I know, I know ....... it's a couple of weeks since my Oncology appointment on 3rd March but I'm here now!!!
Sooooooooo as you know we were away for my Birthday and were then popping by RD&E for my appointment with Dr. Goodman.
We mistimed our arrival (almost sounds grand) and ended up hanging around reading our kindles for a couple of hours!!! Not a problem when you get a parking space and are reading an Amanda Prowse book.
I have to say that the receptionists I have met recently seem to be getting brusquer and the one in Oncolgy was no exception ...... I suppose at least she got my name on first announcement but to then bark at me 'date of birth?' 'Doctor?' And if that wasn't enough she wanted the last part of my phone number ...... well what do you class as last part?? I reeled the whole lot off!! She also took a piece of paper out of a folder and slid it across the desk towards me with no explanation........... So apparently there is a study involving weighing patients and asking details of nutrition and they'd appreciate my cooperation!!! Well of course, why didn't you say ......... I've lost over two stone and eat eight to nine portions of fruit and veg a day etc etc ....... Oh ok that's to come!! I suppose she did ask if I knew where to go and although I was tempted to be arse holey, I decided to be nice.
The moment we got to the waiting room, it was a relief to see that there weren't too many people there. Scanning the board and seeing that Dr.Goodman was in the house was another relief and also there was nothing saying that the clinic was running late!! Huzzah!!!!
So back to a Mothers Story by Amanda Prowse and twenty five minutes later I'm called in. Lovely nurse called Tree (yes really) asked if she could weigh me ...... 'yes of course but it has been my Birthday weekend and I've been eating and drinking and making merry!'
'Of course you should' ........
Thank god it was her and not the miserable Tina (Teena) from the past!! 'What are you normally?' 'Around 62.2 with no clothes on. Anyway with all this eating and drinking and with my clothes on she made me 64.85 kg ...... and then calculated it to 10 stone 1lb ....... noooooooooo
I was a bit disappointed that my eating habits weren't discussed though.
After putting on the usual fetching gown and waiting a while the man himself complete with dyed hair and bow tie came in.
Now like Mr. Ferguson he started talking about changing me at two and a half years from Tamoxifen to another drug if I started to go through the menopause naturally. However he ummed and arrhed and mentioned side effects like joint pain and took a long time to get to the point about whether this would happen. I sat there willing him to decided that Tamoxifen was good for me!!!(Well you know how I put off taking it initially and now how we're just jogging along nicely ) - I'll tell you about the night sweats and insomnia in another post!!!
When he mentioned Letrozole as being the drug in question I wanted to shout 'No' as after hearing and seeing the side effects my friend has had with it I'd really prefer to stay on Tamoxifen. Well better the devil you know!!
I then mentioned that I was still having periods and had in fact come on the day before my appointment with Mr. Ferguson so despite being 52 and a day I still hadn't started the menopause ......... this is the only time everrrrrrr that I'm grateful that I'm still doing the period thing!!
Anyway back to Dr. Goodman ....... he was speechless for a moment as he hadn't known that I'd seen Mr.Ferguson a few weeks before (flicked opened my file and saw the letter) hesitated and was on the verge of saying he wouldn't examine me because of this but then thought better of it ....... well I'd gone to the trouble of putting the gown on hadn't I!!!
He thinks everything feels fine too and is also impressed at how well my boob has healed! (May be there's hope yet and I can go back to the glamour modelling!!!!!)
Now due to the crossing over of appointments and the fact that Mr. Ferguson wants to see me in twelve months Dr. Goodman has decided to see me in six months ...... 1st September at 3.20pm. To be precise!
What's the betting then that I'm still having periods??
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Thursday, 5 March 2015
So two years on ........
Two years ago today it all started .... 4th March 2013
Yup it was a two years ago to the day when I had my mammogram which then turned my life tits up! (Literally)
So fast forward two years ........
............... to this weekend which was my Birthday ..... oh yes 52 years old.
Happy to be alive, happy in my own body and happy to have my photo taken.
A different story two years ago though ............
Two years ago I didn't have a fancy phone or camera so no record of the two and a half stone overweight blob of a woman and even if I did I wouldn't be posting the photo's, I hated that woman.
This was the biggest hint at a wake up call and although (as you know) I was so fucking pissed off with the bastard cancer I have to admit now that it did do me a favour ........ but don't tell it!
Not just in the health stakes but also in the friendship stakes and the work stakes.
