to clarify
Jul. 3rd, 2017 09:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mmegaeraIn a shameless bid for more good thoughts (please understand this me trying to be humorous, and take it in the spirit in which it is intended).
I knew this last week, but today I had my surgical consult. Turns out I have cancer. It's uterine, of an unusual variety. I won't know the exact outcome until August 24th when I go in for the after-surgery checkup and report, which is why I can't get more specific. I am having a hysterectomy on August 8th. The best case scenario is your plain garden variety laparoscopic hysterectomy in which the surgeon snags every last bit of cancerous tissue and wishes me a good life. But there are other possibilities, including a radical cut-you-open hysterectomy, on up to what I gather is a fairly small chance (again, surgeon hedging her bets from what it sounded like) of chemo and/or radiation.
Anyway, I "get" to have a CT scan and an MRI and bloodwork and an EKG before the surgery.
And I would greatly appreciate any and all positivity possible sent my way.
I can't say I'm not scared, because at this point I'm kind of terrified. But I'm getting good care, and I really liked the surgeon. A very kind lady.
Oh, and on top of everything else, I ended up with an infection from the biopsy (this would *not* be the first time I've had an infection in this area -- I am seriously prone to them in my lady parts no matter how they try to prevent them -- my lady parts laugh at the very concept of sterile instruments), so now I'm on 10 days of antibiotics to kill it and the fever, loss of appetite, and serious malaise this started causing over the weekend.
Anyway...
I knew this last week, but today I had my surgical consult. Turns out I have cancer. It's uterine, of an unusual variety. I won't know the exact outcome until August 24th when I go in for the after-surgery checkup and report, which is why I can't get more specific. I am having a hysterectomy on August 8th. The best case scenario is your plain garden variety laparoscopic hysterectomy in which the surgeon snags every last bit of cancerous tissue and wishes me a good life. But there are other possibilities, including a radical cut-you-open hysterectomy, on up to what I gather is a fairly small chance (again, surgeon hedging her bets from what it sounded like) of chemo and/or radiation.
Anyway, I "get" to have a CT scan and an MRI and bloodwork and an EKG before the surgery.
And I would greatly appreciate any and all positivity possible sent my way.
I can't say I'm not scared, because at this point I'm kind of terrified. But I'm getting good care, and I really liked the surgeon. A very kind lady.
Oh, and on top of everything else, I ended up with an infection from the biopsy (this would *not* be the first time I've had an infection in this area -- I am seriously prone to them in my lady parts no matter how they try to prevent them -- my lady parts laugh at the very concept of sterile instruments), so now I'm on 10 days of antibiotics to kill it and the fever, loss of appetite, and serious malaise this started causing over the weekend.
Anyway...
no subject
Date: 2017-07-04 03:54 pm (UTC)With menopause in my rearview mirror six years ago, at least I won't have that issue to deal with.
At this point I'm more concerned with the logistical fall out (I live alone, and while I do have friends, the whole concept of dealing with the practical stuff is overwhelming), and the fact that I know without a doubt that I do not have the emotional wherewithal to deal with this, nor can I just create it out of nothing, is the hardest part.
I had *just* gotten past my mother's death last January to the point where I could even consider writing again. AAMOF, I'd reread the WIP that went AWOL for the first time since December the *day* before I got my diagnosis. Cutting myself slack on that when it's normally what keeps me sane is hard, too. I need that as a prop, especially now.
Anyway. Thanks for the advice from someone who's been there done that. It helps.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-04 05:17 pm (UTC)And yeah, getting any diagnosis that contains the word "cancer" at all is fucking terrifying, even if it turns out to be low-key like what hit me.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-05 11:12 pm (UTC)