Before going in...

Due to the consultant being on holiday and events that have been in my diary for a long time and more importantly I wanted to attend.  The date for the operation is set for the 2nd March.  With the date of this blog, not long to go now.  Before going into hospital I had to arrange work - take a weeks leave or loose it, see my nephew, have lunch with friends and party with my best friend for her 40th Birthday.


Here is a picture from the celebrations.  I am far left, Kate and Martin are in the middle and are now 40!! LOL!! Then Kate's mother and step father.  She presented us with flowers for helping organise the party.  All I did was supply the cake and help put up some of the decorations.

The party was great, an opportunity to talk to people we only see a couple of times a year.  We try to get together over the Christmas holidays and a camping trip in the summer.  I hope to go to the camping trip, not necessarily under canvas, but that could depend on treatment.

Here is the cake, before you not the obvious mistake, Kate is into crafts hence the artists palette and Martin is into steam trains and model railways.

After the party we then stayed with Kate and Martin, at the best B&B in Birmingham.  Well I would say that with her breathing down my neck as I write some of my blog entries.

On the way home we then had Sunday lunch with our nephew Aaron in Burton upon Trent, we were there with mum and dad as well.  Helen and Andrew are a great support and always up for a laugh.  This lunch was no different.

A good weekend was had by all!

Mores tests etc.

After the prodding and poking of the CT Scan it was time for another scan, this time a Gamma Ray bone scan.  I was go to the hospital have an injection then go away for 2-3 hours and return for the scan itself.  I promptly turned up for the injection.  Oh boy another needle!  Again I explained to the nurse about my issue with needles. I sat there and said how can I talk to a room of 60 people or more with no problems but turn into a quivering wreck at the sight and thought of a needle.  She then turned it around saying that she could not talk to a room of 10 people but was happy to stick needles in people (well maybe not that blunt).

Left the hospital and then went off to do the day to day stuff of food shopping etc. before returning to the hospital for the scan. The scanner was similar to the CT scanner but this time they seemed to worried that I would make a run for it and tied me down on the bed before setting it in motion.  For nearly 20 minutes I had to remain still, for me this is a miracle in itself.  I lay there and tried to think of something relaxing, then started to panic that I could not think of anything at all, relaxing or otherwise.  Previously when laying on a beauticians  bed I had always thought about shopping lists, job lists for work and found it very hard to relax and switch off.  I think now I have gone the other way and too far off the scale for what I am used to.

The result of the bone scan - all clear.

What I have not explained yet is that my hospital visits are split over two hospital sites that are at least 15 miles apart from each other.  The initial breast clinic was at Warrington General, along with the bone scan.  The CT scan, pre op and operation has and is to be conducted at Halton (Runcorn).

In between the CT and bone scan I had a trip to London with my husband.  It was not to be a valentine trip when it was booked but sort of ended up as such with everything that has happened.  We had an overnight in a hotel round the corner from Trafalgar Square and on the Saturday night we went to see Cat On A Hot Tin Roof with Adrian Lester as Brick and James Earl Jones as Big Daddy.  We had dinner at a restaurant just off Covent Garden called Sarastro.  When we got back to the hotel we then read the Sunday paper before going to sleep.  We also went to the British Museum to see the Staffordshire Hoard amongst other things.  The weekend ended in having tea with Aaron my nephew.

Other tests etc.

After the diagnosis I was scheduled for other tests.  These were just in case...

I had a CT Scan.  It is not up there with some tests.  I had to drink this milky looking liquid, nearly a litre of it.  They then put a needle in my arm.  This will not be the first or last time I mention this but I don't do needles at the best of times.  The closest I get to a needle is when I am doing cross stitch.

Sitting in the chair I explained about my issue with needles to the nurse and she was very good.  I have to say that it was not the most pleasant of things. After this procedure I was back out in the waiting room for the next part.

I have remained prepared for anything and this waiting room was enhanced by the addition of a book that I have started reading.  Desperate Romantics by Fanny Moyle - recently dramatised by the BBC starring that very handsome Aidan Turner as the mad, bad and dangerous to know Dante Gabriel Rossitti, some time leader of the Pre-Raphaelite botherhood.

I had not even finished by lovely cocktail when they called me in for the scan.  I went in and took my place on the bed.  I then went for the first scan.  The nurse returned and attached me to the intravenous drip. Firstly she said if I felt any difference, which I didn't, she then said that that was the right answer.  All of a sudden she released the drip and I had the most unusual feeling as my body went warm and I had a metallic taste in my mouth followed by the thought that I had wet myself.  Thankfully they were all feelings and not actual happenings.  I then went for the second run through the scanner.

A week on from these events I can report that all was clear.  I must say that I am glad they were not looking for a brain or they would have been sadly disappointed.  They found what they thought was a heart but on final reflection was a swinging brick, well that is what mom says.

Tests etc.

I was referred by my GP to the breast clinic.  I went not knowing what to expect only that I knew I would have a mammogram.  I saw a consultant and then went on to the various tests and spent nearly 3 hours there. Thankfully I remember to take a good magazine.

For those who know what a mammogram is like you will forgive me that I do not spoil the surprise for those who have not been through the process, but be prepared for a little pain and a lot of discomfort.  The worst thing was that I could not reach the plate properly and had to stand on my tiptoes to reach it.
My next test was the ultrasound which also ended in the biopsy. I think I even terrified the nurse let alone being terrified myself during the process. I am not one for needles and hospitals and to be faced with a minor procedure was not my idea of spending a Friday morning. While lying on the bed readying for the procedure I told the nurse that I had nearly broken the hand of nurse who was helping in a previous procedure.  I think I saw the colour drain from her face, but there again I can not be sure.

On completing all tests I was advised not to drive, a bit difficult seeing that I had driven myself to the hospital. Thankfully they said that I could drive home but nothing more.  Once home I was fine.  Ivan, for those who don't know he is my husband, was to be away for the evening with friends in Birmingham.  For once it was a blessing in disguise as when I went to bed I could not lay down properly and could not settle.  A couple of pain killers later and I was sleeping propped up on 1/2 dozen pillows looking like Titania Queen of the Fairies.

That Saturday I was taken out to lunch with a couple of girl friends and enjoyed a wonderful lunch and even better conversation. I can highly recommend it to others http://www.chetwodearms.org/.

It is always the small things that mean more and this was one of those occasions.  The shame of it all was that the diagnosis was not the result we were hoping for.

My next blog will cover my other tests.

Background

It is not a surprise really that I have found myself in this position.  My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer over 20 years ago, and is now living well in Australia.  This blog is to some extent for her and others who have survived.
I will freely admit that I am a hopeless patient and do not do illness and pain very well.  I have never been to hospital and I have a major fear of needles so all this is new and very scary.

I found a lump in my left breast in the beginning of January 2010. I went to see my local doctor who then referred me to the local breast clinic at the general hospital.
At the breast clinic I was prodded and poked and generally manhandled by the health care professionals there. As in the Monty Python sketch there was even the machine that went ping.
The full diagnosis came a week later, where I was given my choices of the way forward by my consultant and the ever present Macmillan Nurse.  I have chosen to have a full mastectomy and then followed by chemotherapy.

During these pages I will write about what I have gone through with hopefully a more human touch.  Maybe a little irreverent at times but hopefully with some wit. It will give me a opportunity to let off steam as well.

My next couple of blogs will discuss the tests I have had and where possible the results of them.