And To Glasgow I Go Go

 It's now ding, ding, round four, of my breast investigation.  Last week, I went  for a needle core biopsy, which took a full hour and consisted of a numb knocker and fairly lengthy needles going in to me from all angles, until they were happy that most of the suspicious cells were drawn out.   It was a bit manic to me, all the machines and laser precision , X, Y and Z-ings!   Granted, I was sitting upright in a most comfortable padded leather chair and plumped up pillows, for my x-rays and such like.  They also fitted me with a titanium clip that if I remember rightly, was placed in the best position for easier access to any future precancerous or calcification cells.

My follow up appointment to the above, was yesterday.   After a brief ultrasound scan the consultant broke the news to me that all the needle insertions didn't draw out every suspect cell, despite what the monitor showed.  I still have an area of concern that the needles either didn't reach - despite all the advanced equipment - or, highly unlikely but still possible ( if it's gonna happen then I'm your gal! ),  the cells grew back quicker than Usain Bolt covering a 100m final with jets up his arse.  

This time I've to have a excisional biospy and must travel to a Glasgow hospital for the procedure - which is a right pain.  I'm 5 minutes down the road from a brand-spanking-new hospital that has a life-sized hologram woman greeting you at the main door and robots (Japan is the only other country in the world to have them) interacting with regular punters in the corridors and wards -  and I have to travel 45 miles away to undergo a bigger biopsy to no doubt cater for the size of my walloping bosom!  Some new 'convenient'  hospital for the central belt that turned out to be!  The irony is that I'm having the procedure done by one of the consultants I've been under locally anyhow!  


Confession time:  I'm of a certain mindset or disposition if you will.   Life often sucks and mother nature has been a right bitch to me over the years.  For the possible likelihood that I'd freak if back-tracking them all, I don't keep a journal of all the 'bad luck' stuff ect, that's ever gone on.  I do tend to not raise hopes much these days.  I never look forward to many things now, but I do love to recall if something's been a joy, success, or relief!   That's me!  

Anyhow, I found the consultation yesterday quite straining.   It wasn't Dr.Seth but another consultant and new nurse in the room. There was awkward pauses and he kept frowning while referring to my notes. That may have been  because a conclusion, one way or the other, was expected yesterday. Perhaps it's just that they know it's an inconvenience for people to travel to an unfamiliar town.  

But I can't help feeling there's something still to be uncovered yet.  On out way out, the nurse showed my hubby and I to a side room and gave me a card with various names and mobile numbers of local MacMillan Cancer Support nurses -  she was one herself -  to call day or night with any query, sensible or silly!  I simply thanked her and carefully put my card in my purse with all my other little bits of plastic.

  As yet, my tests have all drawn inconclusive results -and as I say, nothing confirmed one way or the other.  Looking around at all the patients filling up the chairs of the oncology clinic, for a brief moment I felt like I was in a bubble.   It was seconds later when a nurse called in a little girl called Lara, who looked around six, that I snapped back , thinking if it all does matter, I'll be capable of coping.
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Titty Bang Bang

I don't often feel sorry for myself - well actually I do - but that's because I'm the only female in the house!  As much as I take it for granted these days, I feel this time it is worth a moan. 


It was while I was having ding ding, round three, of my breast mammogram and biopsy - the nippiest bugger yet- that the nurses were alarmed at the bruising and injury to my left hand.  The story develops as thus:

Around a week ago, there were some plumbers in fixing our downstairs water heater. The thermostat had packed in and a new one was to be replaced. Sadly, as the house is fairly old - built in the fifties - the plumbing was a bit of a nightmare.  To access the right bit, the carpet and floorboards in my son's room had to be pulled back and up! 

 After the job was done (that was taking hours!) we said we would put back the carpet ect ourselves. What we didn't notice until it was too late was that the workers had shifted my younger sons' pyramid of weights and had them balanced on the folded back carpet. At my hubby's tug - the top two 'lightest' weights toppled and landed slam on the back of my hand and wrist. And over the process of a week here's a few developing pics!  Amazingly - nothing is broken.  Who says exercise was good for you!!

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The Booby Trap and Other Crap

I've been a bit down since the phone call from the hospital saying that there is a suspicious area that the sonographer and consultant both wondered about at my last visit but didn't want to worry me with it at the time until they had consulted each other again. Ironically, the needle biopsy came back clear, all safe and well and the little lump is just a passing visitor. He should be gone completely in a few weeks. Now the radiographer wants a needle-core biopsy to remove cells from a lumpy area that I never even knew I had. It's concerning lymph nodes or the likes by my right breast armpit.  What a buggering pest.......!  Most of the time they are benign but just in case.  I thought I'd said tatty-bye-bye to all the poking and prodding, too. Hey-hoe...! It has, however, made me more determined to keep abreast of the charity night's developments  Yes, that cringe-worthy pun WAS on purpose.

Having no internet connection has been a pain as well.  My suppliers - Virgin - had an area fault around ten days ago. The whole of the neighbourhood's internet  was down  for 24hrs and guess whose connection was the only one not to be accepted again by their modem....?  I have to receive a refund but if there is no huge bunch of flowers or money-off tokens from my next balloon trip, I'll be furious!!!

The one and only thing that has lured me out into the social world this past fortnight has been my youngest son's debut band appearance at Scotland's most sought after venue Not every act gets to grace that stage - you must prove your worth first.  I don't know what it is about King Tuts in Glasgow, but it really does bring the best out in performers and the fans.  I loved the rapport between both. What makes it even more special is finding reviews and video's from some-one you don't know bigging them up on Blogger.  Thank you, Caitlin for this: 

http://caitlingenoeglasgowmusic.blogspot.com/