30. Healing nicely *note, contains a pic of my incisions*

Today was another result day. Results of my lympnode biopsy and for the surgeon and breast care nurse to remove my dressing to see how I'm healing.

Yeovil Hospital feels like a second home now! I know not to turn up more than 10 mins early or you will get turned away (a lot of people moaning about that today even though its clearly stated on any letters sent out!). I know not to bother put a home made mask on as you need to put a new one on as soon as you get in and I know I will be waiting a while for my appointment.

My appointment time was 10:45 so I arrived about 10:40ish. I go to the little touch screen and sign in then take a seat in the outpatients waiting are. It was very busy today, lots of people coming and going. I sat playing with my phone and watching the clock.

10:50

10:57

11:05

11:13

11:23

So it's been over 30 mins of waiting now! Up on the video information screen up pops a message, "if you have waiting longer that 20mins for your appointment please let reception know". I walked over to their little plastic booth and politely asked if the breast care team are running behind.

I don't like being one of those moaning types, I'm more of a worrier that they have forgotten about me, so I always ask nicely!!

The lady kindly went and checked with the team and they hadn't forgotten about me, they are just very busy. The lady and the male volunteer both commented on my top, they liked it. I joked and said the blood splat is to remind me which boob is broken!! This is the top...

Then about 11:30 I got called to corridor 2, waiting room 1.

Least I'm getting closer to the room!

While waiting in this corridor there was a lady, probably around 25-30ish years old with I guess her Mum, down the far end of the corridor. She was on a call, on loud speaker, shouting at her kids teacher. I understand calls need to be made, but please be respectful. I don't need to know all your details about your son and his teachers. Neither does everyone else on the corridor.

They should bring back the old Mobile phones to be switched off in hospital!

Anyway, little moan over!

About 5 mins later a nurse came over and called me into the little room. In the room was Miss Naseem the surgeon, Nia the breast care nurse and another young girl in the corner with I guess was a student.

I sat down and straight to it. Miss Naseem said there are no signs of cancer in the lympnodes they removed and they are also happy they got the rest of the lump.

Cancer will generally spread via the lympnodes so this is why they take the first 1 or 2 coming out of my boob. With no signs of cancer there and no scarring where the chemo could have killed off the cancer it's it's good chance its confined to just the breast.

I then moved over to the bench so they could take of my dressings. By now I'm so used to getting my boobs out in front of people I dont even wait for them to ask!! No shyness here!

Nia pulled off the dressings and I had steri strips over the incisions, no stitches. They started off saying when you have a shower later soak the strips and then take them off. But then Miss Naseem wanted to see under them as she was very impressed on what she could see so far. I guess she wanted to see her final work!

*a photo of my boob is right at the bottom of this post. I've covered my nipple so it's not too obscene!*

With the strips off they were both very impressed. They said it looks like over 2 weeks worth of healing in only 10 days!

This must mean I have superpowers...I can heal like Wolverine or Deadpool! 😆

They were both also happy with the shape of my boob. Sometimes when the lump is removed and tissue and muscles are stitched back together the boob can look a bit beak like. But mine is still nice and round. To be honest I couldn't feel any difference between them!

With everyone happy, I got dressed and headed out of the hospital to wait for Dan to collect me.

The sun was finally shining, but to get the sun you have to stand the otherside of the road outside hospital. So I stood out there and waited. Another older guy came over on his crutches and sat on the wall.

I sparked up a conversation about the sun being out. We were chatting about that and then he said, "looks like you got a bad arm". Referring to the bandage covering my PICC Line.

I turned to him and said, "I'm actually having treatment for Breast Cancer, I'd just been in to get my dressings off".

He was shocked, he said I didn't seem like I was going through that at all. (The shaved head just looks cool I suppose!) He said I seem so bubbly and happy. Well you gotta be haven't you!

I do believe that staying positive has really helped me through this journey and is also helping me heal. As depression can affect your emotions and physical body in a negative way. Positivity, Happiness and laughter will do the opposite. Some days are harder than others and I'm still not sleeping very well, but other to that all is good!

Anyway, Dan turned up and the guy wished me well in my treatment. It's nice that even random people are very supportive. Just shows you can't judge a book by its cover, you never really know what people are going through.

So how do I feel at the moment? My underarm hurts, it's still swollen and has a slight build up of fluid. My nerves are also tender, so part of my arm is numb and the other part feels like it has sunburn. I have good mobility in my arm but I need to make sure I keep moving it and to relax my should as I'm holding it up all the time!

Sleeping is difficult as I still can only sleep on my left hand side or my back. The left hand side I have my picc line to contend with and if I'm on my back I have the worry of a 5kg cat coming and walking over my chest!

My gastric reflux has been playing up recently as well so I'm having to sleep slightly upright.

I hope now I've had my results I can relax a bit more...here's hoping!

With a few weeks now just recovering and no chemo I hope to be able to get out and about a bit. Dan and I spontaneously booked to go to Retro Rides Gathering at Goodwood this weekend. I had a voucher from Hotels.com from one that got cancelled back in 2020 that was originally paid for with Tesco Vouchers. So a £200 a night room with breakfast cost me £9!!

I'm just hoping the weather stays dry!

😁

Anyway, here is a picture of my incisions after the dressing is removed. Still slightly bruised and glue residue from the dressing.