Afternoon Phalanx. Apologies for the radio silence. All the running around last week wore me out a bit. Fear not though! I've had no nasty chemo side effects. Some aches and pain but nothing hospital worthy.
I left home - after about only a 90 minute sleep / nap last night - at 06:00 to catch the train to Birmingham for my appointment at the Liver Clinic. Arrived in Brum just before 08:00. Plenty of time to break my journey at New Street and wander to the nearby MaccyD for breakfast. I got to the hospital around 09:15. My appointment was for 09:40. I was called through just before 10:00. Unfortunately I didn't get a definite answer about the operation. My case will need to go before the Multi Disciplinary Team next Thursday. There is at least one new tumour. Hopefully my next contact from them will be an appointment letter for the operation.
So, I'm back playing the waiting game.
I honestly don't know which scares me more - being approved for the operation or being told no op. No op means I know I have active tumours remaining and am solely dependant on whatever tricks my oncologist can pull out of the hat to keep me going for a while longer. Having the op. Hmm. It's not the surgery itself that scares me so much as the recovery. I know I will be far more debilitated than I was after either mastectomy AND after the infamous lost 5 weeks in hospital. I will be unable to drive for 6 - 8 weeks so it's hello to online shopping and hospital transport (and being trapped in the house). Once I'm discharged from hospital I will probably need carers to come in for a few weeks. Feels a bit like damned if I do, damned if I don't.
I see my oncologist tomorrow. She should have the reports on my CT scan and the MRI I had in Shrewsbury last month. I'll then have more information on exactly how much the cancer has advanced since June.
There are a lot of things I need to get sorted while I'm still mobile. The cats need to go to the vet. I'll have to do at least 2 days. One cat I can manage. Two cats I can probably manage. Three cats at the same time? No way. I need to get passport photos done. America is picky so they have to be professional photos - not a booth job. I need to then get my passport off for renewal. I need to apply for a Blue Badge. Basically I need to get my shit together.
Then finally I have to figure out what to do about the cats while I'm in hospital. The neighbour who feeds them for me had a heart attack a few months ago. He did look after them while I was in Kos but I don't want him to overdo it. As much as they would hate it, I do need to consider the option of a few weeks in a cattery.
Bugger.