An apprehensive start to the day as this was for my Father, hopefully his last appointment for his throat cancer. It is never an easy day as one never knows just what to expect, did that last sore throat do any damage, am I not putting on enough weight, all these questions and emotions were running through my Fathers mind. The taxi came late which is not a good thing as my Father is a nervous traveller at the best of times, and the driver had spilled diesel so the car was full of the pungent smell of diesel. The chap had a terrible disposition in the fact that he spoke incomprehensible english, the dialect was foreign to me and indeed to my family, so I just nodded and gave the occasional yes, sad to say that this was an accent that I did not miss. We arrived at the Western General to the Cancer Centre, a place that does not have fond memories for my Father, but a place where the staff are excellent. I waited in the designated area and I looked around at the people that were really battling, the newly diagnosed people, were easy to spot as they had a look that said what’s the fuss all about. I looked at a particular chap who was obviously  inconvenienced by having to take time out of his busy day, I thought you poor bastard, you have no idea just what your in for. There were various sufferers, mostly head and neck as by the visible scars from various surgeries, I know what these people are going through as I saw my Father waste away before my eyes for 12 weeks before he could finally swallow and keep some food, if you could call it that, down. My Father was called next and he disappeared to meet his favourite consultant, a woman who does not hold back, I really like her as  she does not sugar coat the truth. The next 10 mins seemed to take ages, a lot went through my mind, is it back, what do we have to do, is it the all clear. Finally my Father appeared and he was pale and had a vague look on his face, he told me he has the all clear, after 5 long years. Mixed emotions flowed through all of us as it was a bit surreal, my Father could not believe it. Upon returning home, carried by the same chap by the way, I opened a fine bottle of French Champagne, to toast the eradication of this the most horrid of diseases. My Father was still in no mans land as he said it would take a few days to sink in. The wine flowed and before too long Dad started to reminisce about the treatment, the dark days that he went through and asked me is it really over, I filled his glass and said, my bloody oath it is.