Microwave ablation is a bit like childbirth - you somehow lose the memories of the worst bits and talk yourself into it again. I have no doubt it’s a lot less invasive than a liver resection, but I don’t think the information leaflet does it justice with its “you can expect to be back to normal activities within a week”.
This time, there had been two tumours to burn out. One of these is known to me as Liz. You have to know when Liz was first diagnosed (September 22) and know the original breast cancer tumour was Boris, to understand the logic. Liz originally sat quite high in my liver on the right hand side, so ablation number 1 (Dec 22) caused a bit of collateral damage on my peritoneum. When Liz recurred, the new growth sat on top of the ablation site, even closer to my peritoneum. The second tumour (Suella, diagnosed in March 23) was deeper in the right hand side of my liver. I suspect if the job had been only on Suella, I would indeed have been back to normal activities in a week. Apart from the small entry wound on my abdomen, I wouldn’t know that one had been done.
Liz was a different matter entirely. I got collateral burning to my peritoneum, plus of course I have the needle left behind in the new ablation site. I am told the needle is unlikely to give me any bother (other than ruling out future liver MRIs, and I can’t say I am sad about that). I needed to spend the first couple of nights on my recliner as I couldn’t lie down or sit up unaided, and the recliner could do the work. I spend the best part of a week dripping around in night clothes. No appetite to speak of, dosed up with codeine, not even feeling well enough to have visitors. Constipation built up, thanks to the codeine. My husband got me some Movicol and Senna, and I was eventually able to unblock myself, blocking the en-suite loo in the process. 6 days without going is quite a lot, even if your appetite is reduced. Somewhat embarrassing but easily resolved.
By the second week I was able to take short walks in the park across the road, and gradually started to improve. First coffee! first square of chocolate! And by about day 12, first glass of wine!
An additional complication has been my lungs. Readers of this blog may remember I developed pneumonitis as one of the myriad of checkpoint inhibitor induced pieces of immune self harm I acquired from my treatment with Pembrolizumab. Whilst my symptoms had improved, they hadn’t completely resolved. I also tend to get temporary breathing issues after a general anaesthetic and this of course combined to create a serious breathlessness scenario. I have some exercises to deal with this, that I got from my physio last time around, but it wasn’t possible to start them given the very sore abdomen. Coughing not an option.
Now about halfway through week 3, I am able to walk a little further and I have been able to start the breathing exercises. I am completely off all painkillers although still uncomfortable. Got the feeling I will remember all of this if it comes to ablation number 3. Especially as Liz continues to be the more likely recurrence vehicle. Hoping a change of government might mean they are gone for good - or at least for a remission period at least equal to a parliament.
