Tuesday 6th September 2016
Through the Stargate Again
Another CT scan today. Nothing very different from previous experiences – a lot of waiting around beforehand, this time in a very full waiting room with patients and their relatives. After the scan, they told me to phone the oncologist for the result in about ten days’ time.
I did so, and spoke to Dr. Lo’s secretary, only to be told that it was Mr. Pullan (the surgeon) who had ordered the scan, and not Dr. Lo, so she put me through to his secretary, who was out, so I left a message on her answering machine.
There was no answer to my request for a result, but a little while later I received a letter from the hospital, which I assumed would be what I was waiting for, but it was an appointment to see Mr. Pullan on 13th October. I had not been expecting to see him, as I didn’t think it was necessary now everything was properly healed up and the stoma is fine, etc. – I thought I would just be seeing Dr. Lo, the oncologist, from now on, so this immediately put me into a flat spin, because I thought, “If everything was fine, they would have told me, but the fact that they have called me in must mean they found something.” I spent a day or two feeling very anxious about this – far more so than on previous occasions, which proved once again just how unpredictable one’s emotions can be over the whole cancer business.
I emailed a couple of people in my circle of cancer friends, and they instantly reassured me that there was nothing to worry about – they always did this, and anyway, if there was anything untoward, they would have called me in a lot sooner than mid-October. I was instantly reassured, and didn’t worry any more about it until the appointment was nearly upon me (more on this later).
Friday 16th September 2016
First Informal Meeting of the Cancer Group
Today was the first meeting that I arranged at the Lodge for those of us from the relaxation group and the course to meet up. I went armed with home made cakes, and we were given the room where the course, and the relaxation sessions, take place. Several people were unable to come so we were a small but select group.
We hardly talked about cancer at all, and spent most of the time roaring with laughter about things that had happened, and general silliness! I thought we were going to get chucked out for making so much noise! We all had a great time.
We will be meeting every 3rd Friday in the afternoon, as long as the room is free – I have to phone up at the beginning of that week to check, and then email around to let everyone know.
