So, first meeting with oncologist last night. Apparently, radiotherapy is indicated here because a) in a rare disease, I have the even rarer faster-growing version, and b) although the tumour was completely removed, what they call the surgical “margins” (i.e. amount of good tissue left after removal) were not all that wide.

It’s back to the hospital tonight for a chest x-ray, to find out whether the cancer has spread to my lungs. I daren’t even type out the implications of that right now. I just hope we can get an answer back on that before Christmas.

The radiotherapy will make my mouth sore (need to get a dental check pronto before they start), will cause some local hair loss around my left ear (I’m thinking mohican right now), may cause something called “glue ear” (thankfully only temporary congestion/deafness) and may increase risk of cataract in my left eye.

All of which, you’ll agree, is very jolly - mince pie, anyone?