56. Chemo Visit at the Surgeon's Office

First just a quick back-track to stress a few important points.

In February 2021 (last year), I received the FIT kit in the mail.  It sat on a shelf for 3 months, unused.  Having colorectal cancer was NOT on our radar.  Far from it.  No one in our family had had it, so why worry? Having cancer was something that "happened to other people", not me!  Right?  The reason I did proceed was, yes, my husband prodded a bit, but my friend, who worked for the mailing company sending out the kits, had included a little note saying: "Hi Irm!  Thinking of you!"   I did not want to disappoint her by having to confess: "I threw out your kit."  So finally I sent in my stool sample late May.  In June the letter from the screening program arrived stating that the result was "abnormal".  I was scheduled for a colonoscopy on August 5th and following the colonoscopy for a visit at the surgeon's office.  

Now you will have to excuse me because at the time of that visit I was suffering from severe Iron Deficiency Anemia, brain fog and did not write anything down.  The conversation was mostly one-sided:... Greetings and some small talk...biopsy done...confirms cancerous tumor...in cecum area...where small and large intestines meet...Stage 2, possibly 3....need chemo...need surgery...panel of professionals will decide on best course of action (I do remember thinking: Yes!  I like that idea!  It is not just one person's decision!)...possibility of laparoscopic surgery...depends on...otherwise open surgery... depends on...may end up with a colostomy (bag)...depends on...recovery time...depends on...Oh!  And by the way: Do you have a Living Will? (gasp!)  "Pardon??"

The panel decided on surgery first, then chemotherapy.  The surgeon promised to get me in a.s.a.p.  The surgery date was set for September 20th, day of our federal election.  Needless to say you couldn't find me at any polling station.  I was being prepped on the operating table getting ready to be sliced and diced.  But before the surgery I would have to have a blood transfusion, an iron infusion and a CT scan...