Waiting For Zombie To Rejoin Her Phalanx

[mummylin2495]

This is where we will wait for our leader to rejoin the DBF team !

Bugger indeed. Much buggeration.

But I know you will find a way through. You are not The Zombie for nothing.

Despite al lthe worrys in your post you still sound very much in control.

In the words of Churchill, "Keep buggering on", dear Zombie, keep buggering on.

Just wish I lived closer so I could come & help.

Bugger, damn & indeed fuck. I'm so sorry you've got these things on your mind & to sort out Zombie. Does your local cancer support charity have info on pet care for patients? They might have some ideas or numbers to call for help.

I hope you don't have to wait too long for news about your op & there's no further increases.

Thinking of you, as always. Wish I was nearer to you, too xx

So, I've seen my oncologist this afternoon. Interesting meeting. I really think she was ready to break out some champagne until I told her about yesterday's appointment in Birmingham.

Both the CT and MRI that I had in September show that - compared with the scans I had in February - the liver mets have shrunk substantially and that there is no evidence of new tumours. Contrast that with what Birmingham told me yesterday - their scan shows a new tumour. Either the Birmingham MRI is much more finely tuned (or whatever) than the one in Shrewsbury OR something has really taken off in about a month.

Anyway, after I left today's appointment, Dr. P rang the surgeon in Birmingham. Someone managed to get me on yesterday's Multi Disciplinary Team agenda. They have decided that the operation WILL go ahead as soon as possible. Dr. P told them that the earliest she would be happy with would be 10th November (so that I will have had 4 clear weeks since my last chemo cycle). My chemo scheduled for 3rd November has been cancelled. I'm now just waiting for a phone call from Birmingham to give me the date for the op.

I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon writing a list of absolutely everything I need to get done before the operation, sort them into priorities and get stuck into getting them done.

I am so happy for you Zombie that you can have the op. How strange about conflicting results. So when op goes ahead does mean that you will then be all clear and can just finally get on with life ? I do hope so, you have lots of meetings to arrange with Zombielad. It's about time you had a good hand dealt to you.

Thanks, lin.

I will never be "all clear". Once cancer has metastasised it can never be totally eliminated from the body. Excision of the liver tumours will simply remove what is visible. There are hundreds / thousands of cancer cells still circulating in my bloodstream and lymph system that are just looking and waiting to find somewhere to take root. I will continue to receive treatments for the rest of my life.

How do you feel about the op now it's (nearly here)?

Have you been offered help post op & for recovery?

I am also delighted that you have the go ahead for the op - they wouldn't be doing it if they didn't think there was a good chance of a good outcome.

That cancer will be fucked off to the far side! YAY!!

I just wish there was something practical I could do for you.

But it's a lot better prognosis than what you originally thought ? I think the same as Magi, they must think they can help and also you must be quite fit to be able to have the op. I understand what you are saying. And I really hope you have many many years ahead of you. After all you may have a little mini Zombielad / zombiegirl in the next few years , so you really need to get fit and well for that ! ( any wedding plans in the offing yet ) ?

That's a really good question, magi. I feel a lot of things. Relieved to know that soon the current liver mets will be history. Scared because it's such major surgery so will be more debilitating than anything I've had before.

Not been offered help yet but I'm doing a lot of research. I've got several options starting to sort themselves out in the back of my brain.

You're right, they wouldn't touch me with a barge pole if they didn't believe that a) physically I'm fit to undergo major surgery; b) surgery is an appropriate part of my overall treatment plan; and therefore c) should contribute positively to the quality and length of life.

Sadly, lin, there are currently no mini ZombieKids on the horizon. ZLad's last relationship didn't work out in the end.

Good news about the OP Zombie. As you've said, the docs must truly believe you're up to & ready for this to even think about it which is, in itself, a positive thing to think about.

The op will be debilitating but you are such a strong, awesome woman you'll get through it with a smile and your usual grace. I've said it before, whenever I see Carol in The Walking Dead I picture you fighting the cancer & dragging it under control.

Hopefully you can get your home affairs sorted out so you'll have nothing to worry about when you go in. Then all you'll have to concentrate on is getting up and about.

Sorry to hear ZLad's relationship didn't work out - I'm sure the love of his life is just around the corner.

