It's More Than Enough To Make One Wretch! Tim Adkins' Story..............

[Guest guest]

This is the nastiest, most ignorant, most propagandistic load of

twaddle I have come across in a long time! It is the very BEST kind

of propaganda, because it is delivered by someone who has no idea

that what he is saying is propaganda.

 

The saddest, stupidest line in the whole thing, out of a great many

sad, stupid lines is this: " I never asked, " Why me? "

 

Tim, dear Tim!!! Had you asked " Why me? " when you had the varicose

veins or when you had the piles, and had you FOUND OUT WHY, you may

well NEVER have gotten the cancer! People are NOT defenseless bags of

flesh, to be attacked and invaded by whatever illness happens upon

them! THINK, Tim, THINK!

 

Tim, you were a prime, grade triple-A sheep, who went to the slaughter

without a single bleat. Not only that, but now you are happily and

witlessly luring other sheep down the chute to the slaughter.

 

What a sad, sickening lot of garbage. Line after line of this is the

complete OPPOSITE of what a person ought to do who knows and cares

about his health. This was on a British Medical site run by Britain's

equivalent of the National Cancer Institute. It's enough to make me

barf and lose my hair without any chemotherapy! Here you go:

 

" My name is Tim Adkin, I am 55 years old and because of my

illness have now retired from my job as a school master. I would like

to tell you about my cancer, its removal and subsequent chemotherapy.

In August 1996 I went to see my GP about some treatment for varicose

veins which had made walking very tiring and painful during the

summer term. I also asked him about possible treatment for piles

which seemed to have recurred after an absence of three years.

 

I went to see a surgeon, who has just started a vascular clinic at

our local hospital. He examined my veins with an ultra sound scanner

and identified a couple of leaking valves and then examined me to

check on the piles ... there was a pause and he asked the nurses for

a long handled surgical instrument so that he could remove a sample

of a growth he had discovered for analysis. His words were " I think

the veins can wait - there is another problem " .

 

When he explained to us what the problem was our first words to each

other were NOT " O God how dreadful, " but " OK, we have a problem and

we will take a totally positive approach towards a solution - that is

the way we deal with things " . The surgeon said he would ring me as

soon as possible with the results of the biopsy. He rang and said it

was cancer and that we should go to his clinic the following

Wednesday - where he would introduce us to another surgeon who would

be his choice if he had a cancer like mine. I don't think you can get

a better recommendation than that, and it gave us enormous confidence

not only in the medical teams, but in the system as well, because of

the speed at which things were happening.

 

We met the second surgeon who examined me and then drew some sketches

of what he was going to do to remove the cancer and repair the bowel

(an anterior resection). The sketches made the procedure seem quite

simple but of course it's not. He then said I was to go to another

hospital for five sessions of radiotherapy - to shrink the tumor and

reduce the chances of any cells going elsewhere.

 

We met the consultant oncologist who again did some simple sketches

explaining just what he proposed to do and how the treatment would

help the pre-operative work. This approach is in my opinion the very

best way to put people at their ease and remove any mystery from the

treatment. A couple of days after the daily radiotherapy had finished

I was back in the first hospital and having the operation. The

surgeon also found a tiny patch of cancer cells on my liver - which

he removed " while he was there " . I was in hospital for ten days and

received the most wonderful treatment I could have wished for. Some

time after the operation I was back for chemotherapy treatment. I am

sure that most of the people who have read this far will be able to

identify with some or all of the story so far.

 

It's at this point that things become different from the usual

procedures. The oncologist who is in charge of my chemotherapy

suggested, again with the aid of diagrams that I should have a

Hickman line put in and the chemicals administered by an infusion

system. SO instead of having to go into hospital for two or three

days every two weeks to have the chemo put in and the lines flushed

through, my wife and I could " Do it ourselves at home " .

 

I went into the hospital to have the Hickman line fitted and for the

first chemo to be put in, so that we could learn sterile procedures.

We were glad that we had agreed to do it ourselves because on the day

I had the line fitted the ward had to turn away eight people for lack

of beds. So by infusing at home we not only saved some very valuable

staff time but also a bed space for people who are in very much

greater need than I am. The advantage for me is that by carrying the

chemicals in a small bag around my neck I am able to carry on with my

life very much as normal.

 

So my wife and I were introduced to the Chemotherapy out-patients

department and the fine sisters. My 'bloods' are taken every 2 weeks -

sent to the lab for analysis and the results telephoned to the

consultant who confirms the prescription and sends it to the pharmacy

for making up. After the chemo sisters have checked everything we

take the chemicals home in a large cold box for connection to the

Hickman line. When all the changes have taken place the lines are

flushed through and then again at the end of the following week.

 

I have not needed any anti-sickness pills, neither has my hair fallen

out. The only problem I have had is with diarrhoea - but I have not

been worried by that either because I have seen sketches which show

how the chemicals damage the cells lining the digestive bowel. This

means that when the chemo finishes, so does the diarrhoea. While all

this has been going on I have never said to myself, " Why Me? " To me

it has been just an illness that can be cured with the right approach

and planning.

 

Being responsible for administering the chemicals at home has given

us the feeling that we are making a positive contribution towards my

recovery and the resting seems to have solved the vein problem as

well. I have never been worried either - although our doctor did

express amazement at my approach to the problem. The reason I don't

worry is quite simple really - if I go to Hong Kong to visit my

children and grandchildren I don't worry whether or not the pilot

sitting in the front of the aeroplane can fly it or not - if they

could not they would not be sitting there.

 

Equally the medical teams looking after me are some of the most

skilled and clever people I have ever come across. They have access

to the most up-to-date equipment and research in the world, they have

spent years studying and acquiring their skills and knowledge - where

could I be in better hands?

 

Two important things I have learned about are the importance of

appropriate diet and a nasty little thing called a rigor - but I can

handle these as well now with willpower, deep breathing and

antibiotics as well. So in conclusion - if you are given the chance

to have a Hickman line fitted and if you are given a chance to have

the chemicals at home - either for self administration or with the

help of a nurse - go for it and live life to the full !

 

Best wishes to you all

Tim Adkin "

 

And best wishes to you, Tim, in your sublime ignorance.

 

Elliot