Operation Day 26th March 2018

My letter said to be at The Nightingale Centre at 8am. They are putting in a guide wire before the operation. I assume they do this when they don't have a big lump to aim for. First things first. Another mammogram to check that the clips haven't moved. Check. Though I'm beginning to worry that at this rate my boobs will be permanently flattened or frazzled with radiation! If I didn't already have cancer, I would get it due to massive exposure to radiation. Next is the guide wire insertion. Honestly, it is an experience like no other being laid down and clamped to a mammogram machine. After a few shots of local anaesthetic ( probably more Rhino sized amounts this time) its time to insert the wire. I was envisaging some fine copper wire, fine and shiny like in a plug. The wire was in fact of a similar dimension to the stuff they put in concrete to strengthen it! Once it was in place they have to...you guessed it... do another mammogram. Which was ok, I was numb in that area anyway but I was slightly concerned when the nurse told me to look away so the wire didn't " take my eye out" !! Oh, just one more thing. I need an isotopic injection which will show up the sentinel node. I  had read that it was a blue dye which turned your boob blue and made your pee blue for a few days. In my childish mind, I thought this would be quite amusing. You can't believe how gutted I was when she told me that they were using a clear tracer. The nurse explained that because it was radioactive, they would use a geiger counter to find it. She promptly whips out a geiger counter and sticks it in my armpit. It was like the intro to Crazy Horses!! (You Tube it!!). Cheered me up no end to know I was officially radioactive now.  Anyway, sight intact, or as much as intact as my sight ever is, it was over to The Roz Henson Ward for Girlie Bits Problems for part 2. I had fessed up to Emily and told her what was happening, so she had taken the day off to come with us. She was actually really good and very calm when I told her. After I had left her, she sobbed for 4 hours and shouted at me for not telling her sooner. As always, my wingman Mikey was there by my side. When I had infected stitches, he was there, with his trusty Stanley knife, sterilized with his lighter and cut them out. When I had cancer last time he was there every step by my side. When I had Chemo he was there, holding my good hand. When I had my hysterectomy, he was there. He was by my side every day at radiotherapy.  I've just realised something... Mikey, you're a fooking jinx!! :-)