Looking Forward To Retirement - Keith's Story

The last place I worked at and retired from in June 2008 (at age 65) was Birley Manufacturing Company Ltd, formerly George Barlow & Sons Ltd in Sheffield. I worked there for 37 years as a wood machinist.

Back in 2006 I started with chest pains and indigestion. I tried treating it myself but after two weeks the pains did not seem to go away. I went to see my GP who told me that I had fluid on my right lung. 

In mid 2006 I underwent an operation to remove the fluid from my lung. However even after several x-rays and CT scans the doctors did not seem to know the cause of the build up of fluid. I also started with back pains on my right hand side after the operation to remove the fluid.

In January 2009 a doctor at the hospital called me in to see him and I was referred for a biopsy.  I was told that they had found something suspicious. I asked if it was cancer and was told that yes that was most likely but they did not know the type of cancer. A week later I went back to see the doctor at the hospital and I was told that I had a malignant mesothelioma of the pleura caused by asbestos exposure. I asked how long I had to live, 1 year or 5 years or what, and I was told that we were not talking about years. I was devastated - so much for looking forward to my retirement. 

The pain in my back and side did not go away. I remained under review at the Northern General Hospital but they could not seem to improve the level of pain that I was suffering from. A Macmillan nurse at the Northern General Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit asked me if I would like to pop in for a chat. She explained that I wasn’t suffering with normal back pain but nerve related pain. 

She tried her best to relieve me from this pain with various medications, but after a few weeks suggested that I would be better to be admitted to the Palliative Care Unit at the Northern General Hospital where they could monitor me 24 hours a day. 

The doctors tried various different types of pain relief medication but I was still suffering from this dreadful nerve pain. It was then that one of the doctors suggested I consider a procedure called a cordotomy.

A cordotomy is a surgical procedure whereby some of the pain conducting tracts in the spinal cord are severed so as to reduce the sensation of nerve pain from the mesothelioma. The level of my pain was still so bad that I decided I would like to try this procedure. The doctor explained that it was a relatively new procedure and that there were only a very limited number of doctors in the country who were qualified and experienced enough to carry out the procedure. I was therefore referred to Dr Paul Cook at the Royal Oldham Hospital. I was willing to try anything having put up with this nerve pain for three years now.

I was admitted to the Royal Oldham Hospital on 13th July 2009 for the procedure.  I was introduced to Dr Paul Cook, a very nice doctor who was easy to speak to. He explained the procedure fully and the possible side effects.

Within 30 minutes I was taken to theatre to begin the procedure. I was conscious/awake during the cordotomy procedure.  I was given a local anaesthetic behind my left ear. The doctor said that I had to be awake so that I could communicate my response to the procedure. A needle was then inserted into my neck, with the help of an x-ray to locate the spot where the needle should be inserted.  I experienced two cracks at the back of my neck, which took me by surprise. I then had to tell the doctors if one of my nerves twitched. After a while I was asked to squeeze the nurse’s hand and lift my left leg and wriggle my toes. I had to repeat this several times. Dr Cook then came behind me and took hold of my head and asked me to sit up.  He then held his hand at the site where the pain had been for the last three years and asked me what it felt like. I told him that the pain had gone.

I stayed overnight at the Royal Oldham Hospital and returned to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield the next morning. I had a headache for three of four days behind my left ear and one of my eyelids drooped for a few days.

The only permanent side effect that I am left with is that down my right side I experience a hot feeling on the inside. However I would rather put up with this than the nerve pain that I have experienced as a consequence of the mesothelioma over the last three years. If anyone asked me if I would go through the procedure again, knowing what involves, then I would definitely say YES.