The Lesion (A Pain in the Butt)

Monday 30 September

I received a phone call from the German Oncology Center first thing. They booked me an appointment with Dr Papadopolous at his outpatient clinic in Paphos for Wednesday. Only two more sleeps to get through then. I use that phrase but a decent night’s sleep is almost impossible with all this worry.

Wednesday 02 October

The GOC outpatients in Paphos is on the first floor of the Globe Business Center. And as usual, the parking all around is shite – like we haven’t got enough stress going on in our lives already! We eventually found a parking space then sat in the waiting room while the Dr was with another patient. When he came out after finishing with the previous patient he said good morning and asked us to give him five minutes.

I went in when he called me in and when I asked him if Allan should come in he said, ‘definitely.’ That confirmed things for me. He explained that the results of the biopsy were positive and I did indeed have a tumour, and that it was malignant. Allan put his head in his hands and I just looked at the doctor as he went on to explain further.

If it hasn’t spread the treatment protocol is for chemoradiotherapy. This involves five to six weeks of radiation with chemo at the start and the end of the radiotherapy. He went on to explain that I’d have a port fitted to deliver the chemotherapy and that both the chemo and radiotherapy would be completely different to the treatment during my breast cancer. The radiotherapy would be much tougher and I could expect pain, I might not be able to sit on my bottom, and I may experience incontinence. If this treatment didn’t shrink the tumour an operation would be required and I’d need to wear a stoma bag.

After a few seconds of reflection, I asked what the treatment would be if the cancer had spread. The doctor said that we’d cross that bridge when we came to it and he was going to book me MRI, CT and PET scans to find out the extent of the damage/spread. I asked a few more questions and he rounded up our session by saying that we would get through this and to remain positive. I had just been unlucky and, hopefully, it hadn’t spread. He told me I would receive a call for the scans and he asked his secretary to book me an appointment the following Wednesday.

We were both numb on the journey home, lost in our own thoughts. I wondered how I’d get through another week of waiting for information – this time to know whether the cancer had spread to other areas.

My phone rang and it was a blessed distraction. My MRI was booked for the following day. They certainly don’t mess about in Cyprus! Over the course of the following days, I received calls booking me a PET scan for Thursday 10 October and CT scan for 14 October.

Thursday 03 October

Aren’t MRI scans awful! It’s like being in a bad Seventies sci-fi movie or something. When the radiographer put the headphones on me, I asked if they had Spotify. He smiled politely but then asked if I’d like to listen to music. I declined his offer of classical music and asked for Taylor Swift. He nodded and I disappeared into the tube shortly after. By the time I’d counted down from one hundred to twenty-three, Taylor Swift started singing to me. That made it much easier to cope with and my choice the next time is going to be Pink or The Beautiful South.

Friday 04 October

I’ve been struggling with the worry this time, more so than when I went through the wait to find out if my breast cancer had spread. I’ve been trying my best to escape from the awful thoughts I’m having and I am driving myself nuts! Nothing’s working and I’m not getting much sleep. For once in my life I’ve had to admit I can’t cope. I tried to make an appointment with my GP but the first available appointment is on Monday. The way I feel at the moment I will have thrown myself off a cliff by then. I called the GP and her secretary said she’d call me back. Dr Kat returned my call within a few hours and after our telephone consultation, she prescribed me Lorans which she said should help me to sleep and also with my anxiety. She advised that I take half a tablet the first night, twenty minutes before going to bed. I did so and had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages. I’m still very worried but the tablets take the edge off.

Monday 07 October

I received a GESY email which told me the results of my MRI were now on my GESY system. I logged in and downloaded the report. From what I could read amongst the medical jargon, the tumour hadn’t spread to any of my vital organs. YAY!!!!!

Wednesday 09 October

Dr P confirmed the results of the MRI and said he didn’t expect any surprises from the other two scans. He’s going to call me on Monday to confirm the results of the other scans (booked for tomorrow and Monday morning). In the meantime, he told me to expect a call from the radiology department for my initial consultation and from the surgeon to arrange a date for the portacath (a device used to draw blood and give treatments, including intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, or drugs such as chemotherapy and antibiotics) to be inserted. My treatment was expected to start around 23 October and I would need to see my cardiologist before then to ensure I’m well enough to go ahead with the treatment.

