The meeting end July with Onco went very well, my latest ECG results showed a slight improvement with the LVEF up to 52% (from 51%) so Onco was happy that I was OK to continue on Herceptin with another ECG/review booked for 3 months time.
August was quite a busy time, being the anniversary of diagnosis and treatment. First on the list was a Mammogram - quite a big moment as it was solely by this method that the tumour was found in the first place. I realise the chance of anything untoward still lurking in my breast is highly unlikely given the vast amount of poisons 💉💉💉💉💉 I'd had this last year - but of course my emotions will always overtake logic 😢
August was quite a busy time, being the anniversary of diagnosis and treatment. First on the list was a Mammogram - quite a big moment as it was solely by this method that the tumour was found in the first place. I realise the chance of anything untoward still lurking in my breast is highly unlikely given the vast amount of poisons 💉💉💉💉💉 I'd had this last year - but of course my emotions will always overtake logic 😢
It was done at the Breast Care Unit and the radiographer (mammographer) was very sweet and said that most women find their post cancer checks an emotional time and that tends to continue down the years. It was over very quickly and fortunately not nearly as painful as the last ones.
I wasn't really sure how I'd get the results as I wasn't due to see God (the surgeon) until mid September and nearly 6 weeks seemed a jolly long time to wait. So after a week I telephoned and the Breast Care Unit confirmed the results would be sent to God as he'd requested the mammogram. But when I spoke to his secretary she told me that the Breast Care Unit would automatically get in touch should anything show up on the scans but, if I'd like an earlier appointment with God, she had a cancellation two weeks before. I nearly bit her hand off.
As I've mentioned before, not being free to travel has been hard for me and as far as I was aware it would be difficult to get insurance until I had been cancer free for 2 years. But as our bank now wanted to charge more for Ian (70+) last week we thought we'd give Barclays a try as they offer cover upto 80yo and we were prepared to accept exclusions on anything cancer related.
I went through the medical screening questions first and then Ian and she quickly told Ian that he would be fully covered for all his, mostly minor, ailments and could he put me back on the phone. Wait for it "I'm sorry but .........................." but no, she told me I can be fully covered for everything and she'll write to confirm, and gave me a reference number and result code FC = FULLY COVERED 😁😁😁😁😁 So once we get the final clear from Onco later in the year, there will be nothing to stop us doing long haul travel.
Today was the appointment with God and the queue for the carpark was massive when we got to the Medway so I left Ian to park and went in. I eventually managed to use the computerised check-in (system on a go slow) and was told to go to Area 8 as the Outpatient Depts had moved. One of the volunteer guides kindly gave me directions and I set off to the other side of the hospital but couldn't find the Lift 12 he was talking about. Luckily I spied one of the Breast Care Nurses I'd seen last year so asked her and she was heading for the same area, but the lift was out of order so we'd have to use the stairs - no problem. Except when I finally got up there and I went to book in (again) I was told I should be in Area 5 which was right back near where I'd started. Apparently the system is programmed to send all patients to Area 8 even though it's incorrect - how ridiculous. By now it was past my appointment time and I didn't know where Ian was or how he'd find me (as per usual his mobile was safely tucked up at home) and I got a little upset 😢 (stupid really, we're pretty convinced everything will be ok but ..........). Anyway they kindly said they'd phone through and say I was on my way and also leave a message at reception for Ian but when I eventually got back to the right place, Ian was already waiting having simply asked where God's clinic was held and been told Area 5 from the start and the receptionist there updated him when he got the message through I was on my way. All's well that ends well and as usual the clinics were running late so I had time to compose myself.
God was having a day off and so we saw one of his team (demi-god ?) - no problem, very pleasant chap - who confirmed the mammogram showed nothing in my left breast and -incredibly importantly - no evidence of disease in my right breast - so I am officially a NEDDIE 🦓🦓🦓🦓🦓 (no donkey emojis but zebras are pretty close). There followed a quick physical examination and so neat is the scar he actually had to ask where it was.
Apparently before I started on the Oestrogen blocker Letrozole back in February, I should have had a bone density scan so they have a reference point to measure any deterioration against, as restricting the body's take up of oestrogen can cause osteoporosis. I'd read about people having them and had idly wondered why I wasn't, but just presumed it was not my Health Trust's policy. Anyway, one is now being arranged and if this is the only "omission" that's been made with my care/treatment then I'm not going to fuss. Update: reading back over letters from Onco, she didn't arrange for regular dexascan as I'm already having Zolendronic Acid anyway.
So now, although I have a few months left of Herceptin, years of Letrozole and follow up appointments etc, I feel it's time to close the door on this chapter and change my mantra. This will hopefully be my Last Post 📯📯📯📯📯 and hereinafter I shall just try to HFTB - Hope For The Best (and stop continually preparing for the worst)
Thanks everyone for being there.
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