On Tuesday 31.01.17 our unity bands arrived! Reno's is navy, Sam's is Turquoise and mine bright pink! The bands are like a rope bracelet with a magnetic clasp and they are being sold (along with other items) by Cancer Research to raise funds for their non stop work to beat cancer. Saturday 4th February is World Cancer Day I hope that anyone reading this blog will join us and unite to beat cancer by buying the unity band (available in cancer research shops or online, just Google cancer unity band), through the experience of having cancer myself I have learned just how many peoples lives are touched by this illness but together raising funds for research WE WILL BEAT IT! Lets help Cancer Research find the means to make Cancer a disease that no-one in the future need fear.
Thank you all so much for your support.
Wednesday 1.2.17 - today has been a really good day! I have been to work had a really busy time but feel really quite awake and not needing to nap once I got home! My hair loss has increased but every cloud has a silver lining - I have no prickly hairs on my chin!!! Not that I had many of course!, but the odd one or two would insist on growing and trying to extract them with tweezers was a tough job - I am sure they had tiny hooks at the roots! Eyebrows and eyelashes as yet unaffected!!
Thursday 2.2.17 - Today has been a brilliant day! First I had some help arrive in the office - a lovely lady more than capable of taking my job on if I cannot make it into work at any time. This helps so much because I love my work and was concerned about things getting into a muddle - I can now totally relax about it as my job will be in very capable hands. Secondly - I got employee of the month! I had been nominated by four colleagues - someone else also was nominated by four colleagues but they insisted that I had the £25.00 voucher. I was a bit worried that my cancer had prompted the nominations but I was assured that this was not the case. Thirdly I had an appointment with my oncologist today, Reno came with me, he told me that my bone scan was ....absolutely fine!, my heart scan was........absolutely fine! I was thrilled as was Reno although he had been trying to reassure me that they would be ever since they were done! The oncologist asked me how I had been following the first chemotherapy and I found it difficult to recall any real problems at all (tiredness really can't be called a problem - I just sleep it off!!!) He smiled and said that he was really pleased and after examining me he said he didn't need to see me again for 4 weeks! That will be just after my third chemo!! Hurrah! I did mention to him that my head has felt quite tender to the touch today but he explained that it was perfectly natural with hair loss - I was happy with that explanation, it made sense. I came out of the hospital so excited I was like a child with a new toy! As we walked to the car I kept repeating to Reno how chuffed I was - it was great to have him there to hear such good news because he has been so strong for me and always there whenever I need him not to mention waiting on me hand and foot!!! I am so proud of Reno and Sam for the way they cope with the whole situation - I would be lost if it wasn't for them. That said, I have also two sisters and other family and friends who have all been so supportive - they are all amazing!
Spent a relaxing evening all 3 of us watching episodes of the Masterchef Junior which we have been recording - a lovely end to a really great day!
Tomorrow is looking to be a busy day - my mum is moving and its all hands on deck!
Tuesday, 31 January 2017
Sunday, 29 January 2017
Sunday 29.01.17
Realised today that I need to catch up again with what's been going on!
Thursday 26th January - Took my time getting up today as I wanted to go into work. Hadn't had a great night as the tooth ache seems to be fighting with the pain relief and winning! However work should take my mind off it and I have an appointment booked for February 6th (my blood and I should be at our best then!). Took Sam to school and then carried on to work as planned. However by 12. noon yet again the toothache was winning, try as I might not to let it, so I decided to call oncology and speak to my nurse to get some more advice on pain relief. Rachel (my nurse) called me back at 2.00p.m. and to cut a long story short told me I must see a dentist a.s.a.p. as taking all the painkillers was not a good thing long term. Whilst on the phone she gave me the great news that my bone scan was absolutely fine - this I was relieved to hear as I had been worried about it. Once I had finished talking to Rachel I called my husband to ask him to make a dental appointment a.s.a.p. - yesterday if possible!!!!! The appointment was made for 12.15p.m. on Friday 27th so I decided to try and just get on with my day and do my best to ignore it! Once home I rested and dozed before finally going to bed armed with painkillers a hot water bottle and determination to have the best nights sleep I could!
