MRI results last Thursday. Much to absorb and think about.
Scan Results:
1. Good News Part One - the tumour has halved in size in 3 months as a result of the radio and chemo. The consultant oncologist is delighted with this [and so am I!!] It's gone from being a very very large growth to a reasonable size; still enough to cause some concern but nowhere near as critical as before.
2. Good News Part Two - the cancer has not spread anywhere else.
Next Steps
As the tumour has shrunk significantly, the medical team can see more what they're dealing with - and they think they can go for a full cure! [although of course this isn't without its risks].
The next step is that a biopsy is going to be taken of the remaining growth.
a. If this shows the cancer is dead i.e. what remains is just scar tissue/dead cells, I'll remain in the cycle of MRI/results for a few months yet to make sure it really is gone.
b. If a "viable tumour" [translation: active malignant cancer cells] remains, they are talking about a Radical Hysterectomy to cut it all out. There are some potentially very serious things that may happen during this including cutting away part of my bladder and/or bowel - it all depends on what they find and where they find it.
Whilst I was at the Christie the surgeon saw me and talked me through it all. I also had the pre-op assessment. I’m going in for the biopsy under general anaesthetic on Monday 6 Sept; won’t be home ‘til Tuesday 7 Sept at the earliest. [It’s a short timescale because they had a cancellation, nothing more sinister than that].
For now I’m focusing on what is definitely happening i.e. the biopsy. There’s no point fretting about the rest of it until we know what’s what, which will be on 16 September when the biopsy result comes in.
I spoke to a colleague at work who made 2 absolutely brilliant points. He said:
1. This was always going to be the next step, it's just that you didn't know it before 'cos the time wasn't right and the path wasn't clear. But now they can focus on getting rid of the cancer altogether, and
2. Remember how far you've come already.
What a wise man - and he's 14 years younger than I am!!
I also talked it over with Andrew [my fiance]. I told him he needed to think very seriously about life with me if - worst case - part of my bowel and bladder had to be cut away and I had to have stoma bags. His reply? That there was nothing for him to think about - it that's what it took to keep me alive and on this planet then so be it.
How do I feel? [apart from filling up after writing down what Andrew said........]
1. Very relieved that the radio and chemo has worked its magic and the Dritsekk is dying.
2. Very apprehensive about the possibility of a Big Operation - the surgeon said it would be a radical hysterectomy at best - and the possibility of life with bags. BUT I keep telling myself that's only a possibility, it hasn't happened and it may not happen. And anyway, lots of folks have bags and live normal lives.
Whatever it takes.
The Dritsekk HAS to go.
Jacqui x
