My life changing moment happened when I was 8 years old, a long time ago and one which I would never conceive could happen…
However, as a young child I was part of the generation that had the obvious tonsils out before 5 years of age and unfortunately had my adenoids removed three years later. Probably caused by living with smoking parents and poor diet!!
One of the final treatments to enable my hearing to be optimal was to be referred to a large Auckland Hospital 4 hours away by road to undergo a series of X-Ray radiation treatments of an hour a time to help clear the eustachian tubes and enable me to achieve perfect hearing!
The treatment was quite daunting in that I was placed in a very large (10 metre ceilings) room with a HUGE radiation machine. I was placed on a movable bed and slid into the machine so that the area between my ears was a focal treatment area. The treatment was for one hour at a time and very scary for an 8-year-old youngster!!
Luckily, I achieved exceptional hearing which allowed me to pass the Military pilots medical and undertake pilot training in the RNZAF.
Moving on to age 37, the doctor noted a small tumour below my left ear. He tried to remove in the surgery however was unable to complete so was referred to the oral surgeon to remove. This was at the time that my wife had just given birth to our second child, so I went into the hospital for a day surgery under local anaesthetic, as I had to drive home after.
This was benign!
Moving on to 2016, I went to the dentist, and she discovered a lump in the roof of my mouth, which hadn’t really been bothering me. She referred me to a pathologist, and he also was nervous about taking a biopsy so referred me to an oral surgeon same day…
This was before Christmas 2016.
After the new year I received a call from the oral surgeon advising that I had a “Low grade Muco-epidermoid carcinoma”. He was unable to do the operation (because he was skiing in Japan!!) so he referred me to the Royal Melbourne Hospital Oral Maxillo Facial team for the operation. There were multiple appointments and scans before the operation Mid-February.
Prior to this we had been looking at buying an apartment in South Yarra and we were going to an auction the weekend before the operation. I said to my wife “do you want me to take the cheque book, given that I am in hospital next week for 14 days?” She responded, “take the chequebook!”
Anyway, we purchased the property, and I had the operation to remove the tumour (just like Johnny Farnham!!) Luckily, after being told the cancer had gone to a grade 4 cancer and required radiation and chemotherapy!! Wow more impacting treatment! Luckily the chief surgeon met us on the stairs and said that they had just had a meeting about my case and reckoned that they had enough margin, and no further treatment, phew, thank goodness for that.
We moved to South Yarra near the Botanic Gardens and enjoyed the experience. Then another tumour had grown behind my ear, so had that removed (benign!!)
Wow, that’s enough cancers. In the meantime, have had two more (prostate and a skin cancer on my lip).
Still alive and enjoying every moment I can breathe.
Thanks for listening……..
James Davey
February 2024
However, as a young child I was part of the generation that had the obvious tonsils out before 5 years of age and unfortunately had my adenoids removed three years later. Probably caused by living with smoking parents and poor diet!!
One of the final treatments to enable my hearing to be optimal was to be referred to a large Auckland Hospital 4 hours away by road to undergo a series of X-Ray radiation treatments of an hour a time to help clear the eustachian tubes and enable me to achieve perfect hearing!
The treatment was quite daunting in that I was placed in a very large (10 metre ceilings) room with a HUGE radiation machine. I was placed on a movable bed and slid into the machine so that the area between my ears was a focal treatment area. The treatment was for one hour at a time and very scary for an 8-year-old youngster!!
Luckily, I achieved exceptional hearing which allowed me to pass the Military pilots medical and undertake pilot training in the RNZAF.
Moving on to age 37, the doctor noted a small tumour below my left ear. He tried to remove in the surgery however was unable to complete so was referred to the oral surgeon to remove. This was at the time that my wife had just given birth to our second child, so I went into the hospital for a day surgery under local anaesthetic, as I had to drive home after.
This was benign!
Moving on to 2016, I went to the dentist, and she discovered a lump in the roof of my mouth, which hadn’t really been bothering me. She referred me to a pathologist, and he also was nervous about taking a biopsy so referred me to an oral surgeon same day…
This was before Christmas 2016.
After the new year I received a call from the oral surgeon advising that I had a “Low grade Muco-epidermoid carcinoma”. He was unable to do the operation (because he was skiing in Japan!!) so he referred me to the Royal Melbourne Hospital Oral Maxillo Facial team for the operation. There were multiple appointments and scans before the operation Mid-February.
Prior to this we had been looking at buying an apartment in South Yarra and we were going to an auction the weekend before the operation. I said to my wife “do you want me to take the cheque book, given that I am in hospital next week for 14 days?” She responded, “take the chequebook!”
Anyway, we purchased the property, and I had the operation to remove the tumour (just like Johnny Farnham!!) Luckily, after being told the cancer had gone to a grade 4 cancer and required radiation and chemotherapy!! Wow more impacting treatment! Luckily the chief surgeon met us on the stairs and said that they had just had a meeting about my case and reckoned that they had enough margin, and no further treatment, phew, thank goodness for that.
We moved to South Yarra near the Botanic Gardens and enjoyed the experience. Then another tumour had grown behind my ear, so had that removed (benign!!)
Wow, that’s enough cancers. In the meantime, have had two more (prostate and a skin cancer on my lip).
Still alive and enjoying every moment I can breathe.
Thanks for listening……..
James Davey
February 2024
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