Friday 27th January - Not a great nights sleep but I was keen to get up and get going as today was the day for my heart scan at 9.15 and dentist at 12.15 (I have never been so excited to go to the dentist in all my 55 years!) Reno and I dropped Sam at school and then went to the hospital. The scan was being done in Nuclear medicine. An injection was given at 9.15a.m. and then we had half an hour to get a coffee before we had to be back again for me to have the radio active tracer injected followed by the scan. The scan only took about 20 minutes and we were away by 10.30a.m. After calling on my mother we then went to Needham Market to our dentist arriving early but keen!!! After explaining to the dentist what had been happening all week he nodded knowingly and proceeded to tell me that the filling I had replaced at the beginning of January needed to be removed along with the nerves then a temporary filling put in - he knew that oncology would not thank him for doing anything invasive. For the next hour I let the dentist do what he had to do and was just thankful that at the end of it I would be free of the terrible pain - as I told the dentist - Chemo I can deal with - this toothache I really can not!!! Once finished the dentist explained that he had cleaned out 3 root canals, removed the nerves (which were Gangrenous!) and after applying an antiseptic substance had filled the tooth with a temporary filling which he said would be good for a year and get me through until my chemotherapy was all done and dusted. He explained that the tooth would be sore for a few days but then I would have no problem with it. I was so happy I could have hugged him - but it didn't really seem appropriate!! From the dentist we went home to order a new tumble dryer (ours has decided its had enough after almost 17 years) and then I rested whilst Reno collected Sam.
Sam took Reno horse riding and my two sisters came round to help me fill in a form to have some genetic testing - the form requires a complete family history - in the end after doing what we could ourselves my sister June took a photo copy of the form and said she would let me have it back when she had found out the information to complete it - both my sisters are stars!
Saturday 28th January - I had the most wonderful nights sleep last night - around eleven hours! I didn't even wake to go to the loo!! That's a first for months! A pretty ordinary day today for a change - just us three chilling at home. Much need time to just relax together.
Sunday 29th January - Another great nights sleep - I could get used to this!! My tooth a little niggly but nothing too much to be concerned about or to take pain relief for - Hooray!!!
My niece and her husband visited today - they live away in Derbyshire - it was so wonderful to just have a huge hug - though my niece has recently had a wisdom tooth removed so we had to be a bit protective of each other!! Other than that another quiet restful day building up my energy ready for work tomorrow - just over a week to go to my next treatment - can't wait to just get it down then a quarter of the treatment will be done - Great - bring it on!
Thursday 26th January - Took my time getting up today as I wanted to go into work. Hadn't had a great night as the tooth ache seems to be fighting with the pain relief and winning! However work should take my mind off it and I have an appointment booked for February 6th (my blood and I should be at our best then!). Took Sam to school and then carried on to work as planned. However by 12. noon yet again the toothache was winning, try as I might not to let it, so I decided to call oncology and speak to my nurse to get some more advice on pain relief. Rachel (my nurse) called me back at 2.00p.m. and to cut a long story short told me I must see a dentist a.s.a.p. as taking all the painkillers was not a good thing long term. Whilst on the phone she gave me the great news that my bone scan was absolutely fine - this I was relieved to hear as I had been worried about it. Once I had finished talking to Rachel I called my husband to ask him to make a dental appointment a.s.a.p. - yesterday if possible!!!!! The appointment was made for 12.15p.m. on Friday 27th so I decided to try and just get on with my day and do my best to ignore it! Once home I rested and dozed before finally going to bed armed with painkillers a hot water bottle and determination to have the best nights sleep I could!
Friday 27th January - Not a great nights sleep but I was keen to get up and get going as today was the day for my heart scan at 9.15 and dentist at 12.15 (I have never been so excited to go to the dentist in all my 55 years!) Reno and I dropped Sam at school and then went to the hospital. The scan was being done in Nuclear medicine. An injection was given at 9.15a.m. and then we had half an hour to get a coffee before we had to be back again for me to have the radio active tracer injected followed by the scan. The scan only took about 20 minutes and we were away by 10.30a.m. After calling on my mother we then went to Needham Market to our dentist arriving early but keen!!! After explaining to the dentist what had been happening all week he nodded knowingly and proceeded to tell me that the filling I had replaced at the beginning of January needed to be removed along with the nerves then a temporary filling put in - he knew that oncology would not thank him for doing anything invasive. For the next hour I let the dentist do what he had to do and was just thankful that at the end of it I would be free of the terrible pain - as I told the dentist - Chemo I can deal with - this toothache I really can not!!! Once finished the dentist explained that he had cleaned out 3 root canals, removed the nerves (which were Gangrenous!) and after applying an antiseptic substance had filled the tooth with a temporary filling which he said would be good for a year and get me through until my chemotherapy was all done and dusted. He explained that the tooth would be sore for a few days but then I would have no problem with it. I was so happy I could have hugged him - but it didn't really seem appropriate!! From the dentist we went home to order a new tumble dryer (ours has decided its had enough after almost 17 years) and then I rested whilst Reno collected Sam.
