(No Evidence of Disease)
I didn’t mention it because I didn’t want to go back down that road mentally but after my first post treatment mammogram I was recalled for 2nd and 3rd imaging, which resulted in 3 further biopsies and a FNA (fine needle aspiration). As you can imagine, I was upset, beside myself with worry actually. My hair has more or less grown back (very curly I might say!), the bloating from chemo/radio/steroid treatment has mostly gone and I’m dealing with menopause symptoms like many hundreds of thousands of women out there. I had had a low reading on my latest Thyroid test but an increase in Thyroxine had sorted that within weeks, and aside from the usual aches and pains I have never felt better – or more alive. To have to go back down the road of surgery and treatment would just about break me I think.
After much to’ing and fro’ing with various departments at St James’ (no one to blame other than their IT system!) I finally met with the lovely, lovely nurse Sue today who told me the good, no excellent news that the changes they could see are post surgical and scar tissue – nothing to worry about and the biopsies showed no sign of disease.
Relief flooded through me, and the husband as you can imagine but it served as a reminder that once you’ve had cancer in your life it never truly leaves. Every year for the next 5 – 10 years we may well have this and do you know what, that’s fine. The nurse today said that they are like a dog with a bone when they see any changes and thoroughly investigate everything – you crack on, I like this line of thinking!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to every single person that has supported me, cheered me on and stuck by me. If by reading this blog it has spurred you on to check your chest then my work here is done!
And of course, massive eternal thanks to the wonderful staff at St James’ Hospital who have been nothing but outstanding from start to finish. Thank you for saving my life.
Now, pass me the alcohol free bubbles 🥂
All Is Well 