So the day has finally arrived. I was told initially that I would have this operation last February. I was told this the previous August, so it's a six-month wait. Non-urgent operattions are often pushed back, which, although this can lead to extra discomfort, and perhaps a longer time in pain, have to give way to the life -theatening events.

This time tomorrow, I could be under the knife. I will certainly be in hospital in any case. I’ve had this annoying cough for some years now. Lingering coughs should be investigated, of course, and it was. I had a CT scan, which revealed extra growth around my thyroid. Then I was sent to the Royal Marsden for a PET scan to determine if I had anything malignant, and after a worrying wait, the result was negative.