Roughing it

Well, today is probably a really good harbinger of things to come. Roller-coaster from the depths to the heights, and back again. The phone has not stopped ringing since I've seen the surgeon, and now my email box is getting full in response to this Blog. I am so glad you guys like it.

As I said before, I made a decision to go about my business as usual, so this morning I went to a conference at Macquarie University that I really wanted to attend and paid heavy money for: "Everyday Multiculturalism." Unfortunately, the virus that has been dogging me for a few weeks has returned yesterday and I felt so tired after the first speaker that I had to leave. (Not her fault, she was actually very interesting).

Yes, I went to the doc to check what the hell it was, but you know how it is. What we don't know is probably a virus, or it may just be that with all the excitement my thyroid function is down. Blood test - result on Tuesday. We have a national holiday on Monday. So, it's go with the flow, garlic and vitamin C.

In addition, about a week and a half ago I had a huge coughing fit, during which I think I stretched every chest muscle, and that has been hurting as well. So, today I've been a really miserable little chappie, but still tried to struggle on. The fatigue came and went as viral things have a habit of doing, and in the end I just gave in. Why fight it, right?

Just as I was resting the weary body, the door bell rang. And there stood a little dark haired man with the biggest bunch of tulips I've ever seen, with a loving card from Tunde attached! Well, that made me forget all my woes, and lo and behold, my energy returned instantly. Magical flowers from Florida! Thanks, son!

So, what do I do with all this energy? Go food shopping, of course, since I am expecting dinner guests for tomorrow. The burst lasted just about long enough to do that, and when I returned I got a message from the hospital: Mrs Ban, it seems you are no longer with MBF (the health insurance fund) can you please call us to give us your new fund details.

Thump. Down to the depths. MBF has been taking more than $100 out of my bank account religiously and forever, and now they disown me? Oy, veh! Do I care? Na. Do I get mad? Nah. She'll be right mate. It will sort itself out somehow. A true Ozzie reaction.

Back to bed, reading the thick booklet about the treatment of early breast cancer. Well, that's a blessing. At least the surgeon thinks it's early and the book says more than 84% women with early breast cancer survive after 5 years. I am counting on being here for another 25 at least. I mean I still have to figure out what I'll do when I grow up!

In the beginning

A few weeks ago I went for a routine mammogram at North Shore Hospital in Sydney and was asked to return for a second session with the 'boob machine' and possibly a needle biopsy. I had just moved to the Inner West area of Sydney and was still without a local GP. So, I asked around and found a very impressive one by the name of Dr. J.B. I went to see her before the biopsy, feeling slightly sorry for her for having to sit through my lengthy litany of medical oddities. I must say that I was totally impressed with her and left feeling confident of the future.

Cutting a long story short, last week I returned to the good Doc. She was squirming a bit as she discharged her unenviable task of letting this unknown entity, this new patient, know that the biopsy was positive and it didn't look too good. Many dozens of tissues later, she organised a visit to a surgeon by the name of Dr A.S.

Well, I wasn't quite game to front Dr A.S. by myself, so my friend Judy Polgar came with me to listen and absorb whatever my addled brain tuned out during this visit. Although tired (I was his penultimate patient), Doc A.S. was thorough, kind and, most important, had a good sense of humour. My kind of guy - not to mention tall and good looking (:-).

"Ok, so what's the deal", you ask? Who knows? I am now navigating in iffy, iffy land. If the sentinel lymph biopsies (which he took yesterday) come back negative, this......... If they come back positive, that......... if the frozen sections in the operating theatre ............ You get the picture.

So, I've decided to take it one day at a time. For the past two weeks I was also fighting a pretty nasty flu, which is abating now, thank goodness, so I am setting up my affairs so I can go under the knife next Wednesday (4.October) with a clean slate. That means finishing my taxes, organising my freelance work, paying my bills and making sure that you my family and friends have a way of getting information from the horse's mouth without breaking the bank with your phone bills.

So, come with me on this journey. Who knows where it will take us, but we may as well do it laughing. Right?