Just to keep you all updated: it's now over two months since Zander finished his radiotherapy. He was doing really well, getting more energy and being more active, until about 10 days ago. He was out curling in Fife when he slipped on the ice and got a bit of a fright, bruising himself but not serious injuries. After that, he found himself getting more tired, and weaker. He started to sleep a lot more, and found it difficult even to drive to see B.
He seemed to be getting worse, so on Monday of last week, his doctor called out to see him, putting him on antibiotics and suggesting that he should go into hospital for a more detailed work up.
So on Wednesday morning, he went into hospital, and they did a series of tests- xrays, bloods, and on Friday, an MRI scan (it had been scheduled then anyway, to see what effect the radiotherapy had on the oesophageal tumour).
The full results are not in yet - I am travelling over to Edinburgh for the day next Wednesday to be with him for a full review with his oncologist. But the main diagnosis and the reason for his recent problems has been made: he has pneumonitis. This is inflammation of the walls of the alveoli - the air sacs in the lungs. It affects around 10% of people who get radiotherapy of the chest, as he has had. It is treated with anti-inflammatory medication- he is now on prednisilone which Granny used to get for her regular chest infections. The prognosis is good with early diagnosis and management. You can read all about pneumonitis by clicking here.
So he is still in hospital, in a lovely new building next to the old Western. It's spacious and bright and he has a room to himself. He is not online, so a bit incommunicado, although he has his mobile if anyone wants to call him.
I will post another update here after the visit to Edinburgh on Wednesday.
He seemed to be getting worse, so on Monday of last week, his doctor called out to see him, putting him on antibiotics and suggesting that he should go into hospital for a more detailed work up.
So on Wednesday morning, he went into hospital, and they did a series of tests- xrays, bloods, and on Friday, an MRI scan (it had been scheduled then anyway, to see what effect the radiotherapy had on the oesophageal tumour).
The full results are not in yet - I am travelling over to Edinburgh for the day next Wednesday to be with him for a full review with his oncologist. But the main diagnosis and the reason for his recent problems has been made: he has pneumonitis. This is inflammation of the walls of the alveoli - the air sacs in the lungs. It affects around 10% of people who get radiotherapy of the chest, as he has had. It is treated with anti-inflammatory medication- he is now on prednisilone which Granny used to get for her regular chest infections. The prognosis is good with early diagnosis and management. You can read all about pneumonitis by clicking here.
So he is still in hospital, in a lovely new building next to the old Western. It's spacious and bright and he has a room to himself. He is not online, so a bit incommunicado, although he has his mobile if anyone wants to call him.
I will post another update here after the visit to Edinburgh on Wednesday.
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