So in the health stakes ...... yes I'm still trying to do the eight to nine portions of fruit and veg a day but at times like at markets and Birthday weekends away it is difficult when there is lovely food on offer but none of it adding up to even one portion of fruit or veg a day
I do want to shout when I see a menu (most of the time) with no veg or a supplement of about four quid for it ....... but I do also appreciate that this is down to the great British public who abhor veg and leave it, meaning it gets chucked into the bin! (Great for soup though!)
Of course the running is top of the health stakes ........ who'd have thought it .....me Sarah Styles-Power, Mrs. Cheese running and now signed up for the Bideford 10K and asking for sponsorship for www.chsw.org.uk if you can spare a quid or dime or two thank you then www.virginmoneygiving.com/sarahstylespower
That aside ..........
So in the friendship stakes ...........well, I've never been the most popular girl on the block but it's amazing ...... I've found out who my true friends are, lost some and made a lot of new ones .... Thank you, you guys rock !
Bum! Nearly forgot the work stakes ....... well yes money pays the bills and all that malarkey but actually we've (Mr.Cheese and I have) learnt that you need time away ....... Something unheard of on my agenda before so that's why I 'm looking so happy in the photo ....... we had a couple of days away and nothing else mattered!
Also as I've said before this blog writes itself and tonight I was going to tell you about my appointment with Dr. Goodman but it went off else where .........
Thursday, 12 February 2015
Sooner than I thought .......
Hello! Are you still there?
Yes I'm just as surprised as you are that I'm back here again as my next scheduled ramblings are for 3rd March when I have my oncology appointment with the fabulous Dr. Goodman!
However ........ Yesterday just after 9 I got a phone call which I nearly didn't answer as 'withheld' usually means call centre.
Now the nice lady on the other end nearly got my mouth engaging before my brain ..........
( Oh bollocks have I forgotten an appointment??? No Don't be stupid the only one is oncology with Dr. Goodman on 3rd March ..... but what if the Muppet postman didn't deliver the letter..... shit shit shit ..... For fuck sake ......... listen she said your sixth monthly appointment with Mr. Ferguson and there's been a cancellation)
Oh that's alright then .......so apart from nearly blurting out that I had to run that day as I'm training for the Bideford 10k and couldn't make it, I shut my trap and made it a date!
Today we made cheese toute suite and then left for RD&E
No it wasn't ridiculously early because of Cheesemaking although I did worry we'd be late .............
However the trip in was smooth and although there was some squawking from me and bickering between us about OH's lane discipline but we got a parking space immediately. Ate our picnic and then bunged £2.50 into the machine before wandering down to K level 1 .
Reported to the usual reception to a smiley trainee girl who couldn't find me ...... then the FAT bitch sitting down barked Mr. Ferguson .......... reception one ......... oh right thanks sorry I missed it on our way down ...... you complete and utter cow (hope you get syphilis on Valentine's day)
Retraced our steps and found the right place to be told by the lovely receptionist that Mr.F clinic was running 50 minutes late
It didn't matter as I had my running blog post to finish www.sarahsrunningchallenge.blogspot.com
Anyway I got called in after 40 minutes and after putting on the fetching gown the man himself came in...........
I was so pleased to see Mr. F........
As usual he filled me with confidence was pleased that my surgery had healed so well joking that a surgeon loved patients whose operations healed so well.
He had a good feel, of my boobs and underarms and although my right boob (the bastard cancer one) feels a bit lumpy apparently that's normal.
Of course the period conversation came up........ yup I'm still having them.... So they'll keep me on tamoxifen for ten years however if I go menopausal in the next 6 months then they may give me a different drug!
Although he then said he'd see me in twelve months.
He will also request my next mammogram which is due in April......
As we left and I know parking is at a premium at RD&E there was no need for the bitch in the red mini to force her way into the space we were vacating causing OH to hit the kerb to avoid her. There was another red mini which had been waiting for the space before she arrived and she cut in front of it. How rude!
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
Hardly any waiting....... my latest Consultants appointment!
Guess what?
Yes, you're right ........ I've just had an appointment at RD&E ........
You're going to be disappointed though ....... apart from me hanging on to the door handle squawking at times, we weren't our usual predictable selves!
We didn't leave ridiculously early!
How come I hear you ask.
Well I had a shopping list ..... my trainers circa 1985 have been hanging on despite bits dropping off the bottom over the last six weeks. Trip to a trainer shop needed!
Having kept up and increased my running for three and a half months I still haven't got a sports bra. Trip to M&S bra department needed!
