Really sorry to read your news Dougie; you've been through a very challenging experience with more challenges to come.
Both my parents have had cancer: my mum survived almost 40 years after her first op and my dad is still around a decade after his.
Modern medical science achieves remarkable things and I hope the treatment works. Good luck.
Thanks Gandalf, I am amazed by the kindness shown by the members of this forum - thankyou.
It's not until a thread like this has been opened, that you realise how widespread this awful disease is, and I am glad to see that a lot of you out there, have had parents surviving with a decent quality of life. This is encouraging, and although the treatment I am receiving is purely palliative, I hopefully have some quality time left. That said, it's been far from quality for the last six months or so.
As you rightly state, there are more challenges to come. After the stent is inserted comes the first, that of the sometimes brutal side effects of chemotherapy. I was effected quite badly at times from the original concoction, but to a certain extent, you can learn to live with that. It's the little additional surprises that come along every once in a while, which can prove to be the real challenge. Time will tell.
Thanks again for the wishes.