Great News!

Thursday 2nd March - Took Sam to school and shopped for our evening meal then waited at home for my friend to arrive who was coming with me for my scan and oncologist appointments. My friend arrived good and early so we set off as I knew how horrendous it would be to park at the hospital - and I was right!!! However we still had time to grab a quick coffee before my first appointment for the ultra sound scan. We waited a short while in the waiting room and then we were called through for the scan - I have been waiting for this as my hopes were that I would be able to see that the tumour has shrunk! I got ready and the doctor came in and started to scan - "it's shrunk" she said "by 6mm" OMG I was thrilled and really quite emotional. The doctor explained that when you look at how much volume of tissue 6mm is in a tumour that is quite a chunk! The treatment - tough though it is at times - is working and if it's working I don't mind how tough it gets. I asked the doctor to check the lymph nodes under my arm just to make sure there was still no sign of cancer there as far as she could tell and this she did saying it still looked fine. Now for my next request! Could I have a copy of the images so that I could show Reno and Sam and they could see the difference too? The doctor told me that if I asked at the reception desk within the department that could be arranged. Wonderful! So I got dressed and did just that - the receptionist said she thought I would have to put my request in writing and it may take a little while but she would check if we didn't mind waiting! After a few minutes she came back and said the lady who dealt with the requests would download the images onto a disc if I could wait about 10 minutes and if I had some ID - I didn't have any ID so the receptionist kindly printed off a hospital letter for me to prove my address - how kind was that!! I couldn't believe that I was going to be able to have the disc today - there was a fee of £10.00 but it will be worth every penny to be able to show Reno and Sam - I have decided I am not going to look at them until Reno comes home at the weekend! After about 15 minutes the lady concerned came into the department with my disc and a form for me to sign - she was lovely and said that she knew how I felt about wanting the images and she wished me all the best with my treatment saying that she too had had breast cancer a couple of years ago! It's incredible how many people have been affected by cancer - you don't really realise until it happens to you and people then share that fact with you - it's really quite amazing. With my disc in my bag, my friend and I went to find something for lunch before my next appointment with the oncologist at 1.45 p.m.
My appointment soon came its amazing how time flies when you have someone to chat with! I didn't see Dr Ram today but another doctor whose name escapes me - chemo brain apparently!! - who works alongside Dr Ram. He asked me how I felt, what chemo symptoms I had experienced, how work was going and was pleased that I seem to be coping rather well with the treatment! On reviewing my scan and notes he was pleased to see that the tumour had shrunk and agreed that all seemed to be going well. My treatment plan (four chemo doses - of which I have now had three -  followed by a further four three weeks apart) would stay as planned which I was pleased about as I have all the dates booked in! The doctor then talked to me about the second lot of four telling me some of the symptoms I could expect - nothing is certain of course but at least I am aware of them, I don't want to talk about them now because I am really not interested in them unless they happen! Then he talked a little about what will happen once the chemotherapy is over and I have surgery. It has given me a few things to be considering and giving some thought to. Apparently if my whole breast is removed as well as 1 or 2 lymph nodes then I won't require radiotherapy but if I only have some of the breast removed with the lymph nodes (which they have to check for cancer cells) I will definitely have to have radiotherapy treatment. Obviously I want to take time to think about how I really feel about it all and look into side effects of radiotherapy etc. before I make any decisions. Its easy to say take my whole breast but then when I really start to think I'm not sure how I really really feel about it, obviously I will also be guided by the doctor and surgeon as to what they feel is best but for the time being it gives me food for thought! No further appointment necessary for the oncologist until 8 weeks time! 27th April. Unless of course I need to see them sooner should the 1st dose of my second lot of four give me any problems - which of course it won't 'cos I CAN DO THIS!!!!
My friend and I then left the hospital to collect Sam and go home for a cuppa! What a good day it has been with such GREAT NEWS! Spent the rest of the afternoon and evening resting ready for a busy day at work tomorrow!

Friday 3rd March - Have felt a bit below par today quite tired and my taste is not so good but I have still been to work to complete the accounts month end procedures as this takes my mind off me! However still buzzing from yesterdays news so all in all a fair day! Collected Sam and once home went to bed for a nap - woke in time to see Sam off to horse riding with my sister and prepare dinner ready for when Reno and Sam arrive home at about 7.45p.m. Looking forward to a restful weekend (mostly with my feet up!)and to sharing the images of my scan with my wonderful husband and daughter - I love them sooooooo much.