(especially as yesterday at the end of my run I had a sore and bleeding nipple on the cancer boob ....... more of that later)
Oh and the bathroom scales packed up a couple of weeks ago. Trip to John Lewis needed!
So we left after I'd finished the day job and washed the cow shit out of my hair, at around 10.15am!
Now I had a brain wave about parking ...... normally for our rare shopping trips in Exeter we use the Quay car park, however as I trundled off to work this morning I realised that after we'd shopped we would have to move the car and then do a big loop in a lot of traffic to get back to RD&E. The chances of a space at the hospital would be non existent so I had a cunning plan .......... we'd park in the Triangle car park and pay for a days parking, then walk into the city and then walk to RD&E.
So we did!
On our walk we passed Real Food Exeter, a community owned shop and café which I follow on Twitter and have always wondered where they were situated. Now I know. After a coffee there we bought the things on the shopping list and then it was time for lunch. We popped back for a sandwich and glass of wine ......... it was conveniently on the route to RD&E.
Despite all this careful planning, we got to RD&E way too early, so had a coffee and then went down to the clinic.
My appointment was 3.15pm so going on all previous clinics which have run one and a half to two hours late I expected to be called in at aound 4.45pm!
No! by 3.35pm I was sitting in a consulting room with one of the fetching gowns on waiting for Mr. Ferguson.
Actually it wasn't the man himself but a lovely Doctor from his team Dr. Mackenzie and a fellow lady Doctor whose name I've forgotten!
What a nice man, he had such a good bedside manner and definitely made up for the brusque Oncology Doctor on my last appointment!
Now over the last 17 months I've been prodded and poked and always been asked if its ok for this to be done, however this guy is the first to say 'if whilst I'm doing it, It hurts please tell me to stop'.
Brownie points!!
He and Lady Doctor also got Brownie points as during the discussion about Tamoxifen I mentioned that different brands had different side effects. They both said they'd heard this before and that I should ask the pharmacist to try and get my preferred brand every time, and it should be possible due to them having different suppliers!
Ah yes the sore and bleeding nipple .......
Now I'm sure that this is down to pre menstrual tenderness (yes! I'm still having periods!!) and being chafed by my bra, but of course with my history it could be a sign of breast cancer so I mentioned it to him.
After he'd examined me he said everything felt fine and he couldn't see any changes in my skin but if the bleeding continued to get in touch although he thought it was just the chafing responsible for it and that my new sports bra would sort it out!
By 3.50pm we were on our way back to the car!
Yes, you're right ........ I've just had an appointment at RD&E ........
You're going to be disappointed though ....... apart from me hanging on to the door handle squawking at times, we weren't our usual predictable selves!
We didn't leave ridiculously early!
How come I hear you ask.
Well I had a shopping list ..... my trainers circa 1985 have been hanging on despite bits dropping off the bottom over the last six weeks. Trip to a trainer shop needed!
Having kept up and increased my running for three and a half months I still haven't got a sports bra. Trip to M&S bra department needed!
(especially as yesterday at the end of my run I had a sore and bleeding nipple on the cancer boob ....... more of that later)
Oh and the bathroom scales packed up a couple of weeks ago. Trip to John Lewis needed!
So we left after I'd finished the day job and washed the cow shit out of my hair, at around 10.15am!
Now I had a brain wave about parking ...... normally for our rare shopping trips in Exeter we use the Quay car park, however as I trundled off to work this morning I realised that after we'd shopped we would have to move the car and then do a big loop in a lot of traffic to get back to RD&E. The chances of a space at the hospital would be non existent so I had a cunning plan .......... we'd park in the Triangle car park and pay for a days parking, then walk into the city and then walk to RD&E.
So we did!
On our walk we passed Real Food Exeter, a community owned shop and café which I follow on Twitter and have always wondered where they were situated. Now I know. After a coffee there we bought the things on the shopping list and then it was time for lunch. We popped back for a sandwich and glass of wine ......... it was conveniently on the route to RD&E.
Despite all this careful planning, we got to RD&E way too early, so had a coffee and then went down to the clinic.
My appointment was 3.15pm so going on all previous clinics which have run one and a half to two hours late I expected to be called in at aound 4.45pm!
No! by 3.35pm I was sitting in a consulting room with one of the fetching gowns on waiting for Mr. Ferguson.
Actually it wasn't the man himself but a lovely Doctor from his team Dr. Mackenzie and a fellow lady Doctor whose name I've forgotten!
What a nice man, he had such a good bedside manner and definitely made up for the brusque Oncology Doctor on my last appointment!
