D-Day (Diagnosis Day) 1st October 2009. This is the day I received "the news". It was a work day like any other...until 11am. I remember the time precisely because I checked my watch oddly enough.
To backtrack a little...almost 3 months ago I found a lump in the lower bicep area of my right arm. At first I wasn't too concerned. Maybe I'd bumped it (even though I couldn't remember that)..maybe I'd strained it at the gym (even though I knew I couldn't have)...these are some of the "maybes" that we delude ourselves with when we're in avoidance. Thankfully I don't avoid too long and I pay attention to my body. I followed up with an appointment with my GP.
The GP said she also thought it wasn't anything but to be sure and given that we have resources available to us, she sent me for an ultrasound (U/S). The U/S came back inconclusive a few days later with a recommendation for further investigation using an MRI scan.
Usually an MRI can only be requested by a specialist otherwise it's deemed non-essential incurring high cost. As it happens, I work in an area that brings me into contact with many specialist surgeons. I asked one of them for a referral MRI. Again, the scan came back inconclusive and my GP then said it was biopsy time.
Dr Anthony Penington took a look at my lump and agreed that it would be good to get a biopsy for a better look at the lump. He referred me for a biopsy using a CT scan with one of the "best people for that job" and even arranged it for me. At this stage we were just expecting a confirmation of a tumour of some description though nothing beyond that.
Having a biopsy taken by using a CT scan to pin point the entry of the needle gadget is interesting. They scan the area so they can line up the entry point, then the actual sensation of the triggered needle is like feeling a strong hole punch. They did it twice and I ended up with a small incision. I was impressed that the entry was so precise there was only the one cut.
So a few days passed and I kept meaning to ring Dr Penington's office to make an appointment to get my results or else go see my GP. I couldn't remember which of them would do it and as the saying goes "no news is good news", I figured if I hadn't heard anything all was good.
1st October, I'm in the middle of the last part of a job and get a phone call from the office. Dr Penington had been looking for me for our appointment. "What appointment?" I said to my colleague..."Oh, he says he needs to see you...where are you?" At this point, my mind started to make connections and the next few minutes are a bit blurry. I knew, as soon as I saw Tony and the serious look on his face I knew.
Myxoid
Liposarcoma. My diagnosis. My lump finally had an identity.
Sarcomas are a rare group of cancers. Liposarcomas are
soft tissue cancers.
There was shock, there were tears. Dr Penington was able to let me know that he had already spoken to Professor Peter Choong, a leading sarcoma specialist and that I had an appointment at 1.10pm.
