I can’t decide whether I’m totally exhausted from the best hen weekend ever! Or the sedative they gave me this morning for the Endoscopic UltraSound scan. My Facebook friends will see us ladies laughing all over Dartmoor then eating cream teas then home for Prosecco, a delicious buffet meal and a lot of laughter

For years I’ve been wanting to introduce my university friends to my Fleet friends and others, to my Devon friends, and this was the perfect opportunity. We all got on so well, all being pretty fit, and I feel very loved and very happy. I wish I could have included more dear friends so I hope they meet at the wedding. Neil was totally unfazed by meeting these bright, lively and friendly ladies. He then headed off to meet his friends at a local music festival dressed in his customary coloured striped jumper and outlandish socks. He looked a very happy chap and a good time was had by all.

Today’s scan was pretty much the same as the endoscopic scan I described on the 6th July. Another lovely Italian nurse, male this time, made sure I knew my name(! as they all do), asked me various questions for his forms, then inserted the needle receptor thing into my arm. He asked if I was worried about needles. I said I wasn’t and asked what he would do if I’d said yes. He’d have administered the needle with me lying down in case I fainted instead of sitting in a chair. He told me he knew I wasn’t worried as I am so relaxed, and that the worst worriers were big burly men with tattoos! I changed into a robe and waited to be called. I’ve never had to wait to long to be seen.

Again I lay on a bed in a darkened room. They attached the sedative to the thing in my arm and placed the mouth guard to protect my teeth. That’s all I remember until I awoke in the recovery room. They inserted the probe down my throat which sent out sound impulses which compiled an exact picture of Deirdre’s shape and size. The physician this time knew Neil, so explained what he’d seen after my scan while I was still fast asleep as the sedation wore off.

The great news is that it hasn’t spread at all. It’s 5mm wide in most places around the base of my oesophagus but 11mm in one spot. This thicker area might well need chemo to shrink it before surgery. He also told me that the PET scan confirmed that it hasn’t reached my lymph nodes which is also great news. The MDT (Multi Disciplinary Team) will meet on Thursday to decide my treatment.

There are positives about both ways to treat this. Surgery first, means it’s all over before the wedding, but I’ll feel a bit weak as its pretty major surgery. Chemo first could be administered in a way to make me almost symptom free for a few days around the wedding so I’ll have more energy to enjoy it. I really don’t mind what they chose as I have so much faith in them that they will chose whatever is best for my health and I’ll be happy with that. My brother David has explained how lucky I am that it hasn’t spread since I’ve had it for so long, so I really am counting my blessings.

And throughout this busy weekend, Neil has cooked, washed up, cleared up the huge mess left my my party, even though a few hens did a great job. He’s been wonderful and all the hens LOVE him. I’m sooooooo lucky and we’re both still feeling very very happy.