A recent text asked the following - "When do you think life will become boring and predictable?"
Hmmm not this week anyway.
It started like this - the weekend was pretty uncomfortable with increasing back pain and breathlessness limiting my movements. I was hanging out for a visit from my support nurse first thing Monday morning, and sure enough she set things into motion and organised for me to be admitted into Portland hospital where I was promptly diagnosed with pleural effusion on my right lung which appeared filled with fluid. This was dealt with by a minor procedure to drain out the fluid, and to my shock they drained out 3.8 litres! No wonder I was breathless - even talking was tiring! The draining took a few hours, and I immediately began feeling less breathless, though it took my poor right lung a day or two to recover and get used to having some space around it again. The back pain has also eased. When I got home yesterday I discovered I had lost 2.5 kg in weight in one foul swoop!
Throughout all this, there have been numerous phone calls to and from St Vincent's hospital where they took this quite seriously as they had just booked me in for hip surgery next week - on 8 December, but anyway yesterday I had confirmation from St V's that all would proceed next week!
So I was released from Portland hospital feeling good - fluid drained, back pain eased and a date set for surgery to enable me to walk again. Brian and I immediately began making plans for this, because the period after surgery will be a long recuperative process as I basically haven't walked for 2 years. Pressure pressure to complete the Christmas shopping!
Now remember that bit about wondering when life will be boring and predictable?
Today I had my routine appointment with my oncologist - and... the plans have changed. Basically the build-up of fluid on my lungs is indicative of the cancer becoming more active, although there is no way yet of knowing if this is happening slowly or if it will move with a bit more vengeance. Therefore to my disappointment, the surgery has now been cancelled for the time being!!!! The oncologist didn't rule it out as a possibility perhaps in Jan/Feb, as by then we will know more about the progression of this dratted disease.
So yes, I am disappointed.
Yes, I'm disappointed that there is less likelihood of walking.
No, I'm not sorry to miss the grueling rehab that was always going to follow the surgery.
Yes, I am glad I have more time to anticipate Christmas - its importance and also the wonderful traditions, music and services to prepare for.
But just now I'm going to sit at the front window and enjoy the colourful vista of bright red roses and yellow proteas - the product of a creative God and a wet winter.
Over the past week we have managed to fit in a few days away.
It was months ago when we explored the possibility of a short break away, courtesy of Cancer Council Victoria (and the wonderful owners of accommodation destinations in Victoria).
Our only prerequisite of course was for this to be wheelchair accessible, and we ended up at WorldMark Wyndham Resort in Ballarat.
The original building (in Sebastopol) dates back to the gold rush era, and was built in 1878 by a wealthy landowner who lived there with his family of 11 children for 33 years when it was sold in 1911 to the RC church and became St Joseph's Boy's Home for 70 years. Different buildings were added over the years, until they were completely renovated some 14 years ago to become the amazing holiday destination it is today.
The buildings are set in 55 acres, and that includes a small lake, lots of paths, activities and BBQ area - and that's not counting all the inside activities of a pool, gym, library and the like. Unfortunately the cool Ballarat weather was not conducive for much in the way of outdoor activities, but we managed a drive further north where Brian kept a sharp lookout for any native orchids.
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Whilst in Ballarat it wasn't too far to drive to Melbourne for one more day of appointments at St Vincents' hospital - one more physician and an anaesthaetist. As before, they were very cagey about offering details of when my hip surgery might take place, other than saying 'very soon'. I would not be a scrap surprised if the phone call comes for me to present to hospital "early tomorrow" so I guess the bags will need to be packed and ready.
Meanwhile we're now back home again, catching up and attending to the washing etc.
Healthwise, we have been ok, though I have been a bit frustrated by back pain and Brian continues to be up and down. However we are very thankful for the positives in our lives, and for the opportunity to take a few days away thanks to Cancer Council Victoria.
Yes - things are a step closer!
We're thankful to have spent a night in Melbourne last night - and had the chance to catch up with Simon and Caitlin - and wow I can highly recommend a meal at 'Up in Smoke' if you want some tender Am'r'c'n-style BBQ meats.
Then there was the 3 hours (including much waiting around) spent at St Vincent's hospital to be poked, prodded, tapped, bled, and swabbed, all the while answering a myriad of questions by 2 physicians and a nurse. At this stage all is looking good for surgery in the near future, though the date of 1 December has yet to be confirmed.
Brian meanwhile spent the time reading the paper and having a doze in the car, before we finally were able to watch the high-rise buildings disappear from the rear-vision mirror and make our way home.
And now to repeat it on Tuesday of next week - where we need to return to St Vincent's to see one more preoperative physician along with the anaesthetist. It seems that in a big hospital like St V's, they have certain preoperative clinics operating only on specific days - for the convenience of the hospital and certainly not the patient. Then again, perhaps I'm just the lucky one that has to see every single one of these specialists.
Meanwhile on our way home we received the very sad news of the cancer-related death of another dear friend, Brian Hill. I have special memories of Brian - as he started 'going out' with my house-mate and fellow teacher Anne, just after I started going out with 'my' Brian - and it seems some locals were a bit confused as to which teacher was going out with which Brian! Brian was an inspiration to others in the way he dealt with his illness, and the great confidence he shared of his future heavenly home. He will be sadly missed.
It's the end of another long day, having not long returned home from our latest appointment at St Vincent's.
The surgeon (Claudia Di Bella) had a slightly different story for us today, following her discussion with the team of orthopaedic specialists last week. She has now 'offered' me a procedure that would give my hip more stability than the cement alone, but that of course comes with the flip side of it being a longer procedure (3-4 hours instead of 1 hour) with a few extra risk factors thrown in. She called it a 'Harrington's Procedure', and this would involve a standard hip replacement augmented by steel rods, along with cement ('poly-'something'). It is a procedure specifically designed for hip/pelvic damage from tumour, and would give me more stability than the original procedure proposed. Now, however, we have to be in Melbourne next week (17 Nov) for a 2-3 hour appointment at St V's, and this will confirm (or decline) that I am a suitable candidate for all this to take place. If all goes ahead, I then need to return to Melbourne for an anaesthetist's appointment the following week before heading off to Melbourne yet again the week after for surgery.
Goodness me, what a lot of fritzing around! It's hard for the 'system' to understand that we are making a 10-hour round trip each time we meet them in their convenient office. The only thing keeping me going along this path is the potential outcome - firstly 4-7 days in hospital, then perhaps 6 weeks of recuperation and rehab - and then confidence in being able to walk again! (My sister Jeanie says "oh well, more pain, more gain!")
But there's still those hoops to go through first, initially for the next appointment to ensure that I am suited for this procedure. If I'm not, then the surgeon could still probably do the less-invasive procedure of injecting the cement, though this would give me less chance of longer-term success.
Your prayers would be appreciated as always.
