Yesterday I had a 12.45 PM appointment with the radiologist, Dr E. for some 'local' bone cancer treatment on the lesions on specific bones in my pelvic area - better known to me as my hips. These have been increasingly troublesome lately, pain-wise. Instructed to take no food or drink after 5 AM (other than sips of water with necessary blood pressure or pain medications), I set my alarm for 4.30am, so that I could drink part of a bottle of high protein shake to "keep me going". Then it was back to sleep for a while longer.
The procedure was a little more complex than I had imagined, but Dr E. explained very clearly what it was all about. He also assured me that the PET scan I had last week showed no signs of my breast cancer having spread elsewhere - just to these two bones in my pelvic area. That was a relief, my imagination had run riot during past days!
These procedures necessitated some anesthesia because fairly thick "needles" are inserted to...well...I don't want to think about that! Once clad in hospital gown, lying on a trolley with iv inserted, I was wheeled into the designated operating area. The procedure room had a CAT scan machine all fired up. After the usual, rather awkward and painful shuffle from trolley to hard plank linked to the scanning machine, the anesthetist chatted with me for a while. He asked if I needed some pain medication - to which I nodded - that pesky plank was decidedly harder than the trolley's soft upholstery and my tail bone was hurting already. Soon after that I must've just drifted off without warning.
The next thing I knew was trying to open my eyes to see the clock on the wall opposite, in the room where husband was waiting. I couldn't see the time, mainly because my glasses were in my handbag! It was "3 something" - don't clearly remember, nor does anyjazz. Dr E. came in to talk to us before we left, assured us that all had gone exactly as planned. He said that after a day or two I should begin to feel the benefit: some residual pain from the big needle injections at first then, I'm hoping, less pain than before. I am to take it very, very easy, on my left leg especially, for a day or two - no exertions. The doctor emphasised that the main work, the "heavy lifting", of zapping the malignant cells will happen during the radiation course I'm about to begin; that will be later today, I think, and will be in charge of Dr. K. I'm to report to the Cancer Center at 2 p.m. Also there's the issue of those expensive pills - probably I'll begin the first 21 days of those today too.
We got home from the Imaging Center at around 5 PM, after a quick stop at McDonald's for an iced caramel coffee for me, parched as I was, having had nothing to eat or drink since 5 AM; then a wait at the pharmacy while the pharmacists checked, and double checked, with both involved doctors, that some slightly stronger pain pills prescribed by Dr E. (bless him!) were in order.
So, the beat goes on.....
The procedure was a little more complex than I had imagined, but Dr E. explained very clearly what it was all about. He also assured me that the PET scan I had last week showed no signs of my breast cancer having spread elsewhere - just to these two bones in my pelvic area. That was a relief, my imagination had run riot during past days!
These procedures necessitated some anesthesia because fairly thick "needles" are inserted to...well...I don't want to think about that! Once clad in hospital gown, lying on a trolley with iv inserted, I was wheeled into the designated operating area. The procedure room had a CAT scan machine all fired up. After the usual, rather awkward and painful shuffle from trolley to hard plank linked to the scanning machine, the anesthetist chatted with me for a while. He asked if I needed some pain medication - to which I nodded - that pesky plank was decidedly harder than the trolley's soft upholstery and my tail bone was hurting already. Soon after that I must've just drifted off without warning.
The next thing I knew was trying to open my eyes to see the clock on the wall opposite, in the room where husband was waiting. I couldn't see the time, mainly because my glasses were in my handbag! It was "3 something" - don't clearly remember, nor does anyjazz. Dr E. came in to talk to us before we left, assured us that all had gone exactly as planned. He said that after a day or two I should begin to feel the benefit: some residual pain from the big needle injections at first then, I'm hoping, less pain than before. I am to take it very, very easy, on my left leg especially, for a day or two - no exertions. The doctor emphasised that the main work, the "heavy lifting", of zapping the malignant cells will happen during the radiation course I'm about to begin; that will be later today, I think, and will be in charge of Dr. K. I'm to report to the Cancer Center at 2 p.m. Also there's the issue of those expensive pills - probably I'll begin the first 21 days of those today too.
We got home from the Imaging Center at around 5 PM, after a quick stop at McDonald's for an iced caramel coffee for me, parched as I was, having had nothing to eat or drink since 5 AM; then a wait at the pharmacy while the pharmacists checked, and double checked, with both involved doctors, that some slightly stronger pain pills prescribed by Dr E. (bless him!) were in order.
So, the beat goes on.....
Thank you so much for sharing your update Ann. You must be completely zapped from all of this, not to mention the mental and emotional strain of everything. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you, it can't be easy and The Lad (as we call cancer in Ireland) sounds hard (on you) to access and target.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad we have the blogging world to keep each other in the loops of these challenges as we advance further into the sunset.
It's all consoling and informative and reflective and sympathetic and understanding and.....
Very best to you on this next stage.
XO
WWW
Wisewebwoman - Thank you, as ever, for reading, WWW. :) I AM a tad bit zapped today - legs and joints in hips very painful when walking, especially when getting up from seated position. Gotta get to a 2PM appointment though, to see whether they are going to start the 5 days per week, for whatever number of weeks, of radiation therapy I need. Pain pills help - but one has to be careful on timing, so that the effect doesn't run out just when needed most. I suppose I'll get into a routine, once some kind a plan begins to form - it's all a bit random right now. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm writing journal posts like this for my own memory aid, as well as for any interested readers, now or in the future; and in the hope the information might be of some help to someone sometime who is treading a similar path.
It's very generous of you to contribute your journey to the online world. I am sure it will benefit others.
ReplyDeleteIt can't be easy for you. I know when I am schlepping around to my specialists and medical appointments I am so worn out. Add to that my daily pill management (don't ask) and I find my own self care is enormous. Our aging process takes its own chunk of reserves.
I am often empty by 6.00 pm, not one more whit to give about anything.
I can't imagine the extra load of your challenges placed on top of this.
Big hug.
XO
WWW
So glad to hear that you only have those two areas to contend and no wayward metastasis parties happening elsewhere to mop up. That is extremely encouraging news! Bees knees to you, girl. Your immediate future sounds intimidating, with the rad treatments and Ibrance, but the absolute real challenge will be for you to eat and maintain nourishment. OK is a medical marijuana state now and you can buy edibles that will offer relief for pain, nausea, and to increase appetite.
ReplyDeleteWisewebwoman ~ Pills? I know! Dang I've got lists, and then lists about lists, so as to make sure I don't forget them, or get them same time each day, so's don't get them in the wrong order, or get them mixed up because they look the same as some other pill! Then I have lists of BMs due to lymphocytic colitis, and that is, oddly, assisted right now by the pain pills which tend to constipate. LOL! What you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts kind of thing. I'm always glad to sit in front of the telly come 7pm, to zonk out, mentally.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous ~ Thank you, yes it was a relief to be told that!
ReplyDeleteI'm taking life a day at a time now, not looking forward or expecting more and more discomfort. If it happens, it happens and I shall deal with it, but I won't worry ahead of time because it mightn't happen, or at least not in any severe fashion. I keep thinking of, and husband keeps reminding me of, the A.A. Milne quote:
Piglet: "But what if the tree falls down on us when we walk under it".
Pooh Bear: "What if it doesn't?!"
I agree that maintaining nourishment will be an issue - I understand that drinking lots and lots of fluids, especially water is key to helping with this to stave off any nausea. I'm getting into the drink (water) habit. 2 to 3 quarts of fluids per day. Am imbibing at least 2 high protein shakes per day too to help fill any gaps.