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Bob Vernon’s Journey Page 1
Why I am stood here visit I knew why they all looked
I was asked to give a talk today on miserable. I know it affects people
some subjects like, Oncology, differently, but I am sure a lot of
Dieticians, Fundraising, etc. So, I you will agree it does make you
thought the best way to cover these feel nauseous and sick etc. I had a
subjects would be to talk about my bit of a worry after my operation
experience of finding out I had because I received a letter telling
Cancer of the Oesophagus and all me I had an appointment with Dr
that followed. Warner and my reaction was “Oh
no, am I going to have to have
How it all Started more Chemo”. Wrong… she
I was having regular Endoscopies wanted to tell me that my scan
as I suffered with Barratts confirmed I was all clear.
Oesophagus, which is how they
discovered this had progressed, My First Operation
and the biopsies came back This was my first major operation
cancerous. I was referred to Mr and stay in hospital, so I was not
Maynard at the Churchill Hospital too sure what to expect. A friend of
and came under another consultant mine, who had a heart operation, a
Mr Marshall. kidney operation, and a Cochlea
Implant, told me that I have to treat
My first meeting with Bob the situation like I would when
Marshall putting my car into the garage for
On my first meeting with Mr repair – you have to trust them to
Marshall, he explained exactly what do the right job. Does anyone want
would happen to me and that the Mr Maynard to service their car?
operation was major surgery. More
major than open heart surgery. My I was a bit surprised that the day
reaction was Oh, sh… sugar (that after my op’ I was dragged (not
was my shock NOT me referring to literally) out of bed and walked up
Mr Marshall. He is nice but I and down the ITU ward with all the
wouldn’t call him sugar!!!!) tubes that had been inserted into
me still there. I still remember the
My Chemo bloke’s name because he came
As for the Oncology side of things, I every day to do the same thing,
think I was relatively lucky as I did walking me around the ward, then
not have a tumour so I only needed the hospital as far as I could cope
two sessions of all day intravenous with, telling me to breathe in
Chemo plus two weeks of pills after through my nose and out through
each session. The Oncologist Dr my mouth. His name was Bob, but
Nicola Warner was very good, in as he also responded to
much as she noticed where I lived Barb...strange but true.
and asked if I would prefer to be
seen at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Nursing Staff in upper GI
The staff were all very good and I I am sure that you will all agree the
was assigned a specific nurse who nursing staff are extremely good,
looked after me all day. This was both thorough and caring. The
all new to me and when I looked examples I have of this are as
around at all the other patients follows.
having chemo, I thought what a
miserable bunch but, on my second
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Last updated by Roger Beaumont on 22-Jan-2023