Helen Walker
Helen's head shave on 5th march for Maggie's newcastle
Fundraising for Maggie's Centres
Story
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Back in may last year i told Brian to get his arm looked at as he had a lump growing under the skin on it, he didnt so in August when he had some time off i made an appointment for him to see his doctor. His doctor had never seen anything like it so refurred him to dermatology at the Cumberland Infirmary, A week later on 1st september he went to hospital to have it looked at they sent him for a ct scan and an ultra sound.The doctor then took a biopsy a portion of the lump and sent it to be analized his arm was then stiched up and a dressing put on.Brian then jumped back in his wagon to finish the rest of the weeks work.He came back that friday night with a very infected arm, he went to A&E the next morning and was put on antibiotics he had to attend dermatology on the monday morning to have it cleaned and dressed again, he then had to start having the dressings changed at the clinic or by myself, but it had started to grow rather rapidly about four weeks later he had the results from the biopsy they still had know idea what it was. They then decided to refer him to the freeman hospital in newcastle.The doctor at newcastle had already looked at all the information from carlisle hospital and discussed it with a team of colleagues as to what they thought it could be, it was originaly thought to be dfsp (dermatofibrosacoma protuberans)only about 1 in 5 million people may get this type of cancer.Brian was to have an mri and return to see them in two weeks, at the next appointment it was disscused as to what they would do to remove the tumor and options for covering up where it had been removed from. As the tumor was growing so quickly they did not want to leave it long and he received a call to go in a week later.The morning of the operation he was told it was somthing different IMT (InflammatoryMyofibroblastic Tumor) but this did not register with brian because he was worried about the operation, so we kept on believing he had dfsp until we were put right on the 5th february this being even more rare than the dfsp as only about 5 case studies world wide been recorded that we know about, they also told him radio therapy may have to be done afterwards but this is not happening now :).During the first operation they removed a large flap of skin on his arm to remove all the affected area,this was then sent off to the lab to be analysed,six days later when they new they had taken enough away they did the second opperation,they took a flap of skin from his back and also muscle so it had a blood supply and covered over where the tumer once was.The operation was a sucsess and nearly two weeks later Brian was allowed home, he has had to make regular visits to the rvi for dressing changes and to the freeman to see the doctors, he is now allowed back at work with just follow up appointments in the coming future.
To give somthing back for all the help and support we have receved, I am having all my hair shaved off by Brian on the 5th march to raise money for Maggie's at newcastle it is an amazing place for cancer patients and there familys to go and get help and advice or to chill out between appointments or just have a cuppa.
If you are unable to donate online i will have charity boxes dotted around near where we live..
XXXX PLEASE IF IN DOUBT GET IT CHECKED OUT XXXX
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Back in may last year i told Brian to get his arm looked at as he had a lump growing under the skin on it, he didnt so in August when he had some time off i made an appointment for him to see his doctor. His doctor had never seen anything like it so refurred him to dermatology at the Cumberland Infirmary, A week later on 1st september he went to hospital to have it looked at they sent him for a ct scan and an ultra sound.The doctor then took a biopsy a portion of the lump and sent it to be analized his arm was then stiched up and a dressing put on.Brian then jumped back in his wagon to finish the rest of the weeks work.He came back that friday night with a very infected arm, he went to A&E the next morning and was put on antibiotics he had to attend dermatology on the monday morning to have it cleaned and dressed again, he then had to start having the dressings changed at the clinic or by myself, but it had started to grow rather rapidly about four weeks later he had the results from the biopsy they still had know idea what it was. They then decided to refer him to the freeman hospital in newcastle.The doctor at newcastle had already looked at all the information from carlisle hospital and discussed it with a team of colleagues as to what they thought it could be, it was originaly thought to be dfsp (dermatofibrosacoma protuberans)only about 1 in 5 million people may get this type of cancer.Brian was to have an mri and return to see them in two weeks, at the next appointment it was disscused as to what they would do to remove the tumor and options for covering up where it had been removed from. As the tumor was growing so quickly they did not want to leave it long and he received a call to go in a week later.The morning of the operation he was told it was somthing different IMT (InflammatoryMyofibroblastic Tumor) but this did not register with brian because he was worried about the operation, so we kept on believing he had dfsp until we were put right on the 5th february this being even more rare than the dfsp as only about 5 case studies world wide been recorded that we know about, they also told him radio therapy may have to be done afterwards but this is not happening now :).During the first operation they removed a large flap of skin on his arm to remove all the affected area,this was then sent off to the lab to be analysed,six days later when they new they had taken enough away they did the second opperation,they took a flap of skin from his back and also muscle so it had a blood supply and covered over where the tumer once was.The operation was a sucsess and nearly two weeks later Brian was allowed home, he has had to make regular visits to the rvi for dressing changes and to the freeman to see the doctors, he is now allowed back at work with just follow up appointments in the coming future.
To give somthing back for all the help and support we have receved, I am having all my hair shaved off by Brian on the 5th march to raise money for Maggie's at newcastle it is an amazing place for cancer patients and there familys to go and get help and advice or to chill out between appointments or just have a cuppa.
If you are unable to donate online i will have charity boxes dotted around near where we live..
XXXX PLEASE IF IN DOUBT GET IT CHECKED OUT XXXX
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.