I often feel guilty browsing the Mac site and wondering if I trully belong here, but have no where else to vent my thoughts and frustations at a condition cancer that isn't a cancer - if that makes any sense - given that the tumor's are agressive and invasive; can recur; but the big plus is that do not spread; and certainly where mine was located, is not life threatening. So before I proceed I apologise in advance if you feel I shouldn't be blogging here, simply press your 'Back' button and browse to the next blog post.
My recovery is going well, but I am so inpatient and can't wait to be up and about and getting on with life - quite literally I want to run before I can walk! After I'd overcome the vertigo and became stonger on my feet I was getting up and about a bit more (just around the house) but this caused increased swelling and pain; but I talked sense into myself stopped getting dressed in the morning and have had two duvet days with some great DVDs. I'm feeling the benefits already as there's only a small amount of swelling now and I've been able to cut back on the pain killers too. So I've presecribed two more days of the same, which may seem extremely indulgent, but I have the most wonderful and supportive husband who's happy to keep everything ticking over and children amused - as long as I don't boss (not easy for me).
My appointment on Tuesday went very well and the scar (although long) looks very tidy and is healing well. He feels that the tumor has been removed completely and he should have the final results back from histology next week, and will write to me confirming this as he doesn't think the original diagnosis to change. In relation to the future, recurrence of these tumors are common but given that they are rare it's difficult to say when they will or will not recur so it's 50/50.
Therefore he's suggesting that there won't be routine screening but if at any time I feel a lump then we can investigate it at that point. I think I am happy with this action plan but have decided that as he is an orthopaedic surgeon, not oncology, I'll discuss with my GP and see whether he agrees. I don't think I want to pursue another action, i.e. referral to oncoloy unless it recurs (which it still may not!). I think not least because the prognosis and treatment is not going to change at this stage, although in the US I know with recurrent tumors radio, chemo and/or hormone therapy has been used to manage them.
Other than that I've decided as soon as I can (probably another 4 weeks) I'll book some physiotherapy to build up the muscles this beast of a tumor destoyed followed by getting back into my normal exercise routines. I'm really missing the simple plesaures of walks along the shore in the sunshine, running club and zumba.
So thank you for sticking with me, tonight I'm simply putting my thoughts into writing - I may be able to get off to sleep now! I truly appreciate all the support I've had from my Mac pals here, I only hope you don't mind my interloping when many of your conditions are truly life limiting / threatening yet you have proved so generous with your time and kind words of advice and encouragement.
Thank you. Sian x