Now over the last 17 months I've been prodded and poked and always been asked if its ok for this to be done, however this guy is the first to say 'if whilst I'm doing it, It hurts please tell me to stop'.
Brownie points!!
He and Lady Doctor also got Brownie points as during the discussion about Tamoxifen I mentioned that different brands had different side effects. They both said they'd heard this before and that I should ask the pharmacist to try and get my preferred brand every time, and it should be possible due to them having different suppliers!
Ah yes the sore and bleeding nipple .......
Now I'm sure that this is down to pre menstrual tenderness (yes! I'm still having periods!!) and being chafed by my bra, but of course with my history it could be a sign of breast cancer so I mentioned it to him.
After he'd examined me he said everything felt fine and he couldn't see any changes in my skin but if the bleeding continued to get in touch although he thought it was just the chafing responsible for it and that my new sports bra would sort it out!
By 3.50pm we were on our way back to the car!
Friday, 18 July 2014
Its not time to say good bye yet!
Oh hello!
Yes I'm still here ........
......... and yes I know I've neglected you! I'm sorry!
I know you thought that as I'd got the all clear I'd just bugger off and leave you!
....... but I couldn't do that to you ....... we've been through so much.....
...... and I know its been two months since we last spoke but suddenly life took off and I've been living it to the full ....... I'm sure you'll understand especially when I tell you about my friend who has recently been diagnosed with an inoperable tumour. (future blog post)
I have missed you and our chats though ....... just not had the time to write!
So here I am .......
Is this goodbye?
Well! during my dance you asked me not to give up writing the blog and since the all clear I have gained more readers, several of whom, who after reading the blog in its entirety have asked me to continue writing.......
What can I write about??
Well, I am still having regular consultant appointments but now you know me so well you'll be able to write them for me ........ left ridiculously early, no parking spaces at RD&E, clinic running one and a half hours late etc!
Ok how about life after the dance?
My ramblings.......
...... I have kept up the running and am doing around three miles a day four or five days a week although some of you will know and for those that don't I had an accident a couple of weeks ago where I went arse over tit, crossing the road in Bideford (and that was before a drink) and seriously hurt myself, bruising my knees, hands and right leg. So nine days without running......
At least I was still able to hobble out for a three mile walk with the doggens.
However prior to that I had even gone out morning and evening and run a total of six miles on a couple of occasions.
Everyone is joking that I'll be running marathons soon but actually its not really my thing ......... famous last words I know but of course you'll be the first to know when I've signed up to one because I'll be wanting your money for a breast cancer charity!
I'll never know what caused my breast cancer ...... it would be great to know so I could poke it in the eye with a sharp stick but that's not going to happen so a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted I will continue to improve my lifestyle, hence the running and continued diet of eight to nine portions of fruit and veg a day.
Interestingly Breakthrough Breast Cancer www.breakthrough.org.uk/brisk/ currently have a campaign at the moment about How active are you? Raise your pulse, reduce your risk
Apparently 30 minutes of daily physical activity or 3.5 hours a week can reduce the risk of breast cancer by at least 20%.
Stable door and horse spring to mind ........ but ....... its never too late and I'm doing my best to prove it and inspire others!
So I'm thinking its not time to say good bye yet!
Yes I'm still here ........
......... and yes I know I've neglected you! I'm sorry!
I know you thought that as I'd got the all clear I'd just bugger off and leave you!
....... but I couldn't do that to you ....... we've been through so much.....
...... and I know its been two months since we last spoke but suddenly life took off and I've been living it to the full ....... I'm sure you'll understand especially when I tell you about my friend who has recently been diagnosed with an inoperable tumour. (future blog post)
I have missed you and our chats though ....... just not had the time to write!
So here I am .......
Is this goodbye?
Well! during my dance you asked me not to give up writing the blog and since the all clear I have gained more readers, several of whom, who after reading the blog in its entirety have asked me to continue writing.......
What can I write about??
Well, I am still having regular consultant appointments but now you know me so well you'll be able to write them for me ........ left ridiculously early, no parking spaces at RD&E, clinic running one and a half hours late etc!
Ok how about life after the dance?
My ramblings.......
...... I have kept up the running and am doing around three miles a day four or five days a week although some of you will know and for those that don't I had an accident a couple of weeks ago where I went arse over tit, crossing the road in Bideford (and that was before a drink) and seriously hurt myself, bruising my knees, hands and right leg. So nine days without running......
At least I was still able to hobble out for a three mile walk with the doggens.
However prior to that I had even gone out morning and evening and run a total of six miles on a couple of occasions.