Sam took Reno horse riding and my two sisters came round to help me fill in a form to have some genetic testing - the form requires a complete family history - in the end after doing what we could ourselves my sister June took a photo copy of the form and said she would let me have it back when she had found out the information to complete it - both my sisters are stars!
Saturday 28th January - I had the most wonderful nights sleep last night - around eleven hours! I didn't even wake to go to the loo!! That's a first for months! A pretty ordinary day today for a change - just us three chilling at home. Much need time to just relax together.
Sunday 29th January - Another great nights sleep - I could get used to this!! My tooth a little niggly but nothing too much to be concerned about or to take pain relief for - Hooray!!!
My niece and her husband visited today - they live away in Derbyshire - it was so wonderful to just have a huge hug - though my niece has recently had a wisdom tooth removed so we had to be a bit protective of each other!! Other than that another quiet restful day building up my energy ready for work tomorrow - just over a week to go to my next treatment - can't wait to just get it down then a quarter of the treatment will be done - Great - bring it on!
Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Trying few days!
Well its been a trying few days! Let me explain.........
Sunday 22nd January - started really well! I went to church and managed to do a reading which I like to do occasionally, and was very much looking forward to going to our friends for Sunday dinner at 3.00. However once I got home around 12.30 I didn't feel quite so well and my right jaw ached terribly. My temperature was a bit up and down sometimes as high as 38 degrees C so at around 1p.m. Reno took the decision to ring the hospital and take their advice. They said to take my temperature again at 2p.m. and if it was above 37.5 I would have to go to Somersham ward to have some blood taken and be checked for infection. At 2p.m. the thermometer read 37.6 we rang the hospital and .....you guessed the rest! We warned our friends that dinner may not be possible but they were willing for us to keep them informed and 'juggle' with dinner timing! On arrival at the hospital the routine ( that was to become familiar) kicked straight in - cannula in the back of my hand - antibiotic fed in - bloods taken the results of which would be back in 1 hour at the earliest. I was given some pain relief and Sam Reno and I settled into a game of boggle on the kindle to pass the time. I was fortunate my infection levels were relatively low and my blood count reasonably good and once my temperature had dropped we left the hospital at around 4.15p.m. and enjoyed the most delicious dinner at our friends! By around 7p.m. I was really tired and still in some pain so we went home. That night was horrendous I woke every couple of hours in terrible pain with my jaw and tried to help it with a hot water bottle and pain killers. By morning I still felt exhausted.
Monday 23rd January - today I had an appointment in nuclear medicine to have my bone scan. I had a radioactive tracer injected at 11a.m. and the scan would be done at 3p.m. so I went to oncology to try and get some advice about my jaw which by now I was certain was actually a tooth in which a filling had been replaced at the beginning of January. I was given some stronger pain relief and told that nearer my next chemo, when my blood would be at its best, I would need to see a dentist.
After having lunch at home we once again returned to the hospital for the bone scan - this thankfully was easy - I simply laid on a bed and dozed whilst the scanner passed over me - job done! My toothache continued until at 7.30 my temperature was high again and I really was not coping with the pain even with the painkillers prescribed by the hospital, we phoned the 24/7 number I was given and once again we heard the words 'You must come in straight away, please bring an overnight bag.'
We called my sister to stay with Sam and off we went for the same 'routine procedure' as Sunday afternoon. Only things took much longer, at 11p.m. the lab decided they needed more blood to test before full results could be given. It was difficult to stay awake but not easy to sleep in the day room - if that makes sense. After more pain relief I was quite suddenly very sick but strangely enough my jaw felt 'normal' again and I felt wide awake and the best I had felt since Sunday morning! However you don't get away that easily! - the tests still have to be completed. By 1.30a.m. my infection levels were ok, as were my blood counts, my blood pressure had come down, compared to earlier in the evening, as had my temperature. So with great relief the cannula was removed and we left the hospital at 2.00 a.m. (I did apologise because I may have been a little impatient at times throughout the evening!) What a day!
