Towards the end of April, I was updated on my CT scan results. The immune therapy that has worked for the last 3+ years is not having the desired effect. The doctors need to decide the next phase of my treatment. April ended with a bronchoscopy biopsy, a procedure that I went through four years ago. At the time, I was in a state of shock / mental confusion, going through a battery of tests, leading up to the lung cancer diagnosis.

This time, I was calmer and focused, taking in everything around me. I was informed that I needed to meet up in the morning having fasted, including no water, since midnight. The appointment started with a couple of tests to check oxygen saturation levels and lung capacity. A little later, the medical team ( 2 doctors and 2 nurses) was ready to start the scheduled procedure. With a towel across my neck and chest and a wad of tissues next to me, the doctor explained what was going to happen.

They started with cotton wads soaked in local anesthetic that were inserted into my nostrils – as far as possible. I was told to breathe in deeply to allow the medication to be absorbed into my nasal passage. They sprayed my throat with an local anesthetic. Finally, they administered an intravenous medication to keep me calm and hinder coughing or similar reactions during the procedure.

When I was ready, they started with the probe in my right nostril. The doctor kept updating me on progress, as the probe went through the nasal passage and reached my vocal chords. The probe needed to go past the vocal chords towards the lung, until finally it reached the mid lobe. The doctors managed to take 5 or 6 samples, Hopefully, these will give them enough material to work with.

During and after this procedure, I coughed up quite a lot of mucous, a result of the irritation to the lungs during the procedure. I spent the next two hours in the hospital bed under observation. After this, I was ready to eat something, having fasted since midnight. Toast, butter and cheese with a cup of coffee was great, before a final update from the doctor, before we headed back home.

By the time we got home, I was extremely tired and had a fever, which meant that the next couple of hours were spent in bed, under covers. The evening ended with a lovely dinner with good friends and then back home. I had a good nights sleep after a long and unusual day.

Looking forward to this week and the meeting with my oncologist where we will start to discuss the next phase of treatment.