Thursday 11th October 2007

PET Scan Day. Scanning centre was lovely. Unlike Frimley Park waiting area, which was built in 70s and has magazines from around same era, it was v up-to-date. Staff were lovely. V friendly and explained everything thoroughly.

Had to drink bout a pint of orange iodine drink. Tasted of liquorice. Yuck, yuck, yuck! Then had to change into a gown and lie down on a trolley. Nurse put a canular in my arm and took small blood sample. Then she put administered this radioactive injection so I can't hug anyone, and have to avoid pregnant ladies, babies and small children, for 24 hours. I had to lie there for about an hour to let it circulate around my body. After that the canular was removed and I went into the scanning room. Hsd to lie on this long table with my arms above my head and stay completely still. Table was then inserted in this tunnel and every 5 minutes the table shifted a bit further out of the tunnel. It was very snug. No wonder they ask you if you're preggers - the bump wouldn't fit! Scan took about 40 minutes. Quite boring. Available choice of CD's was Robbie Williams's 'Swing When You're Winning,' 'Hits of the '60s' or 'The Classic Experience.' Opted for the latter. Got the theme music to the old Hovis TV ad: 'Da da da...da da da...When I were a lad...Da da da...All the mills were open...Doo da...and no-one had even heard of courgettes...etc.' for 20 mins. Would have been fine but only two settings...so soft you couldn't hear it or ridiculously loud. Still, wasn't all that bad really. Better than I'd thought anyway.

Wednesday 10th October 2007

Hospital phoned. PET scan's tomorrow at 10.30am. Was so used to waiting ages for things it's a bit of a shock to have it arranged so quickly.

Looked PET scan up on the internet. Fairly new technology developed in the Seventies...so yes, bang-up-to-date then...only 30-odd years old! Anyway apparently I'm injected with, and/or drink, a glucose solution and have to wait for about an hour for it to circulate around my body. Cancer tissue absorbs glucose differently so will show up on the scan as unusual. Actual scan involves lying completely still in a tunnel for about an hour. It's v expensive. Only few hospitals have the equipment hence why I have to go to Guildford.

Saw Nicola today for a cuppa. Very good to see her and have a chat about stuff...particularly as she's going through the same process. Apparently she's left with the oldies now that I've finished treatment. Really wish there was a way they could organise treating similar age groups at same time. Really think it would make a significant difference.

We were talking about hair-loss and how people react to seeing the PICC line. I'm so glad mine's gone now. Human beings are generally quite inept and seem to stare. If you respond to the question of 'what's that?' it tends to cause embarrassment brought about by a lack of understanding. It's amazing how superficial society really is. Shocks me actually. Part of it shame that I would have been one of the starers in the past and wouldn't really have known what to say, I think.

Hair's growing back quite quickly now. Hopefully be able to tuck Marina away in a box in a month or so. Plus it's coming up to the season to be bald...wear those beanies (preferably ones with huge bobbles) with pride!

Wednesday 3rd October 2007

*RESULTS DAY!*

Appointment finally came through for 3.40pm today. Was more nervous waiting for this than ANYTHING in my whole life. The 30 minute delay didn't help matters, nor did one of the nurses wanting to whip me in for a quick blood test.

Anyway...good news. Only a small patch of shadowing left under my breastbone. None in the glands at all. Consultant thinks it's most likely to be scarring. He said that in the past they would have administered a short course of Radiotherapy to the area, but now they do a PET scan first. He wasn't entirely sure what this involves as the technology's quite new so I'll look it up on the internet later I think. Maybe you select a pet of your choice and take that along to be barcoded. Maybe not.

Apparently scan's done at Royal Surrey hosp in next 2 weeks so made another clinic appt for 31st October to get the new results.

Very relieved but also a bit frustrated that he couldn't sign me off so to speak. However, none left in the glands and the large patch under breastbone had shrunk to 3.5 x 2.5cm at halfway point and is now 2.5 x 1cm. Also, he seemed pretty sure that it's just scarring and they have to give worst-case scenario so fingers crossed for all-clear on 31st!!