Last Thursday (1 March) I had the joy of a 07:15 physio appointment re mild lymphoedema (neck) which resulted in them saying it's virtually nothing so actually I can just pop in for occasional reviews. Result. Frankly I wasn't going to be wearing the bizarre head and neck harness at night. Tried it and it was an utter mare...I looked like Marley's Ghost! My wife called it a "head bra"..enough said.
After the physio appointment, I indulged in a coffee and a croissant before I met the medical oncologist. A typical (regional) experience where the ordering exchange goes something like this:
"Hi, a vanilla latte please...and, do you have any almond croissants?"
"Hello sir, yes sir. One caramel latte."
"No, vanilla please...and an almond croissant"
"Oh, sorry sir, I forgot" [#humangoldfish]
"Here's your drink sir".
"Umm, thanks..almond croissant please..?"
"Oh yes, sorry sir, I forgot." I was the only customer (wonder why...) Anyway, we got there in the end, and after a comparatively leisurely breakfast (but, oh, how I needed the drink to ensure I could actually swallow the pastry!) I saw the "previously less than confidence-inspiring" oncologist.
To my amazement he appeared to have actually read my notes this time. I had decided that I was going to sit and wait for him to actually ask me questions...whereas last time he basically had nothing to say for himself. This time was rather different and he was almost effusive with his compliments , "Oh you are looking very well etc. etc." The upshot is that he has referred me for an MRI (22 March) for my first follow-up scan. I had anticipated that it would be a PET CT, but he felt that there was little merit in exposing me to more radiation. Happy enough with that and certainly I think there is some logic to avoiding a potential false positive from a PET CT where there may still be areas of post-treatment damage (presumably they might indicate "uptake" which ultimately is only then discounted by further gastrocopy etc.)
The logic is also perhaps that they are simply going to concentrate on the Head and Neck area because that is where the primary and secondary were located (and teh area of surgery and radiotherapy). After having been blasted with Cisplatin presumably there is a view that there should not be any distant spread anyway (none having been picked up previously).
Trip to see the surgeon tomorrow. Might ask him to check a couple of areas in mouth...for some reason I've been starting to wonder about the odd lump and bump which I am sure is utterly normal and has been there for years and suddenly I start thinking, "Hmm, wonder what that is?"
Time for a cranberry and pistachio muffin now (I wonder if this is what they're actually supposed to taste like??)
J.
