Lots to tell you!
Same familiar environment at the hospital –
difficulty parking (do they not realise how much stress this causes patients?)
same broken TV in the waiting area, pale blue walls and the ticking clock. I
felt quite sick, we sat but didn’t speak to each other, dealing with our own thoughts, we just squeezed hands now
and again until my name was called by a friendly nurse, who then proceeded to
ask if I had been here before?...
Gown on and more waiting until a knock at the
door but it was not my consultant but a junior doctor. Mixed feelings about
that. I thought my consultant (who was on duty in the clinic) would wish to see
me at my first check up to see how her surgery had healed and to check how I
was doing? But my last meeting with her was a bit frosty as I clearly asked too
many questions and pushed for a visit to genetics and gynaecology. By the way,
I still await a follow up and results from that appointment some four months
ago. When I asked about it at my check up there was nothing in the notes as the
notes were “lost” at the time and had clearly not been updated since.
The doctor was pleasant and thorough,
checking over my scar area and reporting that the mammogram appeared normal, no
visible calcifications, it did show dense breast tissue but nothing untoward,
no change since a year ago. That was very comforting news. She queried some
lymph nodes under my right arm and checked with the consultant who still didn’t
want to see me but sent me for an ultrasound scan just to check. As I lay on
the couch I became very aware the fine line that determined whether or not I
went down the same path as last year. Thankfully, nothing suspicious and I was
free to go home. I’m hopeful that is the end of the hospital visits until next
years check up.
I’ve had a great response from my posting on
the Aberdeen Artists page on Facebook. In the region of 10 local, talented
artists have come forward with a view to getting involved and getting an
exhibition off the ground. Already cemented a couple of meetings for November
and have also been invited to sit for a still life art group. I have approached
CLAN, our local cancer centre who are willing to promote the idea to other ladies
who have been on a breast cancer journey as more models and stories would be
good. I have also had interest from an educational point of view from Robert
Gordon University Social care / Medical departments. There’s lots of work
involved and it’s very exciting!
I attended a feedback session last week at
CLAN for the University research project that I attended some weeks ago re Our
Cancer Journey. The findings were that we either received really excellent care
or really terrible care with nothing in between. Many of the underlying issues
began with the GP and then proceeded to result in lack of communication between
departments and no continual, consistent care and a lack of information. I was
not surprised by any of this but it is clearly unacceptable. This should not be
a game of Russian Roulette.
A light lunch was provided and the
opportunity to chat to other cancer patients and to staff. We all found it very
cathartic. I took the opportunity to network in an attempt to make some
progress with my art project! This resulted in opening a friendship with another
lady who has undergone a double mastectomy who is keen to be involved and
positive interest from CLAN and Robert Gordon University.
Very excited about my 50th
birthday trip to beautiful Tuscany. At the age of 48, for a fleeting moment I
had no idea if I would make it to 50. I have everything to celebrate! To the
fabulous six ladies who accepted an invitation to travel up to Aberdeen and
help celebrate further in a couple of weeks, I very much appreciate you
continued friendship and support and I so look forward to our fun weekend
together!
