Well after a weekend holed up with the kids I ventured out today for (as you will now not be surprised to hear) a trip to the doctor's, an ultrasound and a flit around John Lewis. The ultrasound failed to turn up anything of interest as the mysterious 3mm lump is too small to see except with an mri - and the consultant was adamant that he knew all about it but wanted to wait and see what the second mri showed up as they have a tendency to show up everything - even when it is not relevant. In any event - my options are now limited and I have agreed to wait 3 months for another mri, and to assess the situation then. In the meantime, he assures me I am not in any immediate danger. Could have done with not having this hanging over me - but uncertainty is now a feature of my life so I am not on unfamiliar territory.
The good news is that I am to have surgery next Tuesday 18th December to remove what's left of my cancer, along with a sentinel node biopsy to ascertain which lymph nodes drain the tumour - which will then be removed. If all is clear that will be the end of that - but if tumour cells are found I will need a second operation under the arm to remove more lymph nodes. I could have had this at the same time - but it is a much bigger operation and carries a risk of lymphodoema which is a pain in the butt (well the arm to be precise) - so I opted to take it in stages in case it proves not to be necessary. The surgery will also mean I will get the full pathology of this little bugger - but to receive it I have to go to Wimbledon at 2.30pm on Friday afternoon 21st December!!!! I can only imagine the horror of my 26 hour round trip on the Friday before Xmas - probably won't get back till xmas eve - and all that 3 days after surgery. Oh well - I did insist on being sliced and diced before xmas so can't complain....
I already feel as if a weight has been lifted and that I will at least have the worst behind me before the festivities. And it appears that that is not the only thing to be lifted as the consultant assured me that he will reconstruct me so well that I'll end up with a beautiful left boob - better perhaps than the current model - and that he is happy to do the same to the right at some later date. Eat your heart out Pammie..
So just a few clear days now to finish my Xmas shopping and start the wrapping so I'll have nothing to do except eat turkey and drink Champagne....
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2 comments:
Hi Mary - good luck with the "procedure" - hope a whole new wardrobe beckons after your nip/tuck! Love, Derek and Sheba.
Mary, best of luck for Tuesday, Anna and I will be thinking about you. I've just read most of your blog in one sitting and found it very touching, as well as laugh out loud funny in places (although I did spot a few typos - so much for my efforts to turn you into a sub all those years ago!!!) Anyway, you are an amazing person and an inspiration. And you have a fantastic family and brilliantly supportive group of friends. Get well soon, please. Lots of love, Geraint
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