Wednesday 09 October

I went public with my news and posted an emotional post about it on Facebook. I’m overwhelmed with the outpouring of kindness, love and support by my friends and family and this will go a long way in helping Allan and I get through the tough times ahead. We had a bit of bother last year with a so-called friend and it knocked me for six. I should have stopped thinking about the horrible things that woman said and focus on the people I care for and those that care for Allan and me. I have now done so and am much more content, despite this awful illness. I guess it’s like focussing on one of the few one-star reviews instead of the hundreds of five-stars. Anyway, I’m back to my strong and less vulnerable self now and if anyone feels the need to tell lies or make nasty comments, just to make themselves feel better, it’s not going to affect me.

Thursday 10 October

The PET scan happened without any issues except for the fact I was exceedingly grumpy. I couldn’t eat anything before my 1230 appointment. I was eventually called in at 1251 and by the time it was finished and I got out of there, it was after 3pm before I gobbled down a Big Mac Meal. It could have been anything as it hardly touched the sides. Ice cream and jelly followed when we got home and toast with cheese shortly after. I was now starting to feel more like myself again.

I booked an appointment to see the cardiologist on Friday 18 October and prepared for another wait before speaking to Dr P next Monday. The good thing about my treatment starting later in October is that I’ll still be able to see Bryan Adams in Limassol next Wednesday. We’re going with our friends Mags and Stuart. Mandy entered a competition and was lucky enough to win tickets so Mandy and Kev are going too.

Monday 14 October

My CT Scan was booked for 0900 hrs and I had to start drinking what they call the contrast at 0700 hrs. It’s mixed with one and a half litres of water and I was advised to collect it on Thursday 10 October. When I asked for it following my PET scan the receptionist said I had to return the following morning to collect it. We had a little chat about this, she made a quick call then went through to a back room and brought me the contrast. I thanked her and went on my merry way. So I was able to drink the water mixed with the contrast in time for my appointment and all went well. I arrived early and was out in record time.

Tuesday 15 October

I wasn’t particularly looking forward to my initial radiology consultation with Dr S and I wasn’t due to my radiology experience when I was being treated following breast cancer. This time my initial consultation was a totally different experience. Dr S treated me with care and compassion and answered my questions sensitively but honestly. When she asked how I felt and I said scared as I had such horrible side-effects following the radiotherapy to my right breast. Dr S sympathised with me but said that this was the only way to get rid of the tumour and I had to be strong. She went through some paperwork with me and explained the side-effects I could expect (pelvic pain, pain in my bottom, changes to my bowel movements, soreness etc etc). Most of the listed side-effects started with the word chronic and I wanted to cry. Not as much as I wanted to cry when she examined my bum – I expected to be singing Soprano for at least a week! Before we finished Dr S booked me an appointment for my radiotherapy CT scan on 17 October.

 Wednesday 16 October

I received a call from the Geman Oncology Center informing me that I’d be admitted on 29 October to start my chemoradiation. After I finished work I went to see Valentina, my wonderful stylist who runs Venus Hair Salon in Episkopi. If you’re ever in this area, I highly recommend Valentina who is also a lovely person with a charismatic personality and cracking sense of humour. She works wonders with my short grey hair and I felt great when I left. Stuart picked us up that evening and we made our way into Limassol to see Bryan Adams. Prior to this concert I can’t say that I was a big Bryan Adams fan and, had I been in the UK, we probably would not have bought tickets for his concert. But I am so glad I did. It was the most entertaining two hours or so I’ve had in ages. Tom Jones was great back in July and Bryan Adams was at least as good. We were all buzzing when we left, despite the lateness of the hour when we managed to get out of the traffic jam. I’m so glad that my treatment hadn’t already started and that I had the opportunity to see Bryan Adams. I’m now a proper fan.

