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Two different friends have recently asked a doctor that they trust for an ‘unofficial’ second opinion about my particular case. That has brought me some piece of mind. One of my friends reported back to me the other day that she was told by the doctor that it was a ‘text book’ case and that ‘your friend (that's me!) will be fine.’ The doctor didn’t elaborate much. Apparently, he is a man of few words.
This dear friend had also shown concern about the wait time for the surgery. Her doctor friend was also not concerned about that and in fact suggested that I might wait longer in his country for the same surgery. Let’s here it is for Portugal! Perhaps not as slow as we might have imagined on dealing with health issues.
Despite the reassurances, I really want to get IT out – IT being the cancer. I am now more than ready to say goodbye to my thyroid and those surrounding lymph nodes. (Goodbye my little butterfly! It is time that we part.) Since my first appointment at IPO (the Portuguese Oncology Institute in Lisbon) on June 3rd, I have essentially been waiting for surgery. Of course there were some exams to be completed but from the official time that I was put on the list on June 10th, I was told that the surgery would be performed within 40 days. Therefore, I am expecting the surgery by the 21st of July. However, I haven’t heard anything yet from IPO about the date of the surgery but I was told I could be asked to check into the hospital from one day to the next. That is a bit annoying. I have been moderately teaching again and it is not ideal in terms of scheduling lessons. Thankfully, all my students have been very understanding.
However, what bothers me most about the potential of being called in for surgery from one day to the next is that the idea of going under the knife immediately becomes that much more real. At that point, you are given so very little time to let it sink in and come to peace with it. It would be great if I had a few days at least to simply be with the news. Perhaps I will be given a few days or perhaps not. Either way I am still thankful that the cancer is coming out soon
This dear friend had also shown concern about the wait time for the surgery. Her doctor friend was also not concerned about that and in fact suggested that I might wait longer in his country for the same surgery. Let’s here it is for Portugal! Perhaps not as slow as we might have imagined on dealing with health issues.
Despite the reassurances, I really want to get IT out – IT being the cancer. I am now more than ready to say goodbye to my thyroid and those surrounding lymph nodes. (Goodbye my little butterfly! It is time that we part.) Since my first appointment at IPO (the Portuguese Oncology Institute in Lisbon) on June 3rd, I have essentially been waiting for surgery. Of course there were some exams to be completed but from the official time that I was put on the list on June 10th, I was told that the surgery would be performed within 40 days. Therefore, I am expecting the surgery by the 21st of July. However, I haven’t heard anything yet from IPO about the date of the surgery but I was told I could be asked to check into the hospital from one day to the next. That is a bit annoying. I have been moderately teaching again and it is not ideal in terms of scheduling lessons. Thankfully, all my students have been very understanding.
However, what bothers me most about the potential of being called in for surgery from one day to the next is that the idea of going under the knife immediately becomes that much more real. At that point, you are given so very little time to let it sink in and come to peace with it. It would be great if I had a few days at least to simply be with the news. Perhaps I will be given a few days or perhaps not. Either way I am still thankful that the cancer is coming out soon