I finally had my oncology revision re: the (extremely unpleasant) CT scan I had in June. Things have changed since I last had a physical appointment at the hospital – the last 2-3 have been by phone. So when I got there today I saw that the oncology waiting room is now in the hospital lobby. With their new system you enter your ID number into one of those machines back there and out pops your appointment number. Then you grab a seat and wait for your number to appear on the screen. It’s a bit of a hike to oncology from the front of the hospital, but oh well. Then I found out the consulting rooms are no longer in the old oncology department but along the hallway leading to it. Whatevs. I came prepared with a print out of my last CT scan translated into English and with my questions ready.

What can I say? I am sure there must be some kind and empathetic oncologists out there but in my (now vasty) experience, I can say I have only met one, and she was a friend of a friend so perhaps that’s why she was nice to me. Anyhow, this guy today was both abrupt and dismissive but I held my ground and said “I have a few questions!” after he told me everything was fine and there was nothing to worry about. Honestly, if looks could kill.

He did tell me one thing that took me aback (though I should have known or at least guessed). Apparently since 2008, between PETs and CTs, I have had about 24 scans (!!) and he said at that rate I could have serious problems in 20 years after so much radiation. Well, there’s no way I’m going to see 85 anyhow, but I took his point and asked… “so now what?” and we agreed to another colonoscopy in February (last one was Feb 2020). And THEN if there is anything dodgy he may rethink the CT scan. So now I’m waiting for the colonoscopy appointment and more blood tests.

As for The PAIN I’ve been having since mid-August… Mr Empathy gave my belly a few pokes and prods, told me to lose weight and said I should get back in touch if it gets worse.

Bet your hospital isn’t this beautiful! But I also bet yours functions better as a hospital. The Hospital Duque del Infantado was built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 and was the Basque pavillion. In 1973 it was inaugurated as a Regional Oncology Center, and since then it has undergone several reforms and expansions. In the 1990s Oncology care was moved to the Virgen del Rocío Hospital (my hospital!) and now Duque del Infantado is mostly geared towards outpatient care, minor surgeries and specialist visits. Which is how I ended up here this week for my oncology revision instead of at Virgen del Rocío (which was full).

The appointment was to go over the results of the last CT scan (done last November) and as I already had the results I wasn’t too worried. This was mostly to decide on what to do next. Ever since Covid I have not seen the same oncologist twice, which isn’t a bad thing as I really didn’t like the one I had been saddled with previously. But man, when they say this is a specialist visit they aren’t kidding. The onc told me what I already knew and agreed that another CT should be done (it’s now scheduled for some time in June) but when I asked her about a couple of the other somewhat alarming (to me) things mentioned in the scan results she said she was only dealing with cancer/no cancer stuff. Okey-dokey.

I mean, I’ve been in this game long enough to know that if I want answers about the other stuff then I have to get my (also new) GP to request an appointment with a Digestivo specialist but that just makes me feel so tired. Meanwhile I feel like a walking time bomb with several “issues” going on in there  involving my spleen, liver, stomach lining, pancreas, a possible fistula and that hernia sticking out of my belly button. Clearly none of this is good, but so far none of it has turned into cancer, and that is what they keep testing for. And so, that is that for now. Over and out.