Tuesday 24th January - Today I had intended to go to work - that just wasn't going to happen- I had a shower and washed my hair but literally had no energy left - I slept for pretty much the remainder of the day!
Wednesday 25th January - Last night was the best nights sleep I have had in weeks - seriously it was wonderful. This morning I paced myself a bit more, had a shower, rested, got dressed, rested, dried my hair whilst sitting on the bed instead of standing, rested, enjoyed a breakfast sitting on the bed, made by my wonderful husband, rested. I then finished getting ready for work but didn't go downstairs until I knew that I wouldn't need to go back up again. (My way of saving my energy for work today!) I took Sam to school then carried on to work my usual hours. Returned home exhausted but satisfied that I had been to work. Have continued with the pain relief as tooth still very niggly but I hope to get another good nights sleep so that I can work tomorrow!
Forgot to say - two lovely bandanas have arrived - they actually look great!
Sunday 22nd January - started really well! I went to church and managed to do a reading which I like to do occasionally, and was very much looking forward to going to our friends for Sunday dinner at 3.00. However once I got home around 12.30 I didn't feel quite so well and my right jaw ached terribly. My temperature was a bit up and down sometimes as high as 38 degrees C so at around 1p.m. Reno took the decision to ring the hospital and take their advice. They said to take my temperature again at 2p.m. and if it was above 37.5 I would have to go to Somersham ward to have some blood taken and be checked for infection. At 2p.m. the thermometer read 37.6 we rang the hospital and .....you guessed the rest! We warned our friends that dinner may not be possible but they were willing for us to keep them informed and 'juggle' with dinner timing! On arrival at the hospital the routine ( that was to become familiar) kicked straight in - cannula in the back of my hand - antibiotic fed in - bloods taken the results of which would be back in 1 hour at the earliest. I was given some pain relief and Sam Reno and I settled into a game of boggle on the kindle to pass the time. I was fortunate my infection levels were relatively low and my blood count reasonably good and once my temperature had dropped we left the hospital at around 4.15p.m. and enjoyed the most delicious dinner at our friends! By around 7p.m. I was really tired and still in some pain so we went home. That night was horrendous I woke every couple of hours in terrible pain with my jaw and tried to help it with a hot water bottle and pain killers. By morning I still felt exhausted.
Monday 23rd January - today I had an appointment in nuclear medicine to have my bone scan. I had a radioactive tracer injected at 11a.m. and the scan would be done at 3p.m. so I went to oncology to try and get some advice about my jaw which by now I was certain was actually a tooth in which a filling had been replaced at the beginning of January. I was given some stronger pain relief and told that nearer my next chemo, when my blood would be at its best, I would need to see a dentist.
After having lunch at home we once again returned to the hospital for the bone scan - this thankfully was easy - I simply laid on a bed and dozed whilst the scanner passed over me - job done! My toothache continued until at 7.30 my temperature was high again and I really was not coping with the pain even with the painkillers prescribed by the hospital, we phoned the 24/7 number I was given and once again we heard the words 'You must come in straight away, please bring an overnight bag.'
We called my sister to stay with Sam and off we went for the same 'routine procedure' as Sunday afternoon. Only things took much longer, at 11p.m. the lab decided they needed more blood to test before full results could be given. It was difficult to stay awake but not easy to sleep in the day room - if that makes sense. After more pain relief I was quite suddenly very sick but strangely enough my jaw felt 'normal' again and I felt wide awake and the best I had felt since Sunday morning! However you don't get away that easily! - the tests still have to be completed. By 1.30a.m. my infection levels were ok, as were my blood counts, my blood pressure had come down, compared to earlier in the evening, as had my temperature. So with great relief the cannula was removed and we left the hospital at 2.00 a.m. (I did apologise because I may have been a little impatient at times throughout the evening!) What a day!
Tuesday 24th January - Today I had intended to go to work - that just wasn't going to happen- I had a shower and washed my hair but literally had no energy left - I slept for pretty much the remainder of the day!
