16. Echo

Dr Man called me at 9.17pm one night this past week. Late hours! He was calling to check up how I was going, any more questions from last Friday and to say that my blood test had come back ok so I was all set to get the PORT put in. I hadn't (and still haven't) heard from the people who will do that so he was going to chase up the referral. He said if I haven't heard by Jan 3rd to give him a call and he will chase again. With Christmas and New Years so many places shut down or go onto skeleton staff it's no wonder that things slow down a bit. He also said he spoken to Steph (Dr Inder) and that after my chemo, but before my radiotherapy, I will have another operation on my right boob. The margins weren't clear on one section when Hector was removed. I did know this, it is in the area near the skin and scar area. I didn't know when it would happen, just that it was going to be after the chemo. Something else to look forward to... Chemo should take me up to about mid May so probably end of May or June this will happen.

Heart ECHO. This was done at Miranda, but in what used to be a house down the road from the private hospital and now is a heart medical place. While sitting in the waiting room I realise that I am at least 30 years younger than any of the people coming and going from appointments. Maybe it was just the day and time I was there? Maybe not? Someone is asked to pay $340 and I realise that I am again grateful for Medicare as my whole scan will be bulk billed. I go into the room and the lady says to take off my top half and put the gown on, open at the front. I ask "Is this one of those one size fits some gowns?" and she laughs and says "yes, I don't know why we don't get different sizes, they either don't fit or they envelop someone like they are being swallowed". I just place the gown over my front and don't use the armholes. A sheet would work just as well. It's a real fabric one which is great, no paper sticking to me this time. An ECHO is an ultrasound of the heart, making sure that it is working ok. The Mayo Clinic website says "An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. This common test allows your doctor to see your heart beating and pumping blood." More of that gel is slathered on but just in the centre of my chest, for now. I'm asked to lie on my left side. Thank goodness this scan is this week and not last week. I couldn't imagine doing this with the drain in. She must've read my mind as she says "some people have a drain in their left side and it is very awkward for them". No shit! Awkward is not the right word.

Lying on my left side, gravity pulls the boobs downwards. Getting at the middle of my chest means the right boob has to be hoisted up so her hand and the wand paddle can get to the area. "I'm just going to raise your right breast a bit to get my hand in" she says, then adds "That's quite a scar you have there!" Yep, for a 19mm lump an 11cm scar is quite impressive. I have my left arm up under the pillow, under my head. I glance down, her hand and wand are completely swallowed up by bosom. "Don't get lost" I caution her and she giggles a bit with a slight snort. There are squelchy noises happening from the machine, beeps every so often. She takes some sort of measurements. Back and forth, up and down goes the wand. Not unpleasant, just weird. Then she had to go up under my left boob. More gel is applied (need to get shares!!!!) and she burrows under to get more readings. My boob moves up and down as her hand moves, like a mound of pizza dough being kneaded from the underside. "You have a very strong heart" she says, bringing me out of my musing thoughts. That's good to know. "Do you do a lot of exercise?" I guess I was pretty active. I am missing my exercise classes but know that it will take a while and a lot of hard work to get back to what I had been doing. I'll go back to Lewis next year with a new program he will do up for me. We had a conversation about it a few days ago, me up on our back deck and him in his backyard. As I said, he's conveniently located next door. Next up I lie on my back, the wall is very close and my right arm rests against it. I flinch and she says "Nerve pain?" I nod. "Like fire or ice or icy fire?" She does know, it feels like ice at that point. This time, a small amount of gel and she pushes just below where my sternum ends. That is a rather painful spot to press for an extended amount of time. All done. "Use the gown to wipe off the gel and you can get dressed".

Done, bulk billed, another appointment ticked off the list. I just remember that my right arm is meant to be measured by an OT to keep track of possible lymphoedema but that hasn't happened yet. I write a note in my phone to ask Dr Man at my next appointment on Jan 6th. That's not that far away, a couple of weeks only. It's almost 2023. Time sure does fly.

This week I also had a call from Pip, she works with the McGath Foundation. As Kim, my oncology nurse, is away on holidays she put in a referral for them to call me to check up how things are going and if I have any questions or concerns. I feel really taken cared of and feel like I matter with my team of doctors and nurses. We have a chat, she takes some notes to send to Kim so she is up to date when she is back from holidays. We discuss how awesome it is to be drain free, but slightly frustrating to have a hole that hasn't closed up yet. There is some slough skin there, tissues that is non viable, and Justin is using some iodine cream (which is brown) to dry it up. That seems to be working as the last visit he didn't use any and said it was almost gone and nice new pink skin is coming in. Hole is still open but not weeping and looks healthy. Over the next week Justin left some dressing packs and supplies and Mither will become Nurse Mither to change the dressings. As there are limited staff over the holiday period they either ask people to come into the clinic if they can drive, or have the person, or a family member or friend, to change the dressings. If I still had the drain in then I would have to go into the clinic each day. I'll head back into the clinic on Jan 3rd for a check up. Possibly my last visit. Depends if the hole is closed up or not. It is itchy!

I continue to do my exercises and playing the piano. It still hurts but it's more of a 'pulling muscle' hurt than a 'you have been cut open and the scar will break' hurt like it was. After exercises and playing the piano I can feel the blood and/or lymph fluid moving from my wrist up my arm and across to my shoulder blade area. Like little ants walking under my skin. Weird feeling but not unpleasant. It reminds me that my arm is healing and things are getting better. I still have some numb parts in my armpit and top part of my arm. I haven't shaved under my right arm and it is recommended to leave it for a couple of months, especially if it is numb, to avoid accidental nicks or cuts. Or, you can use an electric shaver - which I don't have.

I've been researching some broad rimmed hats and UV protective clothing for when I start chemo. https://www.solbari.com.au/ is a good website I have found. Just a regular cotton shirt only protects the equivalent of 5 SPF sunscreen. Their clothing protects 50+. I don't want to have to wear long sleeves but maybe a shawl type thing would work. Hmmmmm. Chemo makes the skin extra sensitive to UV and the Aussie sun already is super charged compared to a lot of other places in the world. Don't want to get melanoma on top of breast cancer. I'd rather cover up than wear sunscreen all the time as well.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, and everyone have a joyful time this week. My thoughts go out to my USA and Canadian friends at the moment who are experiencing a bomb cyclone of arctic air creating all sorts of havoc. I hope you all stay safe and warm. I'll be having a pool party Christmas celebration tomorrow afternoon. Thank goodness for waterproof dressings!!! Must remind nieces and nephews about my right side at the start to avoid anymore accidental painful attacks.