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A health journey
Recently, I had a little friend hitch a ride with me for a while. Although I, like many my age, participated in a bowel cancer screening routine for several years, I was one of the 20% who tested negative, but was actually positive.
The simple reason is that not all tumours bleed, or don’t bleed on the day of testing.
My friend was confused and just wanted to keep growing. I welcomed him with kindness but also explained that he would need to move on voluntarily or be moved on for the greater good. I visited my GP and reported blood spotting and vague abdominal discomfort.
I was referred for colonoscopy with Waitemata District Health. Within a month I had the colonoscopy, was diagnosed with a malignant mass in the anterior bowel, was booked in for CT scan and MRI scan, and had had consultation with a nurse specialist and surgeon.
After surgery five weeks from referral, and five days in Ward 8 North Shore Hospital, I am convalescing at home with a follow-up plan for next five years. I received best possible histology report results. No chemo, no radiation, just scans. Some lessons:
- Listen to your body, regardless of screening tests. Speak up if uncomfortable.
- Trust that professionals are here to help. Totally.
- There being no other evidence, rely only on good. The body, emotions and mental health will heal more quickly and stronger.
- Avail yourself of the support and literature provided by your health professional. I had no questions that went unanswered.
- Take it all one day at a time.
- These words would not be complete unless I emphasise my heartfelt gratitude to the nursing and doctor staff, the caterers and phlebotomists, the social workers and fellow patients involved in my repair of Life. In all honesty, my only complaint was breakfast day two when my toast was too cold. Lol.
Bern Green, Matakana
Peppered by police
Once again, I would like to applaud our brave persons in blue for their wise resource allocations.
With limited personnel available, it is vital the police only target the most important high-risk areas.
Those without the wisdom of our local police force might naively assume that retail and property crime would be a priority. Others might think that road safety around our schools and early childhood education facilities would be prime candidates for policing efforts.
No, far more important is ensuring the road adjacent to the pepper farm stays safe. That is surely why the new 60km/hr speed limit is being so carefully monitored.
Sure, stuff getting stolen and squashed children are unfortunate events, but imagine if an accident stopped the capsicum delivery trucks getting through! The police must make the hard choices, well done!
And before any conspiracy nuts suggest it, no, I don’t think the government is in the pocket of Big Pepper. All speeding is wrong, but doing over 60kph on a straight rural road is particularly egregious. Particularly if it means my salad is less tasty.
S Gonzales, Ahuroa
