Tuesday clinic only an hour behind today - it's getting better!

After what seems and age of waiting it has finally been confirmed that I do have cancer in one of my ribs.  At least that would explain the pain I've been having since about July!!

Bone scan showed no other areas of concern so that's good, although she did say that it doesn't mean it won't in the future...hopefully a long way off.

Plan of action is this...

One blast of radiotherapy to the rib 

They are still waiting for some results to come back to see if it's HER2+ or not, if it is then we will probably stop the Hercepitin as it is obviously not doing its job.  If it isn't then they will have a re-think.

She did say I could start chemo now if I wanted but they aren't too concerned with the lung nodule as it's got no bigger since October and to have chemo now would be a waste of ammunition for the future.

So all in all I'm pleased with results as it could have been a whole lot worse.

Love Clare xx

Hopefully that's it for scans and tests for now...just need them to hurry up with results so a treatment plan can be started.

Still getting bad pain in my chest mainly at night and when I lay down - bone scan should sort out why this is happening ..if not back to more investigations I suppose.

Not really got much to write about at the moment as it's just wait, wait, wait.

Clare xx

Ouch and Ouch....

Ouch No.1 was frost bitten toes from waiting for a bus for 35mins...

Got to the hospital with 1min to spare!

The consultant explained what they were going to do and the complications involved, I signed on the dotted line and off we went....

He'd said to me all I ask of you is to shallow breathe...easier said than done when you've just hauled yourself up on to table, re-arranged the gown and have your head face down on a pillow!!

The idea was to take a sample of tissue from my lung ....problem was the nodule was right under my shoulder blade and not very big..(thankfully)

They did a scan got ready with the marker pen and then decided to have a chat amongst themselves...

5 or so minutes later he came in the room and said they'd had decided it would be too painful for me and extremely difficult for them to get a decent enough sample, so I had a rib biopsy instead!!

Not just for fun ....there is an unidentified mass on one of my left ribs and he thought it would be best to get this checked out.  If it comes up negative then I will be going back and they will do the lung biopsy, however long it takes!

Ouch No.2 - it hurt briefly and all I could feel was the scrapping of bone...yuk!

Back in recovery and had to lay down for an hour just reading ...lovely..

The nurse asked who was collecting me and I said no one I was going to get a taxi - oh no I wasn't!!

They won't let you home unless someone is with you. I was so annoyed at this as I'd phoned and asked what the discharge procedure was and the lady who I spoke to said I would be fine on my own and that I could drive!!!  Only reason I didn't drive was the snow!!  The nurses were annoyed too when I showed them the letter that didn't mention anything about having someone to take you home...anyway my lovely Dad came and got me with his friend.

Spend the afternoon at Mum and Dad's being waited on and got home to another letter 'inviting' me for a bone scan next Friday 22nd...certainly getting my moneys worth recently...

So follow up appointment to see consultant on 26th where hopefully they'll have the results of both biopsy and bone scan..

Love Clare xx

All set for tomorrow...well actually that's a lie as I still have to sort out my overnight bag incase I have to stay in...wasn't going to bother with one but you bet I'd need it if I didn't take one.

Jack is at Mum and Dad's tonight, so just myself to worry about in the morning.

It's not a big procedure just uncomfortable (so I'm told)...

The procedure is this...

A CT scan will be performed to confirm the location of the nodule and the safest approach. Once the location of the nodule is confirmed, the entry site is marked on the skin. The skin around the insertion site will be scrubbed and disinfected, and a clean and sterile drape will be applied.

For nodules that are small and deep within the lung, or located near blood vessels, airways or nerves, CT allows better planning of the needle path for a safe biopsy.

CT-guided biopsies require patients to be able to hold still on the CT table for up to 30 minutes. 

A very small nick is made in the skin at the site where the biopsy needle is to be inserted.

Using imaging guidance, the physician will insert the needle through the skin, advance it to the site of the nodule and remove samples of tissue. Several specimens may be needed for complete analysis.

After the sampling, the needle will be removed.

Once the biopsy is complete, pressure will be applied to stop any bleeding and the opening in the skin is covered with a dressing. No sutures are needed.

You will be taken to an observation area for several hours. X-Rays or other imaging tests may be performed to monitor for complications.

This procedure is usually completed within one hour.

So easy peasy really....silly me read up on what can go wrong..damn the internet and me being so nosey!!

I have my Ipod loaded with Ice Age 1,2, and 3, just started a new book too so plenty to keep my occupied.

Having my nails done tomorrow evening and can't wait so I'd better not get stuck in the hospital overnight.

Love Clare xx

At last...

Hospital phoned me today to see if I was free next Tues (12th) to go in for the lung biopsy - eek!!

Have to go to Drs tomorrow to get a blood test done....here's the best bit that probably won't happen....because I was only phoned today at 4pm so couldn't really go to the hospital to get the bloods done as snowed in, so they asked me to make an appointment at my Drs for tomorrow morning and they will fax the form through and a copy of the letter they would have sent me explaining the procedure they are going to do....what's the betting I get there tomorrow morning and the surgery no nothing about it.....we shall see...

Bit nervous and already the logistics of going to the hospital and sorting Jack out are worrying me...Jon is on a course Tuesday (typical)...Jack should be at nursery (snow permitting)...if he is I will need to drop him off at 9am and then get to the hospital for 10am...easy peasy you may think, but there will be no where to park by 9.30am so I will have to drop Jack off, drive to Mum's and get a bus ....hopefully there will be one to get me there for 10am.  Mum will then have to go and collect him at 11.30am

I'm not a worrier of major things but silly things like getting somewhere on time and parking at the hospital really do make me fret.

Feel at last something is being done about the results of my last scan on 1 October .....3 and a half months later!!

Love Clare xx

It's official - I hate Tuesday afternoon appointments at Berkshire Cancer Centre!!

No appointments are nice but by the time of my appointment 3.40pm they were already and hour behind and I finally got in at 5.10pm....

Lucky for me I got to see Kate the lovely registrar...Dr Charlton is great but I always seem to have to chase anything he says he'll do...

First thing I did was say that I hadn't got a date for the lung biopsy and she was quite taken aback and said she'd get straight on to it.

I told her about the pain I was getting in my chest and under my left shoulder.  She examined me and said that it appeared to be either my 4th or 5th rib that was the problem.  She did say that they thought it there was a possibility of spread to the bones.  So next thing is a bone scan to see what they are dealing with and if their suspicions are correct I will need to have radiotherapy.

So at the moment I'm waiting for two appointments, then will have to make another consultants appointment to get results.

She asked if I was taking any painkillers and I said only when it's really bad, so she said to take paracetamol 4 times a day...so I will!!

I'm extremely scared of what lies ahead but will face it head on as always...

Also very worried about juggling appointments with looking after Jack and getting him to and from Nursery School.  As anyone knows a hospital appointment can be 10mins long but could take in total a few hours...getting there, looking for parking, waiting etc

I know I don't have to do the juggling on my own and I have friends who will help but they all have their lives to sort out too...just don't want Jack to suffer because of me..

Love Clare xx