Where It All Started

Tuesday

Today I had to go to St Vincents for a bone density scan.

I was a little early, so I decided to drop off some thank you flowers to Breastscreen with a note thanking them for their part in saving my life.

The receptionist didn't remember me but was thrilled that I came back to visit and give them my good news. They said they see the beginning devastation of a diagnosis but don't know the outcome very often.

Sue the nurse who cried with us at diagnosis, was not on that morning, but she called me when she was. She was thrilled to hear from me and explained why I had impacted her so much. Mainly that she was new to the unit, I am exactly the age and birthdate of her sister, she also used my situation, type of cancer etc for her assignment at uni. She had followed my progress through Christina whenever she was in, so she knew most of where I was at.

She wished me well and asked how the children had coped and John throughout the process. Also that it had been a long process, although judging by others journey it seems a lot shorter for me. Because of the order of things everything was booked in one thing after another, I hear of some women 2 years down the track thinking about reconstruction options. I couldn't think of anything worse than dragging this shitty subject out longer than you need to - it's been 10 months from initial diagnosis to cancer clearance with the pathology results anyway, and it will be 12 months with final surgery and then maybe 6 months after for nipple tattoo.

Anyway the Breastscreen girls complimented me about how healthy I look and love the pixie haircut. I'm still getting used to it though I must say.