Problems

I suppose the time has come to tell what happened on Friday. As I’ve said I had three appointments, 10am at Oncology, 10.30 at the Breast Clinic and 11am back to Oncology.

We set off early, in the hope we’d get in early to the first appointment so would make the second on time.

Just as we came into Lancaster we hit gridlock. Nothing move. So much for setting off early. As we tried to cross the River Lune on Skerton Bridge, a lady in front of us put on her hazard lights, locked up the car & went to get something off the back seat. Fortunately, a council worker was passing on foot & told her she couldn’t just abandon the car there. It was a bad enough traffic jam as it was without abandoned cars in the middle of one of a two lane bridge. She must at least push it into the kerbside. She reluctantly got back in the car. The engine started immediately & she roared off into the space that had by then opened in front of her. We were left staring in disbelief. We’d assumed the car had broken down, overheated with all the start-stopping.

We continued on. The next obstacle was where a delivery of building materials had fenced off on lane, still in the two lane area. Everyone again had to try to get down to one lane.

On we went. I rang the hospital to say I was going to be late due to traffic. It was a common story that morning. I suggested as it was already nearly 10.30 I would go to that appointment then return to Oncology for both those appointments.

The Breast Clinic was surprised when I managed to arrive promptly at 10.30. Very few people had managed. Apparently a mains water pipe had burst, causing all this chaos.

Then came the bad news. On Friday I was aware my shoulder was aching once more where the tumour had been. On inspection all were agreed there was a substantial lump there again. The tumour would seem to be growing again. It looks as though we’ve missed the window of optimum opportunity for the op. We’re once more thinking about a stronger form of chemo or radiotherapy.

It was with long faces & in a state of shock that we crossed the road once more for Oncology. There the specialist examined me too. On the CT scan I had just before Christmas the tumour had shrunk to just about pea size. Now it seems considerably bigger, not as bad as it was when I first reported it, but nonetheless noticeably larger. I should have realised when my hair started growing again a couple of weeks ago. Clearly my body has adjusted to all the chemicals that have dripped in. So much so the cancer is fighting back all the stronger. The speed of growth is alarming. It must be a very virulent form of cancer. Another CT scan is being organised. Meanwhile today another big conflab is happening between the various specialisms involved to decide which is the best way forward. I should know within the week.

I went on to my second appointment at Oncology to have my PICC line cleaned. The nurses were all shocked when I told them the news & duly tried to cheer me up.

Friday night saw us in a bit of a state. Tears were welling up in the Fox’s eyes he was so upset. We escaped by watching “Gigi”. There’s nothing like a musical to cheer you up.

By Saturday I’d decided the time had come to ring a member of my family. One of the things that has worried me is that the surgeon is suggesting radiotherapy is the answer, whilst the oncologist says it’s too dangerous to have a second dose of radiotherapy in the same part of the anatomy, even to overlap. My Cousin Trudy’s daughter, JC happens to be one of the leading radiographers in this country. She’s head at Christie’s, the foremost cancer hospital in this country, for that matter one of the foremost cancer hospitals in the world. I thought I’d give her a ring to find out the facts. She assured me there would be no problem with radiotherapy provided I was tattooed last time. I assured her I was. Apparently they can then tell exactly where the beams were aimed last time and then very precisely aim elsewhere this time. That shouldn’t be a problem since they would have aimed at the breast itself & armpit last time, & this time it would be at the shoulder. Even if there was an overlap they now know that the body can cope with considerably more radiation than they used to think so it would still be safe. She also advised me these days, if I am on palliative care, you can often have a good quality of life for another 10-20 years. Both the Fox & I were considerably happier having talked to her. She also stressed not to hesitate to ring again if I have further questions. Three cheers for JC!