, Sheila and I immediately discovered that we would fervently optimistic expectations, wildly frustrating
have to work determinedly to get suitable levels of care unknowns, and sometimes shattering disappointment.
support and local monitoring through our GP’s surgery The common bonding factor this morning for this OOSO
and by the District Nurses. We experienced several quarterly meeting is that we are able and willing to
anxious and frustrating disconnects. After only a couple of convene together to support one another to keep
weeks back home, I was compelled to request a transfer progressing positively forward. Of course, this common
of registration to another GP within the Practice, who bond which we share would not be possible to realise if
would provide a more empathetic and holistic approach there was not such a dedicated team based at the
to my needs for post-operative follow up treatment Churchill, constantly delivering the most proficient level of
locally. professional medical care and support.
Before my first three months post-op consultation at the
Churchill, I had to push very hard to get the GP’s surgery
Kenneth Muller
to authorise regular full blood count tests. My immune 11 June 2016
th
system, since chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery
had taken a real bashing, particularly relating to neutrafils
and white blood cells results. I had been critically
neutropenic between chemotherapy and surgery and I
remain at the very bottom of both of those listed ranges
to this day.
During recent months, we know of other acquaintances
and friends who have been going through similar periods
of ordeals, following Upper GI surgery. My firm advice is
to push relentlessly from the outset at your local GP’s
surgery for them to seamlessly complement the excellent
effort expended by the Churchill Team, on our behalf.

Conclusion

I want to conclude this presentation on a hopefully
beneficial positive note. It is now almost 21 months since
my diagnosis and about 16 months since my surgery. The
long-term prognosis for me from the Churchill Team is
encouraging. I have had several holidays, since my
surgery, some of them abroad, including sailing across the
Channel to France during the last ten days.
I have done a lot of walking, including several Marlow to
Henley Thames Path treks, each comprising about 9 miles.
Increasingly, I can do more outside to assist Sheila with
our two acres of garden and woodland. I do have to take
care of myself by not physically overdoing it. All that said,
I have my life back under my control, almost back to
normal routines, but with a few obviously necessary
lifestyle changes. And finally, whilst concluding this
presentation with an upbeat tone, it is beholden of me to
set some sort of balance in outlining the respective levels
of progress that each of us individually experience before
and after our pre- and post-operative treatment.