By Mr. V.N. Kashyap
In the year 2012, at the age of 71, I was diagnosed with the cancer of
the vocal cord. It turned my life upside
down. Each day became a life-changing
experience for me, with the frequent trips to hospitals, consulting different
doctors, and undergoing countless diagnostic tests.
Each day I wrote to myself…. Everything is fine….
EVERYTHING IS FINE, BUT………………
After I felt a little hoarse, with difficulty to talk, I thought
the best course of action will be to consult a doctor.
The doctor asked me for the history, he came to some conclusion,
and prescribed some medicine and said:
EVERYTHING IS FINE, BUT………………
Please have a few tests done, complete the course of medicines and
come back to see me.
I get the tests done, finish the course of medicines, collect the
test results and head back to the doctor.
He looks at the test results, which were all normal, checks my
throat again, as my voice is still hoarse, decides to have a deeper look into
my throat, uses the laryngoscope and tells:
EVERYTHING IS FINE, BUT………………
There is a growth on the vocal cord, though the vocal cords are
mobile, but we need to do a biopsy, which means getting admitted to a hospital
for a day as it must be done under general anesthesia!
I consult another doctor, he looks at the reports, does a
laryngoscope check, and tells:
EVERYTHING IS FINE, BUT………………
We need to do a fibre optic laryngoscopy, it is a half an hour
procedure you need to come to the hospital.
Next day I go through the laryngoscopy, a growth is detected, it must
be removed. But before that a battery of tests must be done.
I go through the investigations, which includes, blood tests,
cardiac evaluation, allergy history etc. All test results are normal; I head
back to the doctor and a date is fixed for the operation.
After taking all the pre-operative precaution of stopping some
medicines, taking some new ones, and 8 hours of fasting, I report to the
hospital at 6 AM.
I go through the surgery, come out of the effect of the anesthesia,
and next morning the doctor comes to have a look at me. The wound is healing
properly, no fever, no discomfiture, so I can go home. This is when I ask him
for the next course of action and he tells:
EVERYTHING IS FINE, BUT………………
You should come back after a week as we will get the biopsy
results in one week’s time.
On the appointed day and date, I meet the doctor. He has the
report and tells me:
EVERYTHING IS FINE, BUT………………
“The biopsy results clearly indicate malignancy! It is squamous
carcinoma of the vocal cord. Vocal cords are mobile, your voice will improve
over the next two to three weeks, no doubts, but we need to consult an
oncologist radiologist”.
I meet the doctor; an MRI is done to rule out the spread of the
disease. Radiotherapy is suggested.
This is when we change course and another doctor is consulted. Firstly,
for a second opinion, and, also because this doctor is closer to our place of
stay, and associated with a more reputed hospital. This doctor also looks at
the results of the surgery, studies the MRI report, discusses the history once
again and advises:
EVERYTHING IS FINE, BUT………………
We need to have a PET scan done to rule out any spread of the
disease and for that you must come prepared, at the appointed time, another
day.
I report on the appointed time; a cast is made, which was needed
for the radiation therapy. PET scan is done, in total a 6-hour long procedure,
and I am asked to report for treatment
after four days.
Suddenly, I get a call two days ahead of the appointed treatment
time.
EVERYTHING IS FINE, BUT………………
We have found a growth close to the lungs, inside of the trachea;
we need to do a biopsy of the fresh lump!!
I am referred to another doctor, who in turn asks for pre-anesthetic
check, and a biopsy, which involves intrusive surgery, again to be done under general
anesthesia.
I have agreed to go
through the same checks, and now I feel that
WITH THE GOOD
WISHES OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
EVERYTHING WILL BE
FINE, LIFE SHALL BE DIVINE!!
After this I went
through 33 rounds of radiations, each lasting approximately 40 minutes, five
days a week, for a period of 2 months.
Today, I am 78 years old, am leading my routine life, and always find myself reassured that Everything will be fine…….!
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