Thursday 17 October

I rocked up for my radiology CT scan and there were a few dramas at this one. Panos, the radiologist popped into the waiting room to chat with me. During my radiotherapy sessions my bladder needed to be full and my bowel empty. We discussed my toilet habits and, amongst other things, I told him that I drink lots of water and had done so this morning and due to my various issues it felt to me that my bowel was almost permanently empty! He gave me a 500ml bottle of water to drink and asked me to drink it within a minute if I could. No problemo. I then waited ten minutes until I felt like I needed to pee then Panos called me through. I lay on the bed and was told the needle for the catheter had to go into my hand as my arms would be bent during the scan. The nurse tried my right hand first, despite me saying that I’d had fifteen lymph nodes moved from that arm and had been told that needles should go into my left arm. She couldn’t find a suitable vein so tried my left hand. After various painful attempts we were no further forward. They had to put some contrast in me during part of the scan so the catheter had to go in, somehow. The nurse left the room and a different radiologist came in to tell me there was a problem (no shit) and if I could please be patient they would try to resolve it. The nurse returned with another nurse in tow and the new one explained that they had to get the needle into me. On top of the frustration with my veins, I was now good and ready to go to the loo. I explained to the nurse that sometimes during previous chemotherapy sessions I had run warm water over my wrist and this had made access to my veins a lot easier. She nodded and smiled, warned me that this was going to hurt and was successful on the third attempt.

The procedure commenced and the machine was lined up and I was given the three little tattoo dots that they would use to line up the machine during my future sessions. When we finished Panos asked me to sit outside for five minutes before going to the bloods room to get the catheter removed. While I waited he gave me some useful tips about what to wear during radiotherapy and when to drink the water to ensure I was ready for the treatment. He also gave me a slip of paper showing the time and date of my first session which said 24 October. I can’t recall the time but I mentioned that I was being admitted into hospital on 29 October to start my chemo and that my radiotherapy was meant to start on the same day. He nodded but said that my radiotherapy would start a week later on 24 October. I didn’t say anything else but made a mental note to call Dr P as soon as I could. The nurse in the bloods room apologised for the pain that removing the catheter was causing me. I said, ‘no problem, it’s not as painful as it was going in.’ I think I need to grow up at times and grow a set! It took a little while to stem the flow of blood which meant I had to cross my legs and try not to think about running water. I eventually made it to the loo and there’s no feeling like that sort of relief!

I called Dr P and explained the conflict of dates and he said someone would get back to me shortly. Panos phoned about two hours later and asked me to forget about the appointment scheduled for 24 October; my first appointment was rescheduled for 1210 on 29 October – funny old thing eh?

Friday 17 October

My appointment with the cardiologist went well. I was in there for about ten minutes where he took my blood pressure (110/55, very good), gave me a physical once over, an ECG and an ultrasound. I had good results from all of these and was pretty chuffed that at least my heart appeared to be in good nick. The last time I was on chemo Dr E wanted to check me every three months. There was no requirement to do so this time due to the different type of chemotherapy so he said he’d see me in a year, unless Dr P wanted him to see me sooner.

Tuesday 22 October

We had a fun weekend – making the most of things prior to the start of my treatment and on Tuesday I had an appointment at 1100 hrs to get my porta Cath fitted. When the secretary called to book the appointment she told me the whole procedure should take about two hours. We arrived just after 1030 and I was taken straight to the ward and asked to change into a gown. All my vitals were checked and I completed a questionnaire. I was asked loads of questions that I’d already answered but I do prefer a thorough check so didn’t have any issues with this. Before I knew it, it was 1240 and I was still on the ward. I called Allan and suggested that he should go home as I knew by this time it was going to be a lot longer than two hours. A friend was having treatment at the German Oncology Center that day and her husband was waiting for her so both guys decided to stay and shoot the breeze while waiting for us.

I was taken to the operating theatre, asked the same questions again and introduced to the doctors and nurses who would be carrying out the procedure or assisting. Then they gave me the sedation and I was out of it. A few family members and friends have told me that they recall some details of procedures whilst under sedation. I don’t. For me it’s almost like having a general anaesthetic except that the recovery is quicker. Anyway I eventually woke up and asked what the time was and was told it was 2.49 pm. I closed my eyes again and the next thing I know one of the nurses is giving me a gentle shake and telling me it’s time to wake up. When they were convinced that I was fully compos mentis (or as near as possible) they wheeled me back to the ward. I was told that I could get dressed if I felt up to it, that someone would bring some food and then I could go home. I ate a delicious meal of chicken leg, jacket potato and veg (without the dreaded sweetcorn, thankfully) was given a set of instructions to care for the wound, and then met Allan. He told me his mate had left about twenty minutes earlier. We arrived home about 4:15 and poor Sandy hurried out for a pee as quickly as she could. I breathed a sigh of relief. This was the final appointment prior to my treatment starting on 29 October.