Abfab's blog

And the verdict is?????

2011-06-27T17:59:10Z

Hi folks

As promised here is the update from the surgical team.

I have been told today that they are going to operate....OMG!!!!!!! I am booked for surgery on 15th July, a few days after I come home from Spain.

So cant believe all this.......but happy days! Still in shock........

Abfab

Is this really happening??? :-)

2011-06-22T08:13:26Z

I am in complete shock!! Last Thursday I received a phone call from the Mater Hospital saying they had received a referral letter from my Oncologist and that they wanted to see me on Monday!!

I went, thinking they were going to tell me why any further treatment wasnt possible, as this is what I had been previously told after all my problems last year.

The surgeon wants to do a 40% liver resection, removing ALL my cancer!! It is the same surgeon I saw last year before my health went tits up and he believes that because I proved everyone wrong that I deserve this chance! He has to meet with the MTD on Friday and will see me again next Monday to discuss surgery date! OMG!!! He also said that if for some reason at the MTD that surgery was ruled out that they would also discuss RFA or chemo embolisation of the tumour but he would rather do surgery as that is always the best option.

This goes to show folks that we should NEVER give up, fight on when you believe you can. To think that I was sent home from hospital in December with a palliative care team when they didnt think I would make it..........look at me now, back at work full time and being given a second chance!!!

I will obviously keep you all updated....happy days!!!!

A glimmer of hope!

2010-07-14T13:26:46Z

Well, I had the phone call today regarding my fate. It was from the other Oncologist Joanne as Sarah is on holiday.

Joanne has said they cant see anything else on the CT scan but because OvCa is a bit sneaky they want to do a laparoscopy to check everything........and if its clear, they will do the liver op!!!!!

I know this is only a glimmer of hope but it is what I need right now and they wouldnt bother with it if they thought there wasnt hope!

I now have a few choices to make:-

NHS op will be in about 4 weeks but I COULD organise a private one which would be in a week or so. I am due to go to my friends in Spain on the 22nd for 10 days, if I have the op next week, I cant go to Spain, if I wait for NHS, am I leaving it too late? The onc said she didnt think it would make that much difference but I had to be the one make the decision. If I didnt have the option of private it would be 4 weeks anyway.

My thoughts are that I SHOULD go to Spain......have a break, get some sun and relaxation to prepare myself for everything mentally and then have the op privately as soon as I get back. It would only be a delay of 2.5 weeks.......what do you think girls?

I am SO happy that I have finally at least been given some HOPE!!

WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-07-10T08:26:34Z

How can this happen? This wasnt supposed to happen, I wasnt told it COULD happen?

The January check up was fine, bloods all normal CA125 10 and C9-19 10 also. My GP had asked me to mention that my ESR (Rheumy blood) had risen again, this was dismissed by my Oncologist.

I was due my next check up in May........May came and no word from the hospital, so I rang, to be told I was on a "Waiting list" for a review appointment. I kept ringing for a week and eventually got an appointment for the 15th June, 1 month late. Meanwhile I was absolutely fine but my ESR was still rising and my GP was concerned. She wrote to my Oncologist and demanded further investigation.

At my appointment, I had the usual poking and prodding etc and the Oncologist said that she really didnt think there was anything to worry about, she hadnt heard, seen or felt anything of concern but because my ESR was so high that she would organise a CT scan.......to shut my GP up!

Lovely NHS meant there would a 4-6 week wait for a scan.......I organised a private one but it took a further week for my Oncologist to refer me!!

I had my scan on 28th June, and the radiologist told me my CA125 had risen........I got a bit hysterical!!!!! It took a further 8 days to see my Oncologist again to get the results.....that was Tuesday 6th July.

I was on my own and was told I have a 3cm lesion in my liver, I was just numb, couldnt even ask sensible questions. I did ask if I was now terminal and she just put her head down. She couldnt look me in eye. She mentioned that she was going to look at possible liver resection (Slim chance of) but that she has to go to the Multi Disciplinary team next week first. I was there about 15 minutes, I couldnt talk, she wasnt volunteering any info, I just had to get out of there.....so I left......in very bad shape!

Right now this is all I know......I dont know if it is on the liver or in the liver. There seems to be some confusion about why its at the liver at all.....and they think it HAS to be somewhere else too.

I feel SO let down by my Oncologist and the NHS in general.....I know this couldnt have been stopped but it should have been caught a lot earlier. I know if I dont have the operation that I will only have palliative chemo. Im angry, confused and just dont know where to turn.

I am SO scared and completely out of control of this.........I know I could only have months left to live........why cant they just DO something!!!!!

Oncology Check Up Appointments

2010-05-10T18:27:12Z

Those who know me will know I was very shocked to learn I wouldn't be having scans as a normal part of my check up procedure. I don't need them as the blood tests are sufficient I was told! The blood tests results would take 3 weeks as they results were sent to my GP!!! That was back on 18th Jan 10.

I was told I would be having 4 monthly appointments for the foreseeable future, so when I haven't yet received an appointment for May, I rang today to see what was happening. Are ya ready?????

I am on a waiting list for an appointment......a waiting list??????? There isn't an available appointment in May, try ringing again in a few weeks. If you have any problems in the meantime, contact your GP and get a referral. Yeh, the GP who failed to spot the OVCA in the first place!!!!!

This is impossible......what are we cancer patients supposed to do...wait until a recurrence???

I am SO mad at this.......bloody NHS!