Hello dear reader. So, what was the last thing I wrote about? Hmm, let me go to the site and check it out. Ah yes, I was calmly mentioning the finish of chemo. So, 3 weeks later, and normally I would be telling you all about Thursday’s consultation and possibly some chemo details. But I can’t do that today. Oh, I can still tell you about Thursday’s consultation, so why don’t we start there.
Our day started at 7:00 when we left the house on our way to the CCI. The purpose of this consultation was to find out the results of the heart test Dianne had last week, and to determine if the last chemo had any effect on the tumours. And blood work. For some reason, Dianne had to have blood work done again. Ironically, her blood levels did not come back, so even if there was chemo, it would probably be delayed.
So, Dianne got her blood work done, then we sat around for a bit, reading….waiting for Area B to open, and the Dr. to call us in. Dear reader, I have to interject the day here, and explain a situation.
In the middle of August, we found out that Dianne’s surgery was scheduled for September 14. We were a little bit disappointed that there was such a huge gap between the last chemo and surgery. So, we decided to do something about it. We phoned the surgeons secretary. (as I write this, dear reader, I am reflecting on a sermon we heard from Rev. Aasman on the 9th commandment.) To make a long story short, (and to intentionally stay away from breaking the 9th), we informed the secretary that the 14th (date, not commandment) was unacceptable (imagine a commandment being unacceptable), and that we’d like it moved. We informed her that the 14th is close to 6 weeks after chemo, and surgery was supposed to be around 4 weeks after.
We were a bit concerned because our thought was that if we gave the cancer a chance to grow, it would. No chemo = cancer party time = all bad. Now, back to Thursday…………
So, after we’re done sitting there, the nurse calls us in and we have a chat. We talk about how Dianne is feeling and all that important stuff. We also expressed our concerns about the surgery date. Then, the Doctor’s intern came and did an examination. And, skipping past all that fun stuff…we finally talked to the Dr. himself. His determination was that although the tumor’s did not disappear as hoped, they still shrunk significantly from the beginning to now. But not much change since the last chemo. We then talked to him about our concerns about the surgery date. He reassured us that, even though the date was not ideal, the cancer was still being controlled by the Herceptin (which is still being injected every 3 weeks).
Dear reader, when we heard that we felt better. I mean, if the Dr. doesn’t seem too concerned, then we shouldn’t either, right? So, with that, we make our way home, with a quick stop for an extra large double double (that’s a coffee, for all my American and European readers), and a quick stop to pick up a birthday present for David’s friend Adria.
Finally, at 11:00, we get home. Andy must have been wondering what was taking us so long (he was looking after the kids). And when we get home, there is a message for Dianne to phone the pre-admission clinic at the Sturgeon Hospital. We are kind of surprised, to say the least. So, Dianne calls them and finds out that she has an appointment with them coming up….as soon as we can get there!!!! Wowsers!!!! This appointment isn’t supposed to happen until 6 days before surgery. Could it be?
Before we leave for the Sturgeon, I arrange to take the rest of the day off (potentially). And off we go. So, we get there…we find the right desk, and we sit. Dianne goes over some paper work, only to find out that the surgeons office (remember the 9th commandment, Rod) had sent the hospital the wrong consent form. Dianne has signed a consent form for both a single mastectomy and a double mastectomy. The one hospital had was for the single, but Dianne had told the surgeon’s secretary that she had decided on a double. *sigh*
Finally that is all sorted, and we are informed that Dianne’s surgery has been moved to September 2nd!! 6 days away!! Woohoo, this is really exciting!!! We don’t know who pushed what buttons to get this changed, but we have suspicions. But, regardless of who it was, we are very thankful for the change!!
And that, dear reader, is it. As the title suggests, we are moving right along. Thanks Andy for staying with the kids all day, and thanks Heather for driving Dianne to her appointment today!!
And very abruptly (and at the call of nature), I bid you farewell. I will update on Wednesday….post surgery.
Cheers.
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