Wednesday 25th January - Last night was the best nights sleep I have had in weeks - seriously it was wonderful. This morning I paced myself a bit more, had a shower, rested, got dressed, rested, dried my hair whilst sitting on the bed instead of standing, rested, enjoyed a breakfast sitting on the bed, made by my wonderful husband, rested. I then finished getting ready for work but didn't go downstairs until I knew that I wouldn't need to go back up again. (My way of saving my energy for work today!) I took Sam to school then carried on to work my usual hours. Returned home exhausted but satisfied that I had been to work. Have continued with the pain relief as tooth still very niggly but I hope to get another good nights sleep so that I can work tomorrow!
Forgot to say - two lovely bandanas have arrived - they actually look great!
Saturday, 21 January 2017
Saturday 21st January
So, went to work as planned on Thursday, tiring but all went well considering nothing has been done to help me! (Did I expect anything else?!?!) Had a nap once I got home and then rallied again and made dinner for us all.
Friday morning I went with Reno for an appointment at Frobishers the wig makers, had already made up my mind that a wig is definitely not for me when my hair decides to fall out but the lady who called me to make the appointment was so kind I couldn't say no!! Reno promised he would be good and give me his honest opinion! Long story short - I am now the owner of a marbled brown wig which really I am very pleased with and will be nicer than a bandana if we go out for dinner or some other occasion. Found the trip out quite tiring so returned home for Coffee and biscuits to get my energy levels up ready for shopping with my mum.
A little sad that I can no longer go to see Sam horse riding on a Friday evening (I am not to go near animals whilst I am having Chemotherapy) but really chuffed that Reno can take Sam whilst he is still unable to work as he will always take video clips for me to watch!
I stayed at home with my feet up chatting to my sister June who came round for a cuppa!
Slept fairly well Friday night but did have an hour and a half awake, made a hot drink, played a few games on my kindle then resettled until 6a.m. and after a few minutes resettled again til 8.00a.m. so can't really complain.
Today I have been at my mothers with my two sisters doing some more packing ready for her move hopefully on February 3rd! Quite an interesting though tiring day!
All in all I really feel that I am very fortunate. So far all I have really had to deal with as a result of my chemotherapy is tiredness and I can do that - the worst that can happen is I need a nap!!
Friday morning I went with Reno for an appointment at Frobishers the wig makers, had already made up my mind that a wig is definitely not for me when my hair decides to fall out but the lady who called me to make the appointment was so kind I couldn't say no!! Reno promised he would be good and give me his honest opinion! Long story short - I am now the owner of a marbled brown wig which really I am very pleased with and will be nicer than a bandana if we go out for dinner or some other occasion. Found the trip out quite tiring so returned home for Coffee and biscuits to get my energy levels up ready for shopping with my mum.
A little sad that I can no longer go to see Sam horse riding on a Friday evening (I am not to go near animals whilst I am having Chemotherapy) but really chuffed that Reno can take Sam whilst he is still unable to work as he will always take video clips for me to watch!
I stayed at home with my feet up chatting to my sister June who came round for a cuppa!
Slept fairly well Friday night but did have an hour and a half awake, made a hot drink, played a few games on my kindle then resettled until 6a.m. and after a few minutes resettled again til 8.00a.m. so can't really complain.
Today I have been at my mothers with my two sisters doing some more packing ready for her move hopefully on February 3rd! Quite an interesting though tiring day!
All in all I really feel that I am very fortunate. So far all I have really had to deal with as a result of my chemotherapy is tiredness and I can do that - the worst that can happen is I need a nap!!
Wednesday, 18 January 2017
First Treatment
Yesterday (17th January 2017) I had my first dose of chemotherapy.
I arrived in the oncology department with Reno feeling extremely nervous and with my stomach turning somersaults, it was all about the fear of the unknown.
I needn't have been worried at all, there was a feeling of calm as I entered the department and was directed to the furthest bay. It was suggested I made us a cup of tea and take time to sit and relax, this I did and simply spent a few minutes observing a busy but very calm set of nurses at work. A nurse then came to insert my cannula and saline drip and shortly afterwards Neriss arrived to slowly feed in the syringes of drugs manually. Neriss was lovely explaining everything as she fed in each syringe very slowly and chatting about anything and everything as she worked. She was an angel! Reno was great fetching us lunch, more tea and water to drink as and when required! I don't know why, but I thought I was going to feel quite ill whilst this was all happening but I was absolutely fine. After about 90 mins all the drugs were in and the only thing I felt was tired, Neriss gave me anti sickness drugs and antibiotics to take home with me and booked my next three appointments which worked perfectly for my holiday as had been promised.
