Wimbledon, Anniversaries & Irksome People

Tuesday 5th July

I had an appointment for a mammogram today so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and get my hair cut as well.

Whilst I admit it is not that long, the bits that didn't fall out are much longer than the new growth, obviously. So I went to see Karen again, who not only trims wigs but also sorts out post chemo hair. We did discuss holidays this time but only because I'm off soon and she had noted my previous comment regarding being a proper hairdresser. During the course of the hair cut I discovered I have more in common with Marina Navratilova than I first thought. Not only has she also had breast cancer, but she has also had her hair cut by Karen. During the Wimbledon fortnight, Karen and some other hairdresser "do" the competitors' hair. Other people lead such interesting lives.

I then went to have my mammogram. It is very nearly a year since this whole escapade started and to be honest the feeling of de ja vu was quite unsettling. The only difference now is having only one breast, it takes have the time and half the discomfort. I went home having been told that the results would be sent to my consultant.

Wednesday 6th July

Back again at the hospital. Soon they will start charging me rent. I am so glad that I live relatively close to Northwick Park Hospital as this makes my frequent trips there much less time consuming.

The nature of my cancer means that I have to have an MRI as well as a mammogram. I get there in plenty time fill in the numerous forms confirming  my lack of metal bits and pieces both internally and externally and then wait. As I rest my head against the waiting area wall I notice that it is vibrating, clearly the giant magnet down the corridor has an effect on the whole building.

Eventually I get called in and told to remove all my clothes and put on the very fetching navy blue hospital gown, with the opening at the front. I have to have an injection of contrasting dye. As you will be aware I can only use my right arm and it is rapidly running out of useful veins. The nurse makes his first attempt near my elbow. Fails. He then questions me at length about why he cannot use my left arm and who told me that it couldn't be used. Whilst his manner was not aggressive it was somewhat patronising. I point out why it cannot be used, lack of lymph nodes, and who told me never to use my left arm for anything including blood pressure cuffs, the surgeon who removed the lymph nodes. I cannot believe that I am the first person he has come across who has this issue. I wasn't entirely certain that he believed me but I kept my left arm well away from him. His second attempt is the vein just below my right index finger, where there is very little padding and the skin is, apparently, quite tough. Success, albeit rather painful.

I go into the MRI room the nurse tells me to lie face down and place my breasts in the two hollows, I point out rather tersely that I have only one! The scanning begins. It is very noisy and again I have that unsettling feeling of de ja vu. The last time I was here was to have the biopsy which confirmed the spread of my cancer. It's hard not to dwell on what has happened over the last year especially when all I can do is lie face down with my eyes shut.

The scan or rather scans take about 30 minutes, I am then told to get dressed and go home and the results will be sent to my consultant.

I am hopeful that this now yearly event will get easier as my veins recover.