This story is about my husband Paul.
Paul was admitted to St Vincent’s Private Hospital on 27/11/2008 for a Robotic Prostatectomy. As soon as the cameras were inserted they found a tumour on his small bowel. When the Prostatectomy was finished they bought in a Gastroenterologist who performed a Right Hemicolectomy, this we were told was Carcinoid Cancer. Paul was in the operating theatre for about 8 hours that day. As soon as he woke his words were “they found something else”? He had been on the rounds with Doctor’s for years trying to find out what was wrong with his stomach.
Surgery was performed again in April, 2009 as Paul also had Kidney Cancer (unrelated). He had a Partial Nephrectomy and whilst they had him open the Gastroenterologist came in an removed the Carcinoid infected Lymph Glands.
His cancer remained stable through the years having Lutate Therapy in 2013 and monthly Sandostatin Lar 30mg injections.
Paul has had many hiccups along the way, the biggest one being the loss of his ability to store Vitamin K due to the Sandostatin. July this year Paul awoke having a seizure. CT scans showed an Acute nontraumatic subdural haematoma. After 17 days in Royal North Shore Hospital he is now on the mend. Vitamin K tablets taken daily have his blood clotting normally.
Paul’s recovery from this latest set back has been slow but through all this his cancer has remained stable.
Written by Paul’s wife, Kerrie
