“Es it haf you eated or eaten?” The woman about to draw my blood wanted an English lesion along with the blood. She gave the best needle I’ve ever had… “Regardez-vous les montains. Take a breath, let it out.” I never felt the needle go in. When I told her how good she was, she pumped her arms and said “Oui.” Her brother-in-law is from “Breeten.” We both loved each others accents.
Back to the waiting room, where an elderly Greek woman, raised in Alexandria and now living in Geneva and I chatted.S he’d worked at the hospital for 36 years and was there to check her markers for ovarian cancer. We both agreed how lucky we were to be treated there.
Then Dr. Klug appeared. He was the one who had shocked me with and without my left hand in ice water for a pain test. He had a follow up survey and needed to do a brief exam which involved running first a tiny paint brush and the point of a safety pin over my cancer scar. Sounds kinda perverted doesn’t it. He was surprised I remembered his Van Gogh (and I made sure I said it Gawk no Go) poster and mouse pad.
I asked him how the study was going and he said the data was way off all the literature. The patients were experiencing very little pain and now they needed to know why.
Finally I got to see De El H, for the last time because she’s returning to Morocco. All was normal in all tests and the anti cancer pill has caused no side effects.
I’m doctor free inshallah until Nov. 7 for a control.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
I've started
It has been a week that I've been taking the anti-hormone medication prescribed for the next five years to discourage any cells that might think a hormone is yummy and want to become a renegade.
I wasn't happy about taking another medication. I don't trust any pharmaceutical company, but my doctor did know the studies and did know that other countries has approved it beside the corrupt FDA. My gynie also liked it and he goes natural whenever he can. As he said, try it and see.
I can happily report my arms have not fallen off yet, I'm not hiding under my bed with depression. So far so good.
I wasn't happy about taking another medication. I don't trust any pharmaceutical company, but my doctor did know the studies and did know that other countries has approved it beside the corrupt FDA. My gynie also liked it and he goes natural whenever he can. As he said, try it and see.
I can happily report my arms have not fallen off yet, I'm not hiding under my bed with depression. So far so good.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Celebration Day
My last nuking and not only did I get a ride, but in a Mercedes wit the top down.
I gave the chocolates to the team, along with a note in French thanking them for making a difficult time less difficult. It was true, there smiles, their short conversations, did make from nice memories. In a way I'll miss them, as one would miss people who come into your life for a short, intense time.
FH said to be sure and stop by when I have my controls.
When I stopped at the bank, I told my favourite teller, the one who has her nails done in exotic designs, that it was a Jour de Celebration and why. She immediately found a present, a black bag, with a silver pocketbook holder to attach to tables.
Then my driver, who was a friend of a friend really, but with a lovely sense of humour to a point we giggle coming and going, had a token gift for me.
It's over...27 nukings, six appointments with the radiologist. I get these precocious hours back to do other things.
The cancer?
Well just in case, I start with the golden globules, the pills I'm to take daily for five years? Why? The cost and once again I'm so grateful for the Swiss system.
Adding up my costs for all the surgeries,t h bills, the tests and the exams, they are so tiny in comparison what I would have been charged in the US.
Truly a celebration day.
DL
I gave the chocolates to the team, along with a note in French thanking them for making a difficult time less difficult. It was true, there smiles, their short conversations, did make from nice memories. In a way I'll miss them, as one would miss people who come into your life for a short, intense time.
FH said to be sure and stop by when I have my controls.
When I stopped at the bank, I told my favourite teller, the one who has her nails done in exotic designs, that it was a Jour de Celebration and why. She immediately found a present, a black bag, with a silver pocketbook holder to attach to tables.
Then my driver, who was a friend of a friend really, but with a lovely sense of humour to a point we giggle coming and going, had a token gift for me.
It's over...27 nukings, six appointments with the radiologist. I get these precocious hours back to do other things.
The cancer?
