So what were you doing on the day that the government voted on the #BrexitVote?
Sat in a waiting room at Stepping Hill Hospital to find out the results of a liver MRI, and the spinal biopsy:
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It’s #waitingroomfeet time again. Scan results! Deep breath - accompanied by @suzannestolberg today! Wanted Down Under on TV, not Homes Under the Hammer
I was joking on Facebook about how long I was in the waiting room for (normal), and as I’ve now been silent for nearly 3 hours, I’m guessing that people have guessed that the news is not 100% good.
Good news: Nothing wrong with my liver, we can forget worrying about that
Bad news: the lump on my spine is a small mets (a really tiny one that has already reacted to chemo), so I am now categorically #Stage4, metastatic/secondary breast cancer. *Added* Primary cancer treatment is designed to be ‘curative’, secondary cancer is where the original cells have spread elsewhere in the body, and is not deemed curable, but can - they think in my case - be treated for many years as a chronic, rather than a terminal condition.
Good news: It’s really tiny, and they have lots of treatments in mind for it, including a trial, and these will be explained in detail with my appointment with the oncologist next Monday - they said they are really optimistic about the prognosis of keeping me going for a long time, keep getting on with work - they’ll just be a whole lot more tests, scans and treatments - and they emphasised the need to keep the long-term focus going that has been carrying me through so far - we’re going for that Professorship, keeping on with the gym, taking time out, and I need to keep asking for help…
Bad news: I’ll never be free of cancer - lovely BCN said you need time to grieve, time to chill, so I’m trying to let people know in one go.
Good news: I’m feeling relatively optimistic if a bit like I’ve been punched in the gut, and unsurprisingly full of random weepiness!
So, I’ll appreciate all your love, hugs, though you may not get much of a reply, not so much your stories of people you know who have died of similar, suggestions of kale and ‘magic remedies’… oh, and if anyone decides they want to paint my hallway, I have the tools! #waterygrin
Life Explorer, HE/learning, Senior Lecturer in Digital Marketing (Manchester Metropolitan University), Christian, cultural history, WW2 posters: Keep Calm & Carry On, digital world, coach, ENFP, @digitalfprint, @ww2poster #digitalparenting
Bex - I am here - you know where. This must be such a shock to cope with. There is no ‘but’ or ‘just’ coming from me. Sending a huge hug to you. At this point I think you need as many as you can get. xx
Thinking of you Bex, if you need to chat, get angry, I’m here. My shoulder has pretty good soakage too. You’re a fighter, with you all the way xx
Oncologist is trying to get me on this trial - https://www.icr.ac.uk/our-research/centres-and-collaborations/centres-at-the-icr/clinical-trials-and-statistics-unit/clinical-trials/core
Bex - just saw this. Thinking of you, if you ever need company for waiting spaces/treatment times, I’m around and about to be at the bottom of your list if others can’t make it! Prayers are with you. xDeirdre
hi Bex, I tried to reply but got bumped for some reason. I’m so sorry about this. Thinking of you. If you need company for treatments I can be added to your list of drivers/chatters/weepers…. With you.
God’s good at dealing with anger too - I sometime pray angry prayers. He’s big enough to cope with all our emotions as I’m sure you know. xx
Reading this has reduced me to tears too - you are being incredibly brave. I’m sure you will continue to be.
Hi Bex - I’m really sorry to hear this. Sending love and prayers as you grieve. and then …. the Professorship.
Peace love and prayers. Sorry am not near enough to help paint your hall.
Thank you. Got a couple of friends who hoping to help! 🙂
See https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/secondary-breast-cancer_uk_5c50a804e4b07818afbea4da?