I'm home.
Yesterday went well until I hit the hell of the tube at rush hour. I have the bruises to prove how horrendous it was. Then when I got to the right tube station I promptly got lost trying to walk to my hotel. I eventually got there. A couple of wines in the bar with a friend and then another with dinner calmed my nerves. I was in bed by 10.15 and straight off to sleep.
Today got off to the worst possible start when I overslept and only woke up when housekeeping knocked on my door at 10.00. (Note to self: When your mobile has died completely and been recharged check that the time and date settings are correct otherwise the alarm will NOT go off when you need it to.) That was when I should have been arriving at the hospital to check in for my 10.30 appointment. After the quickest ever clean and getting dressed I was out of the hotel at 10.23. I managed to grab a cab which delivered me to the door of the hospital at 10.36. Profuse apologies were proffered, I was processed in 10 minutes and in the clinic waiting room by 10.55.
I was seen first by a Registrar who went over my history in minute detail, did a physical exam and briefly mentioned what they might be able to offer. She then went to see the Consultant and he came in about 15 minutes later to explain the possible options in a bit more detail.
Option 1 is entirely dependent on whether or not I have a particular genetic mutation and on my platelet status. Only 1 in 10 breast cancer patients have this mutation. They will obtain a tissue sample from the QE in Birmingham and analyse that.
Option 2 is dependent on my platelet status AND my liver function levels. That option would also involve a lot of toing and froing in the early weeks / months while the regime gets established.
Then I had to wait for bloods to be drawn. They drew a LOT of blood. It was either 7 or 8 tubes in total.
The Registrar is going to ring me tomorrow.