We collected Sam from school then went back to the hospital for Sam's appointment (that's yet another story!!) and I honestly felt a little tired but fine!
We arrived home at about 5.30 had dinner and that is when the real tiredness set in so I simply got ready for bed and climbed in at 8.00p.m. I awoke at 3.30a.m. but felt absolutely fine and although I couldn't really sleep anymore I just laid and rested until my alarm went off at. Reno fetched my anti sickness tablets so that I could take them before I move around too much as I did start to feel a little queasy, this disappeared soon after taking the tablets. I even felt well enough to shower, wash my hair and attend a 9a.m. hospital appointment with Reno. I was quite amazed! This afternoon I have laid on the sofa resting a lot and had the odd doze. We had a short walk before dinner, all three of us,but apart from that today has been really uneventful and good! - much better than I had expected - and tomorrow.................I intend to go to work! I really can do this!
I arrived in the oncology department with Reno feeling extremely nervous and with my stomach turning somersaults, it was all about the fear of the unknown.
I needn't have been worried at all, there was a feeling of calm as I entered the department and was directed to the furthest bay. It was suggested I made us a cup of tea and take time to sit and relax, this I did and simply spent a few minutes observing a busy but very calm set of nurses at work. A nurse then came to insert my cannula and saline drip and shortly afterwards Neriss arrived to slowly feed in the syringes of drugs manually. Neriss was lovely explaining everything as she fed in each syringe very slowly and chatting about anything and everything as she worked. She was an angel! Reno was great fetching us lunch, more tea and water to drink as and when required! I don't know why, but I thought I was going to feel quite ill whilst this was all happening but I was absolutely fine. After about 90 mins all the drugs were in and the only thing I felt was tired, Neriss gave me anti sickness drugs and antibiotics to take home with me and booked my next three appointments which worked perfectly for my holiday as had been promised.
We collected Sam from school then went back to the hospital for Sam's appointment (that's yet another story!!) and I honestly felt a little tired but fine!
We arrived home at about 5.30 had dinner and that is when the real tiredness set in so I simply got ready for bed and climbed in at 8.00p.m. I awoke at 3.30a.m. but felt absolutely fine and although I couldn't really sleep anymore I just laid and rested until my alarm went off at. Reno fetched my anti sickness tablets so that I could take them before I move around too much as I did start to feel a little queasy, this disappeared soon after taking the tablets. I even felt well enough to shower, wash my hair and attend a 9a.m. hospital appointment with Reno. I was quite amazed! This afternoon I have laid on the sofa resting a lot and had the odd doze. We had a short walk before dinner, all three of us,but apart from that today has been really uneventful and good! - much better than I had expected - and tomorrow.................I intend to go to work! I really can do this!
My story so far.....
My name is Carol Betts and I was 55 on 14th December 2016. I am married to a wonderful husband, Reno, and we have a beautiful daughter Samantha who is 16. We live in Ipswich.
On December 11th 2016 I found a lump in my left breast, I told my husband and he agreed it was a definite lump. We decided to say nothing else to anybody until I had it checked out.
On December 12th I visited my GP who examined me, I expected to have to show her where abouts the lump was but she found it straight away, it is quite close to the breast bone. 'We need a mammogram' she said 'I will make the necessary arrangements.'
On December 19th I attended Ipswich Hospital Breast Clinic and after seeing the consultant I was sent to Breast Screening for a mammogram and Ultra Sound scan. Of course I was nervous but the nurse who did the mammogram was really lovely talking me through exactly what I needed to do. A doctor did the scan and it was at this point that I really started to worry. ' The lump will have to be removed whatever it is' she said 'and I'm afraid we need to do a biopsy today to find out what the lump is.' I then had to wait about an hour for the biopsy to be done so I tried to keep calm by having a coffee and a read of a magazine in the café. The time for the biopsy soon arrived and I was prepared for it by a nurse who was really lovely reassuring me all the time. When the doctor came in she explained exactly what would happen starting with the anaesthetic and then telling me what to expect as the biopsy was done. It was all over within 10 minutes and I was given an appointment for December 30th to get the results of the biopsy. It seemed ages away but I consoled myself with the fact that we were all looking forward to a family Christmas and tried to put the biopsy to the back of my mind.
