I would be having radiotherapy at the BRI before surgery. Mr Kennedy then explained the MRC CLASSIC Trial that his team were participating in comparing the results of laparoscopic with normal open surgery. I agreed to take part in the trial. Following this consultation I had blood tests, a chest x-ray that was clear and then an ultrasound scan of the abdomen that found a spot on my liver that would be reported to Mr Kennedy. All in all quite an eventful day.

On the 3rd March 2000 I had a colonoscopy examination of my bowel and no further problems were identified. On the 7th March 2000 I had a CT scan to check out the spot on my liver found during the ultrasound scan.

On the 10th March 2000 I saw my oncologist at the Bristol Oncology Centre who explained the radiotherapy treatment I received would be spread over 5 days. We discussed possible side effects and then I went on to the planning machine for profiling and indelible marking of the radiation target areas. I had my treatment during the week of  the 20th to 24th March 2000.

I was admitted to Yeovil District Hospital on the 28th March and had my surgery on the 29th March 2000. I was discharged on the 10th April 2000 with a permanent colostomy. My release notes stated I had made an uneventful recovery; but I guess that depends on your point of view.

I had a PICC line inserted at Bristol on the 7th June 2000 and subsequently had seven months of chemotherapy at Yeovil in the Macmillan Unit where I was very well looked after by nurses and volunteers. Following this I had a staging laparoscopy of my liver at the BRI on the 30th March 2001 and partial liver resection and gall bladder removal on the 12th April 2001.
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