Taming Cells

Bristol seemed surprisingly normal yesterday, I expected to see less people, more space between them and the signs of them taking care.  I didn't see this at all.  To be fair, I was back on the Oncology outpatients floor but I would have expected even more precautions there at such a time.  Jezz and I sat rather too long in an (admittedly quiet) outpatients area watching the Comins and goings of people and their germ spreading behaviours.  We made a game out of all of the Consultant names on the board, our favourite was Dr Comins in Room 4, we were desperate to hear him/her ask someone to "come in", we were like 12 year olds stifling giggles, I shook my head and bit my lip when a nurse asked me if I had seen a missing patient I just wanted to say she had been asked to "come in" to room 4.  I am re-counting this only because we have come a long way since the 2nd January, sucking on wine gums full of pre-consultation fear. The situation has normalised amidst the l...

Most of the moments since my appointment with Oncology on Monday have been spent researching, exasperating, securing information, chasing, discussing and feeling overwhelmed.  The timing of the next phase of my treatment will exactly correspond with the expected peak infection period by the Coronavirus in the UK. The type of Chemo I am likely to have makes you neutropenic (low white blood cells) which effectively means your immune system becomes severely suppressed. This would be, to quote Donald Trump "very bad", in the context of a dangerous new disease which can nobble those with underlying health issues ...including broken immune systems. Chemo has been given for my type (grade 2/size 6mm/node +/macrometasteses) of breast cancer as a "belt and braces" approach for decades. The medical world now know that for up to 70% of us, Chemo doesn't actually make any more difference to cancer returning than the endocrinal treatment we will get after the Chemo.  So if I...

Yesterday I said goodbye to Shelley and was transferred over to oncology for the next leg of my treatment. The breast tissue biopsied since the Mastectomy identified 3 Lobular Invasive tumours the largest of which measured 6cm.  There were lobular pre-cancerous areas (LCIS) as well as the already identified ductal pre-cancerous areas (DCIS). During the Mastectomy I had an axillary clearance which was the removal of my level 1 and 2 lymph nodes and one of the level 3 lymph nodes which go right up into the neck area. 9 lymph nodes were biopsied in total, and here is where I finally have some good/feels miraculous news! Only one of the 9 had cancer in it and it was the same node which was previously biopsied!! The fact the level 3 node was clear is great news because the cancer cells may be more contained than we had previously thought. I still have Stage 3 Cancer, it isn't exactly tremendous news but I am taking this as a celebratory point as there has been nothing but ...

Adele and Jezz are eating pancakes... Adele: I keep disappearing. Jezz: Where do you go? Adele: The far away land of Boobigon. Jezz: Ooh is that near the Republic of Oneballi? Adele: Yes, they're neighbouring countries. Jezz: Is Hitler there? Adele: Yes, that is why we have a Boobigonarmy. Adele and Jezz continue to eat pancakes.