We all had a wonderful Christmas, quiet, but that's just how we like it!
Reno took the day off on 30th December and as Sam was busy studying for her mock AS levels on January 4th & 5th it was quite easy for us to go to the hospital together without Sam knowing, she thought we were at my Mothers helping her to pack ready for a house move.
We arrived a little early and I felt sick as we waited and waited. Eventually we were called in and there was a breast care nurse in the room as well as the consultant. This made me fear the worst. I was right, the biopsy showed I had breast cancer. I tried to keep calm and take in everything that was being said. But there was more to come, the best treatment for my cancer was Chemotherapy (6 doses each 2 weeks apart) followed by surgery. The treatment would take 3 months followed by the surgery. The consultant then reassured me by saying that my Cancer was very treatable and I would get better though it would be about 18 months in total. We were told that I would be sent an appointment to have a marker inserted into the tumour (the procedure is much the same sort of thing as the biopsy) as the hope is that the chemo will shrink and even possibly make the tumour disappear altogether so the marker will allow the surgeon to know where to take the tissue from for the surgery, and also an appointment to see the oncologist.
How would we tell our daughter? I could feel almost a kind of panic rising in me .
The consultant arranged my appointment to have the marker put in for Friday 6th Jan 11.45 and the same day to see the oncologist at 12.15. I explained that we didn't really want to tell Sam until after her two days of Mock Exams on the 4th and 5th, however, the consultant suggested that we tell Sam as soon as possible then she would be able to come with me to the oncology department and see where I would be coming for my treatment and possibly meet some of the people that would be looking after me. "This often gives teenagers a lot of reassurance" she said.
We left the hospital and went straight to my mothers where we gave the news to my mother and my older sister. A shock for both of them but I needed them to know so that they would also be support for Sam if she needed it. Then I went with my Older sister to my younger sisters and delivered the news there whilst my husband went home to Sam, agreeing that we would both tell Sam as soon as I got home.
We told Sam together, Reno and I, and of course she was devastated, however after reassuring her that I would get better after a time she said "You should have told me mum, I could have been there for you". She is such a strong wonderful girl but I also assured her that she didn't always have to be strong, it is ok to have moments when you want to scream, shout or be angry at what was happening so long as ultimately we were all positive about the situation.
Sam and my older sister Anita came with me to the hospital appointments on January 6th as Reno was having surgery that day and was an inpatient himself (but that's another story!!!)
The marker was put in and then a mammogram taken and I was shown the mammogram pictures where I could see the tumour (size 17mm) and the marker within it.
We made our way to the oncology department where we were seen by an oncologist with a very long name! Dr Ram for short! Once again I had a bit of a shock to come - Dr Ram told me that I needed 8 doses of chemo each 3 weeks apart therefore taking 6 months in all, followed by Surgery. The second 4 doses would be much tougher than the first 4 but I would get better and be well at the end of it. After the initial shock of hearing this Dr Ram proceeded to tell me about the side affects of the treatment - I wasn't really listening - I suppose I really didn't want to know, I just wanted to get on with it! Also I was working out how my treatment was going to affect the holiday we had booked on the Norfolk Broads for 3rd April! our most favourite holiday we have every year! Well it works perfectly - we go on holiday the 3rd week of my 4th treatment and the 1st dose of my 2nd lot of 4 treatments is due the day after we come home from holiday! Hooray!
We had a look round the department then went to visit Reno with the news. Whilst we sat with Reno I received a call to say my first treatment would be on 17th January at 11.30 followed by a visit to Dr Ram on February 2nd and my 2nd treatment would be on February 7th 10.00am.
I felt a sense of relief now I could see the start of getting well.
On December 11th 2016 I found a lump in my left breast, I told my husband and he agreed it was a definite lump. We decided to say nothing else to anybody until I had it checked out.
On December 12th I visited my GP who examined me, I expected to have to show her where abouts the lump was but she found it straight away, it is quite close to the breast bone. 'We need a mammogram' she said 'I will make the necessary arrangements.'
