Medical matters

The sun is shining. I couldn’t be bothered to put the washing out. There isn’t much of it & the forecast is for rain later. On top of which, on Saturday, we had our flu jabs – I also had my pneumonia jab – which have left us both with sore arms. At first the Fox thought he had a severe breakout of his eczema when he saw the red angry lump on his arm until I reminded him about the jab & told him I had a similar red lump on my arm. It is now painful to raise both arms for me, the left because of the cancer, the right because of the jabs. It would make stretching up to hang washing too painful to contemplate, even though it is easier than yesterday.

On Thursday the Fox went for his breathing test to check if his lungs were damaged from his episode with pneumonia earlier this year. Although there is some loss of capacity it’s nothing worth worrying about. It’s more likely to do with being an ex-smoker and working for some years in a flour mill. However, if he has another chest infection he maybe ought to come back for another test.

Friday saw us at Oncology. It’s been decided I shall start on chemotherapy in two weeks’ time. Next week I will have a PICC line fitted which will be in until all the treatment is finished. That’s to avoid the need to constantly search for a vein to put a cannula in as I always have trouble getting needles into my veins.

So we are now all set to start treatment. In this oasis of peace we are trying to get the Fox sorted out. Since once more worrying about me, the Fox’s eczema has once more gone berserk. He was due for a review in July but is still waiting the appointment. I rang the emergency number who said they would e-mail the specialist he’d seen last time with details of his problem now. They also suggested I rang hospital appointments. There I was told there were no available appointments – too many patients & not enough doctors. They would try to up his name in the list in case of a cancellation. Fat lot of use that is. He’s desperate now, not in another 6 months’ time. She was just so blasé about it. It really annoyed me.

More appointments

Well, that didn’t take long. By early afternoon yesterday the phone was ringing yet again. I’ve now got an Oncology appointment for Friday.

They’re certainly not hanging around. I can’t quite believe the speed these appointments are coming in. The NHS is certainly working at top speed. I’m duly grateful.

I’m rather more bemused to get an appointment in today’s post for another mammogram. I only had one a couple of weeks ago! I know I was due a mammogram around about now as a follow-up from my first bout of breast cancer. In theory it was cancelled when I had this most recent one. Maybe it’s just a cock-up in the system & somehow this is the routine one not having been cancelled. Or is this to check what effect the chemo I should have started by then is having? When I’m at Oncology later this week I’ll pop across the road to the Breast Clinic & just check.

Good news

The phone rang. What now? It’s the hospital.

I’d spent much of the day trying to decide whether to ring the hospital this morning for the results of my tests. This was the hospital ringing me with the results. It was good news. The tests show the cancer has not spread into any other organs. It is simply in my breast & glands. I’m to expect a phone call later this week with an appointment at Oncology to sort out some chemotherapy to shrink this lump. The MacMillan nurse asked how I felt. I couldn’t help saying relieved.  At least it is only in one area & therefore should be able to be satisfactorily treatable. It is early enough.

I was somewhat bemused when I was about to serve dinner to hear the telephone ringing again. The Fox served up while I spoke to the hospital. It was a different MacMillan nurse, just checking I’d got the news & wasn’t unduly distressed. I assured her I had & that, in my opinion, it was good news. It seems I should be at Oncology later this week or next. I’ll be starting actual treatment the following week. It seems they’re hoping to shrink the lump to pea size then zap it with some radiotherapy & so avoid another operation. We’ll just see how it goes.

Personally I’ll be relieved if they can just shrink the lump. It seems to be still growing. Above all it is very painful, making sleep very difficult. A reduction in size should reduce the pain. It is unfortunate that the lump is just under where my bra strap goes, & the car seat belt goes, pressing down painfully on it. I’ll feel a lot happier if I’m just feeling more comfortable & able to sleep better. I’m not entirely sure what side effects the chemo may have but that is another hurdle. At least I will know I’m on the path to recovery.