The day meanders by. I nap a lot – I have no energy at all these days. I bake some cookies and are pulling them out of the oven when the phone rings. It’s Dr Sk. She gives me the official results of the CT scan – all clear, the cancer has not spread. Thank God. Still curable, in theory. She asks me if I have noticed improvement in Betty – any shrinkage, softness, or colour change? I say that I cannot be sure anymore. At times I think Betty may be smaller but then I second guess myself. Is it only wishful thinking? 

Dr Sk has discussed my progress with Doctors MMc and Kt and says that she would like to refer me to Dr Kt for surgery ASAP. This would be in her private practice rather than public as it would be speedier. We talk it through and I’m on the same page. With the initial Taxol chemo not working and no obvious change with AC chemo, we are risking waiting too long. If we do surgery now to remove the tumour and lymph nodes we can pick up chemo afterward to get any stray cells, and also add radiation and oral chemo. In theory, anyway.

How many lymph nodes will be removed? I ask. All of them. Dr Sk replies.

Dr Kt is available to see me next week and all going well, surgery could be the week after. I agree with the proposed plan, thank Dr Sk and end the call. I then have a mini freak out. Now instead of spinning our wheels in chemo, waiting for something to happen, we are off and racing again.