Much love & positive vibes to you x

Zombie

It must feel incredibly daunting. It's hard to decide to be worse in the short term in the hope of being better for the longer term. If anyone is strong enough, you are. And thank you for your kind message x

Too bad about ZombieLad. I have so many single friends who would be perfect for him

When will you know the exact date of your op?

Afternoon Phalanx.

Did we all remember to re-set our clocks?

ikl, I have my list. A Zombie with a list is a fearsome thing.

Chris, I'd never thought of it quite like that but you're right.

Hearts, I hope I'll get a phone call from Birmingham tomorrow. I did receive a letter yesterday with a clinic appointment for 19th November but I think that was generated before my oncologist spoke with the surgeon so will be superceded. I have a lot of phone calls to make tomorrow as well so I think I will be huddled on the windowsill with my mobile making outgoing calls with the landline phone sitting beside me.

Blessed indeed are the listmakers Zombie. I got quite excited the other day when DH told me you can sort your Amazon wish list by order of desire.

It's weird, the clocks didn't change in Toronto so we are only 4 hours behind now, not 5. Maybe it will make the whole jet lag thing easier to handle when we get back!

Oooh, ikl that has really excited me.............. what a thrilling life I lead.

Lists are great - they order things in your mind as well as on paper.

I like to make my lists on squared French paper 'cos they look even more ordered & efficient!

Good Luck with the phone calls tomorrow, Zombie.

Ooh magi that sounds tres posh! I like the sound of that

ikl you can buy squared paper made by Rhodia (google it) in quite a few stationery shops.

Lidl (& probably Aldi) also sell it in exercise books when they have back to school sort of stuff as most continental kids use it at school for everything.

I'lll get you some next time I go to France, if you like. All supermarkets sell it there & I'll be doing a trip over pre Xmas as soon as I see a good day return deal.

I don't know how much help this is but this stranger on the internet is thinking of you. The op does sound not a small deal but clearly they think this zombie has a lot of life left to live. Hoping it all goes really well.
I am in Glos and suspect I'm not too far. If you want a visitor whilst recovering let me know. Shame I am too far away to help with Zcats.

Well, what a gamut of emotions reading all those posts at once. Have been in the west country for the w/e with no wifi.

I'm really glad you didn't have to wrestle with will they/won't they operate for long Zombie and agree with everyone that they must think the outcome will be positive.

They must also be confident that you are fit enough to cope with the op. and the recovery.

It will of course be debillitating, but I'm not sure it will be as bad as the worst reactions you've had to some of the chemo. And you won't be "ill" as such, just weak, and with lots of positive motivation.

You will crack it, I know you will. You'd better get that jiving skirt dusted off (just a minor thing to add to your lists)!

I adore lists, they are very comforting. Btw, rizlas are great as substitute little post-its for short term sub lists

Lots of love

Ooh, magi that sounds fab. We have an Aldi in town so I'll have a look. Thank you for your very kind offer as well!

Justt to get you in the mood for that jiving skirt Zombie, here's this week's Strictly round up for you, Lin and anyone else who fancies a peek. There's a bonus post of my recent day out in Blackpool as well

It's Strictly week five, which couples will survive? Also, a post where I have a crisis of condiments

Thankyou IKL , I actually missed the prog on Saturday , but you have described it so well I feel as though I watched it. I would of laughed if I had heard the bollocks comment ! I am glad that smarmy Ainsley has been booted out! I can't stand him !
Your day in Blackpool sounds hilarious, and I understand completely about the vinegar, I too must have proper vinegar and also I must have salt !! Sounds like a great time all round fir your family .

Delurking to say that it is fantastic to hear that you are on the hopefully short wait for surgery and to let you know about the Cinammon Trust which is an animal charity which is set up to look after pets when their owners are in hospital or unwell. Might be a case of them going to a volunteers house or a volunteer coming to feed them, but worth thinking about.

www.cinnamon.org.uk/

It does say the Elderly but it really is for anyone who is hospitalised and needs help caring for their pets

You've got to have proper vinegar haven't you Lin or it's just not real fish & chips

Zombie , I hope you have had your call today and you can start to get your arrangements in place.
Ilk, real fish and chips should be eaten in newspaper ! Oh I remember those days. Wonder what health and safety would think of that now ?

Hope you've had your phone call today Zombie with the news you want.

Lin - I know. It's not quite the same in sanitised white paper! Still, a 'cone' of chips in paper is way better than in horrible polystyrene efforts. Urghh.