On a high from the World’s Greatest Shave, and chatting to the kids in the lounge, I nearly missed the telephone ringing. It was the Victorian Cytology Service confirming that the results were abnormal and that I have been registered for “low grade squamous epithelial lesions”. Always with the precursor of ‘don’t worry’, I managed to get more information from this ‘unsuspecting’ doctor. The clinic I have been registered for is ‘cervical dysplasia’. This is a “complex care clinic” where they register women with abnormal results who cells have a possibility of growing into cervical cancer. Little did he know that Oncology got to me first. The next question asked was “Do I have HPV”? HPV is present in all cases of diagnosis related Cervical Cancer and it was a question that was dodged by two doctors in emergency. “Its very possible” was his heavily accented response. But don’t worry. Cervical cancer takes on average about 10 years to develop. Since I have had a hysterectomy, there is no cervix present, so we are talking about lesions in related gynae areas. I had an Oprah “ah ha” moment last night and I tend to have a few of these. The first was realising that blood tests conducted two months prior to the TAH did not pick up the tumour. The second realisation I had was the clear memory of the ultrasound prior to the Hysterectomy and the report which said that the “uterine mass’ was “transmural” which meant it was located both inside and outside of the uterus. This tissue mass related to the ectopic pregancy (Seanain) (ectopic pregnancy = pregnancy outside of uterus i.e fallopean tube, or in my second case, just outside the uterus). If the tumour, as found in the biopsy after the TAH was in the mass that they found. It may be a possibility that the tumour was, also, transmural. They took the tumour out, without a question or a doubt. However if it was transmural then cell growth outside the uterus is a possibility and its this possibility that is sitting at the back of my mind as further issues progress. I will have a chat to my Glaswegian “House” however I am braced for the common comment that is associated with rare tumours of “I don’t know”. The MRI is this Thursday at 8:15am and surgery / further biopsies most likely the following week.(biopsies, removing lesions, laser – all the good wholesome stoof) In the meantime it has given me excellent design ideas regarding my photography portfolios which is great. It allows me to exercise the demons of uncertainty and negativity through the camera lens and to express my human spirit which is great. I am very fortunate that I have ‘fodder’ for my work so although things could turn out complicated, one just can’t help but whistle “always look on the bright side of life…” :) ... View more

I am somewhat bemused when I have the Oncology receptionist, God bless her cotton socks) chase me at work to have an apologetic chat with me. It usually means that a doctor somewhere, in the higher echelons has given her the directive to chase. I have discovered that Oncology doctors only want to see you when there is cause to, which in some respects is great, but generally not when you don’t expect them to call and when you only had this trip a week ago. That call came through today, at recess, between chatting to a new batch of Student Teachers and morning tea and on my husbands birthday on all days. “They want to follow up the testing they did in emergency.” “oh why is that so”? says I wondering, considering that the tests were, as far as I was concerned, done and dusted so to speak. A colposcopy is what I need to book you in for, she continues – to which I ask why and to which the hedging begins – we most certainly live in a litigious society don’t we! So of course, our natural reflex kicks in – a quick double click of the browser and up comes Google. Yes. Hands up those who have diagnosed all sorts of weird and wonderful things with Google! I am a doctor of Googling. A supreme expert! This was no exception – I actually had a medical term! (yes folks, we find ourselves in exciting times!) “Many premalignant lesions and malignant lesions in these areas have discernible characteristics which can be detected through the examination. It is done using a colposcope, which provides an enlarged view of the areas, allowing the colposcopist to visually distinguish normal from abnormal appearing tissue and take directed biopsies for further pathological examination. The main goal of colposcopy is to prevent cervical cancer by detecting precancerous lesions early and treating them” Isn’t that funny, not ha ha funny but bizzare funny because last time I looked I had a TAH (Total Abdominal Hysterectomy) which means out with all the girly bits except the ovaries and YET we still manage to have ‘abnormalities’. May as well tune me up into Darth Vader so all I have to do is “restart” or press ctrl + alt + del :P On the count of three, lets get hysterical. One , two…just kidding. The test results came back as ‘abnormal’ so whats the plan now? I don’t know about you but I have a lemon meringue pie waiting for me and a birthday cake to make with two little kids and one big kid one hovering to lick the bowl! Life is a beautiful puzzle of uncertainty, coloured with many shades, hues and tones. We’ll take it one step at a a time, one day at a time, one test at a time. For now, its time to celebrate a birthday and to wish on a star who knows what tomorrow brings 🙂 We may just be suprised or simply mutter....bugger. ... View more