A few loose ends

Not much to report this week but I have had my CT scan results and spoken with an oncologist at The Royal Marsden.

I’ll start with the CT scan results. For the most part they were considered “unremarkable” which, while a bit insulting, is actually a good thing. However, a few things were highlighted: (i) a small internal split in one of my reconstructive breast implants (apparently nothing to worry about) (ii) some scarring and a slight collapse in my right lung (possibly due to previous chest infections) and (iii) my small bowel has prolapsed.

Putting the ‘pro’ in prolapse

As a slim woman that has never had children there are two words that have never really garnered too much of my attention: pelvic floor. Yes, that’s right, I’m going there. I’m going to talk about my ‘undercarriage’ …

Now that my troublesome uterus and ovaries have been evicted, my small bowel has cheekily extended into the space vacated. This is an inevitable effect of gravity but, while everything else appears secure and stable, I do want to prevent it getting any worse.

As with pretty much everything, diet and exercise appear to be the prescribed routes to success here - so I’m now a low alcohol, low caffeine, pescatarian and clenching for England. Should the IOC ever choose to recognise demonstrations of pelvic floor strength, I want to be in medal contention.

A tough pill to swallow

So my main outstanding issue is the breast cancer medication. I spoke to the ‘Marsden on the phone just now and any final recommendation/decision is dependent on the results of the DEXA bone scan that I’m not having until next week. I already have osteopenia in my spine and hips so my choice of drug will rather depend on how much or little that has worsened in the last three years.

However, I’ve been promised that my next appointment in two weeks’ time can be face-to-face so it will be nice to have a proper discussion and feel that I have a clear roadmap in advance of my return to work. The current plan is for me to go back on 10 May on a phased return: gradually building up my hours over the course of a few weeks.

In the meantime, I’m enjoying the sunshine and trying to get to grips with ‘real life’ again: getting out to see people and dipping a toe in on some work projects, just so I feel prepared. My summer social calendar is filling up too. It’s lovely to have things to look forward to again, so let’s hope that continues.