Hi Gang, Well the day before we went to Salou for a fortnight, I had my six month check after my spinal decompression op. They took an X-ray and the surgeon admired his metal handiwork which is now holding my spine together. He was very pleased and told me there would be no need to make a further appointment but I could phone his secretary if I started having problems. So off we went on holiday!
When we got back, there was a letter from him asking me to contact his secretary to make an appointment as he now had the written report for the X-ray. I phoned and was told I'd need a CT scan which they had already booked for me as well as a further aptm for his clinic to discuss the results. The latter was last Monday 28th! On the X-ray & scan there was a shadow just at the bottom of my right shoulder blade. The consultant examined my back and felt a lump. He explained that he was going to take a biopsy to be sent away but after the scan, he said it was too deep to do it with a local anaesthetic so suggested surgery to remove it with a GA then they will send it for biopsy.
Next he said he had arranged to do the pre-op assessment there and then, which came as a bit of a shock as you can imagine! However, that's it done and now it's just a case of waiting for a date to get it removed! I phoned his secretary once we got home, to tell here we had booked to go to Manchester from 5-10 Dec inclusive to see the Christmas Markets etc but I also said I didn't expect to get word as quick as that but was just letting her know anyway! We all know urgent can mean 6-12 weeks with the NHS, so I won't hold my breath!
So there you have it! I've had a few other lumps etc removed in the six years since stage4 dx but this is the first they can't do at the clinic with a local anaesthetic! Up until Monday we hadn't said anything about it to our son and daughter and to see "that look" again on their faces was heartbreaking! I'm trying to be upbeat about it, smiling and saying it could be nothing of course! Any prayers, I would be grateful for, they certainly can't hurt! This will be my eleventh surgery but you never get used to it! Take Care everyone!
Silly me! Both in my wakefulness and my mistakenness. Appointment confirmation is what I should have said. Your surgeon sounds nice 
xx
Oh Annette
You have such a busy calendar of events centred around your lovely grandchildren. I bet they think you're the best granny in the world, their happy faces demonstrate that 
The proposed date of your operation in less than 2 weeks is super, I wouldn't read too much into that, it's another example of how great your surgeon is. He, (and you) believes that the best way to remove the lump is by general anaesthetic so you really need to recover from that to allow your timetable of events to kick off, and I believe that you have the motivation to allow that to happen.
Good luck Annette, I hope you stay well in the next few days, no doubt I'll be speaking to you before the op.
Tvman xx
So pleased you have a date, then you can get it out of the way before all your our Xmas activities get started! I will be rooting for you on the 27th.
and never be a typical patient......I think we owe it to our consultants to keep them entertained and on their toes, they have tough jobs 
xxxx