Well just in case, I start with the golden globules, the pills I'm to take daily for five years? Why? The cost and once again I'm so grateful for the Swiss system.
Adding up my costs for all the surgeries,t h bills, the tests and the exams, they are so tiny in comparison what I would have been charged in the US.
Truly a celebration day.
DL
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Good news
I met with the doctor about the Thermographie IN ENGLISH!
Among other things he gave me a copy of them. All but my right breast is shown in colours resembling the earth shot from space. My right breast adds hot lava to the picture.
"Not to worry," he says. "That is consistent with the radiotherapie. However, it gives us a good baseline when we redo it in the next six months and in the future.
This doctor was probably in his sixties, grey haired with a smile that went all the way from his chin into his hairline. He recommended certain diet and anti-cancer books. Then he said, "I see you are a writer." We talked about my books.
His family is multi-lingual: English, French, Italian.
I'm relieved that things are okay now and we've a plan to make sure they are okay in the future.
Among other things he gave me a copy of them. All but my right breast is shown in colours resembling the earth shot from space. My right breast adds hot lava to the picture.
"Not to worry," he says. "That is consistent with the radiotherapie. However, it gives us a good baseline when we redo it in the next six months and in the future.
This doctor was probably in his sixties, grey haired with a smile that went all the way from his chin into his hairline. He recommended certain diet and anti-cancer books. Then he said, "I see you are a writer." We talked about my books.
His family is multi-lingual: English, French, Italian.
I'm relieved that things are okay now and we've a plan to make sure they are okay in the future.
1
1, ein, uno, une, one nuking to go.
But what will I do in place of Needed Nuke Naps?
Adjust, baby adjust.
But what will I do in place of Needed Nuke Naps?
Adjust, baby adjust.
Monday, July 25, 2011
3 nukings to go
And instrumental music was playing during my treatment today.
Afterwards I met with the radiologist for the last time until November. When I told him about the hotspots on the thermographie, he stated that it was most likely the radiated area. Immediately he picked up his pencil and started drawing cells that have been zapped and giving me a talk on DNA especially when the radiation only hits half the cell and the other lives. As he explained it, the other half is wounded and even if it splits its children aren't able to live long enough to do much damage.
I do not have a problem tearing these cancer families apart.
It was part of the last rendez-vous to explain reconstruction possibilities and once again I pointed out that the scar is a memory much like my wrinkles, part of the experience of my life. If they'd taken my breast I might feel differently--or not.
Afterwards I met with the radiologist for the last time until November. When I told him about the hotspots on the thermographie, he stated that it was most likely the radiated area. Immediately he picked up his pencil and started drawing cells that have been zapped and giving me a talk on DNA especially when the radiation only hits half the cell and the other lives. As he explained it, the other half is wounded and even if it splits its children aren't able to live long enough to do much damage.
I do not have a problem tearing these cancer families apart.
It was part of the last rendez-vous to explain reconstruction possibilities and once again I pointed out that the scar is a memory much like my wrinkles, part of the experience of my life. If they'd taken my breast I might feel differently--or not.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
A bit bizzarre
I saw the doctor today at Hug as she gave me the prescription for the anti-cancer medicine, which I will take.
I did my usual questions and she assured me that it was approved by agencies in France, Switzerland etc. not relying only on the U.S. studies. She may think I'm crazy to have no faith in anything from the FDA.
I told her about the thermographie and she'd never heard of it. I'm not sure if it is a language problem or not. I see the thermographer.
Meanwhile my right breast was zapped concentratedly over the scar. Another five of those.
I did my usual questions and she assured me that it was approved by agencies in France, Switzerland etc. not relying only on the U.S. studies. She may think I'm crazy to have no faith in anything from the FDA.
I told her about the thermographie and she'd never heard of it. I'm not sure if it is a language problem or not. I see the thermographer.
Meanwhile my right breast was zapped concentratedly over the scar. Another five of those.
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