On December 19th I attended Ipswich Hospital Breast Clinic and after seeing the consultant I was sent to Breast Screening for a mammogram and Ultra Sound scan. Of course I was nervous but the nurse who did the mammogram was really lovely talking me through exactly what I needed to do. A doctor did the scan and it was at this point that I really started to worry. ' The lump will have to be removed whatever it is' she said 'and I'm afraid we need to do a biopsy today to find out what the lump is.' I then had to wait about an hour for the biopsy to be done so I tried to keep calm by having a coffee and a read of a magazine in the café. The time for the biopsy soon arrived and I was prepared for it by a nurse who was really lovely reassuring me all the time. When the doctor came in she explained exactly what would happen starting with the anaesthetic and then telling me what to expect as the biopsy was done. It was all over within 10 minutes and I was given an appointment for December 30th to get the results of the biopsy. It seemed ages away but I consoled myself with the fact that we were all looking forward to a family Christmas and tried to put the biopsy to the back of my mind.
We all had a wonderful Christmas, quiet, but that's just how we like it!
Reno took the day off on 30th December and as Sam was busy studying for her mock AS levels on January 4th & 5th it was quite easy for us to go to the hospital together without Sam knowing, she thought we were at my Mothers helping her to pack ready for a house move.
We arrived a little early and I felt sick as we waited and waited. Eventually we were called in and there was a breast care nurse in the room as well as the consultant. This made me fear the worst. I was right, the biopsy showed I had breast cancer. I tried to keep calm and take in everything that was being said. But there was more to come, the best treatment for my cancer was Chemotherapy (6 doses each 2 weeks apart) followed by surgery. The treatment would take 3 months followed by the surgery. The consultant then reassured me by saying that my Cancer was very treatable and I would get better though it would be about 18 months in total. We were told that I would be sent an appointment to have a marker inserted into the tumour (the procedure is much the same sort of thing as the biopsy) as the hope is that the chemo will shrink and even possibly make the tumour disappear altogether so the marker will allow the surgeon to know where to take the tissue from for the surgery, and also an appointment to see the oncologist.
How would we tell our daughter? I could feel almost a kind of panic rising in me .
The consultant arranged my appointment to have the marker put in for Friday 6th Jan 11.45 and the same day to see the oncologist at 12.15. I explained that we didn't really want to tell Sam until after her two days of Mock Exams on the 4th and 5th, however, the consultant suggested that we tell Sam as soon as possible then she would be able to come with me to the oncology department and see where I would be coming for my treatment and possibly meet some of the people that would be looking after me. "This often gives teenagers a lot of reassurance" she said.
We left the hospital and went straight to my mothers where we gave the news to my mother and my older sister. A shock for both of them but I needed them to know so that they would also be support for Sam if she needed it. Then I went with my Older sister to my younger sisters and delivered the news there whilst my husband went home to Sam, agreeing that we would both tell Sam as soon as I got home.
We told Sam together, Reno and I, and of course she was devastated, however after reassuring her that I would get better after a time she said "You should have told me mum, I could have been there for you". She is such a strong wonderful girl but I also assured her that she didn't always have to be strong, it is ok to have moments when you want to scream, shout or be angry at what was happening so long as ultimately we were all positive about the situation.
Sam and my older sister Anita came with me to the hospital appointments on January 6th as Reno was having surgery that day and was an inpatient himself (but that's another story!!!)
The marker was put in and then a mammogram taken and I was shown the mammogram pictures where I could see the tumour (size 17mm) and the marker within it.
We made our way to the oncology department where we were seen by an oncologist with a very long name! Dr Ram for short! Once again I had a bit of a shock to come - Dr Ram told me that I needed 8 doses of chemo each 3 weeks apart therefore taking 6 months in all, followed by Surgery. The second 4 doses would be much tougher than the first 4 but I would get better and be well at the end of it. After the initial shock of hearing this Dr Ram proceeded to tell me about the side affects of the treatment - I wasn't really listening - I suppose I really didn't want to know, I just wanted to get on with it! Also I was working out how my treatment was going to affect the holiday we had booked on the Norfolk Broads for 3rd April! our most favourite holiday we have every year! Well it works perfectly - we go on holiday the 3rd week of my 4th treatment and the 1st dose of my 2nd lot of 4 treatments is due the day after we come home from holiday! Hooray!
We had a look round the department then went to visit Reno with the news. Whilst we sat with Reno I received a call to say my first treatment would be on 17th January at 11.30 followed by a visit to Dr Ram on February 2nd and my 2nd treatment would be on February 7th 10.00am.
I felt a sense of relief now I could see the start of getting well.
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