Everyone is joking that I'll be running marathons soon but actually its not really my thing ......... famous last words I know but of course you'll be the first to know when I've signed up to one because I'll be wanting your money for a breast cancer charity!
I'll never know what caused my breast cancer ...... it would be great to know so I could poke it in the eye with a sharp stick but that's not going to happen so a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted I will continue to improve my lifestyle, hence the running and continued diet of eight to nine portions of fruit and veg a day.
Interestingly Breakthrough Breast Cancer www.breakthrough.org.uk/brisk/ currently have a campaign at the moment about How active are you? Raise your pulse, reduce your risk
Apparently 30 minutes of daily physical activity or 3.5 hours a week can reduce the risk of breast cancer by at least 20%.
Stable door and horse spring to mind ........ but ....... its never too late and I'm doing my best to prove it and inspire others!
So I'm thinking its not time to say good bye yet!
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
The dance is over ........
Finally ........ my results letter has arrived!
Yes .............only eleven days since my phone call to Mr. F's secretary about it and six and a half weeks since my mammogram!!!
HOWEVER....
I've got the all clear ......... the bastard cancer has fucked off!
The dance is over, the music has stopped and the orchestra has gone home ......
Time to open the prosecco .....................
Friday, 9 May 2014
The wait goes on .................
You may remember that after my mammogram on the 4th April I was told that if they needed to recall me it would be within two weeks. If not they would send the results to Mr. Ferguson who would then write to me with them. If I hadn't heard anything within four weeks I'd need to phone Mr.F's secretary.
Today is exactly five weeks since my mammogram..........
I haven't heard anything!
Now you may wonder why I didn't phone Mr. F's secretary last week when the four weeks was up.
Well you should know me by know ........ put off today what you can do tomorrow ......... especially when it involves phoning someone who never answers the phone when I call and doesn't return answer phone messages or the answer phone cuts off before I can leave my number...... this sort of thing makes me anxious.......... that's why OH has usually phoned in the past.
This morning whilst OH was at a market I gave myself a strict talking to and looked up the number.
Well you could have knocked me down with a feather ........ four rings and Mr.Ferguson's secretary answered!
I explained everything, gave her my hospital number and she looked me up on her computer.
'The last letter you should have received was dated the 8th March'
'Yes that was the results of my cyst removal'
'Um, there's nothing else. I'm new here and can only look at letters sent so I need to speak to a colleague and phone you back.'
Oh bugger I was going to be in and out all day and the previous secretary wouldn't leave a message!
'If I'm not here you can leave a message'
'Thank you'
Sounded promising.
Anyway she phoned about an hour later .......
'I have just finished typing you a letter with your results, so we now need Mr. Ferguson to have a few spare minutes to sign it and it will be with you very soon. You have a follow up appointment with him on the 6th August which we'll still keep. So the letter will be with you very soon'
' Can't you give me my results over the phone?'
'No sorry, not until Mr. Ferguson has signed the letter.'
Soooooooooooooooo the wait goes on ............
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggg
Today is exactly five weeks since my mammogram..........
I haven't heard anything!
Now you may wonder why I didn't phone Mr. F's secretary last week when the four weeks was up.
Well you should know me by know ........ put off today what you can do tomorrow ......... especially when it involves phoning someone who never answers the phone when I call and doesn't return answer phone messages or the answer phone cuts off before I can leave my number...... this sort of thing makes me anxious.......... that's why OH has usually phoned in the past.
This morning whilst OH was at a market I gave myself a strict talking to and looked up the number.
Well you could have knocked me down with a feather ........ four rings and Mr.Ferguson's secretary answered!
I explained everything, gave her my hospital number and she looked me up on her computer.
'The last letter you should have received was dated the 8th March'
'Yes that was the results of my cyst removal'
'Um, there's nothing else. I'm new here and can only look at letters sent so I need to speak to a colleague and phone you back.'
Oh bugger I was going to be in and out all day and the previous secretary wouldn't leave a message!
'If I'm not here you can leave a message'
'Thank you'
Sounded promising.
Anyway she phoned about an hour later .......
'I have just finished typing you a letter with your results, so we now need Mr. Ferguson to have a few spare minutes to sign it and it will be with you very soon. You have a follow up appointment with him on the 6th August which we'll still keep. So the letter will be with you very soon'
' Can't you give me my results over the phone?'
'No sorry, not until Mr. Ferguson has signed the letter.'
Soooooooooooooooo the wait goes on ............
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggg
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