The moving boob

Experiment...

I can't get my permanent prosthesis, which will be the exact duplicate of my other breast, until next month. In fact the prosthesis will be better than the original.

My temporary, a cotton thingie, is quite comfortable.

I experimented with removing the underwire of my bra on the right side and leaving the left side and right matching...

EXCEPT...

...I didn't quite put it in correctly so I ended up with one breast on my chest and another hovering between my hip and belly button.

Also have discovered a scarf helps hide any inconsistencies.

Good thing I've a lot of scarves.

S, S, M, P, C

Scheiβ,  Shit, Merde, Poo, Caca...

...And any other languages fecal matter can be called to show my disgust. At some level, I knew from the moment In Argelès when I heard the word "lump" or the French equivalent that chemo was in my future.

And it was the thing that I dreaded the most.

Yesterday we went to La Maternité. Dr. M was a bit late, but I expected what she told me. Had it been good news she would have telephoned me.

She took 17 nodes, the first 10 had cancer cells. She was surprised that I didn't have cancer in the gall bladder, and surprised it was in the nodes.

They think they got it all-- but to prevent a recurrence I will have 6 chemos starting in Sept. every third week. Then I get a month off and have 20 radios four times a week followed by an endocrine tablet regime.

Well this will be interesting. If there are no cells in my body we are going to make it a very inhospitable place for them should they or their friends decide to move in. The No Vacancy sign will be out.

Pascale, my favorite nurse, said she will be doing a stage in chemo so she will be there to hold my hand. I hope she is. What a ray of sunlight she is.

Onto finding wigs.

My green towel

Entrance to my physio's

I've had two appointments of the first nine with my physio. This is part of the regular protocol and I'm not limited to nine should I need more. The goal is to make sure those little lymph nodes that were taken have a substitute route and that nothing in the system gets backed up.

My roommate which has been thru it all at least has briefed me enough that there are no surprises.

My normal physio is on holiday and this woman has slightly different techniques. Elisabeth used to use a different towel. 

My new physio taped my name to a sea green towel and put it in the closet with other client's different colored towels.

She also used a laser. I was glad the cats, Babette and Cléa weren't there to try and catch the red light.

Still it felt wonderful. I've four more appointments before I go back to Argelès, and there's another physio that I will see on the 20th.

In the past Rick was always willing to carry stuff for me. I hated to think of him as my pack mule but right now I turn stuff over to him without a whimper.

He just smiles at my giving up so easily. I won't tell him it will not last forever. He is too precious to take advantage of.


 

I'm even

I was given a temporary prosthesis to make sure I didn't look lopsided until I'm ready for the permanent one which will be an exact duplicate of my surviving boob.

Now I was never impressive in the breast department and didn't even wear a bra for years until in my 50s for some reason my chest decided to expand from a 32AAAA to a 34A.

Thus even the smallest prosthesis in stock was bigger and by sticking it in the bra, I was lopsided but with the fake taking top position.

However, by removing much of the filling, I was able to leave the hospital looking even.

Home again home again

As the Little Piggies nursery rhyme goes "home again, home again, jiggerty jig."

The words, we'll detach the drain early this morning was exciting.

I was drained. I suspect it feels the same as a dog or cat who lost a tail feels.

Rick came while Julia waited in the car.

The jiggerty jig part was the problem. Not only is it the Fête de Genève which blocks the quai toward home, it was the one day in the year where bikes, skates anything but cars are allowed on many roads so each route was blockade by a young policeman or official saying we couldn't use this or that road.

We did make it home, but as Rick said it seemed to be via Italy.

Tomorrow I start physio and I've two follow up appointments, one of which I hope I hear the words, "no chemo" but I'm less afraid of the idea now.

Fireworks

My roommate and I scuttled down the hall in our hospital gowns, fortunately buttoned at the back. The nurses did not see us. They were occupied with paperwork.

We wanted to find an empty room that looked out toward the lake to watch the fireworks for the Swiss national day.

All were occupied.

Back in our room we still had a view of smaller displays from three villages.

We sat in our chairs and made the appropriate ooos and aaahhhs.

damned drainage

One more day, they say.

I want them to say, "Your drainage is fine, get dressed and get out of here."

Unlike in the US one does not need to leave by a wheelchair. I'm debating skipping.

However, being there the extra day had an advantage. The woman who makes my future prosthesis stopped by with a catalog. The lingerie is fantastic. The model has had a mastectomy also but from the photos is impossible to tell.

There are several places to buy lingerie and a prosthesis here in Geneva, but this young woman is more than a sales person. She is passionate about helping us adjust and regain confidence. Just because losing a breast doesn't bother me, doesn't mean others aren't terribly upset and listening her talk to my roommate was heart warming.

And speaking of my roommate, we are having a really good time.

There is only one almost grouchy nurse and it is our goal to make her smile. She did when my roommate and I were prowling the corridor and joked we were working on a marathon but the triathlon would have to wait.

As much as I want to be home this day will pass with many small pleasures.