Well, we have been inundated with people wanting news and update on the breast cancer, so have decided to re- launch the blog as a means of keeping folk informed.
We received the diagnosis (mid March) of an agressive, invasive cancer of large size (measures 6x5 cm). One of down sides of having big boobs is that such a lump can be hidden fairly easily!!
Since then there have been many hospital visits. There was some concern that the cancer may have spread, so I have undergone bone scans, CT scans (to check the soft tissues), a chest x-ray and surgical removal of 4 lymph nodes in the armpit. So far, we have had clear results from all but the lymph nodes- and we wait 2 more weeks for those results.
Surgery took place under GA on friday, but I was released on saturday and feeling fairly pain free which is great.
The most discomfort was caused by the canula they placed to administer the drugs, as I have terrible veins, which even the most experienced of doctors are challenged by.
The oncologist suggested today that I have a semi permanent line placed in a vein tomorrow so that chemotherapy can be administered and blood taken without all the digging around which commonly occurs.
So, I go in in the morning for a gruesome sounding procedure of inserting a wire into my arm and feeding it up towards my shoulder, taking an x-ray to check positioning, and then feeding a plastic tube over the wire and taping the whole lot in place. Nigel will have to act as nurse and change dressings and flush out the tube on a weekly basis, but hopefully it will remain in place for the next few months.
Because the tumour cells are rapidly dividing they are giving me agressive treatment. So, I will be having 6 cycles of chemotherapy- administered once every 3 weeks for 18 weeks, followed by 6 weeks recovery, surgery (at the moment looks to be a mastectomy, but may be more conservative if there is a radical shrinking of the tumour during the chemo), then I will have 6 weeks further recovery before radiotherapy, and longterm hormone therapy. Urghh!
Chemotherapy will start this thursday.
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