“So, it won’t be as bad as last time, will it, since the cancer wasn’t even in the skin on my left side?” I say. Am at the hospital, talking to my radiologist about upcoming radiotherapy. He stares at me. “On the contrary, we didn’t zap all the cancer in your skin on your right […]
“Hmmmm it’s a shame,” the doctor says, frowning, as he looks at my new mastectomy scar. “It’s healed up well, apart from those corners.” The ends of the scar are red, raised and oozing pus. “So, I know it’s not terrible,” I say. “But I don’t see the plastic surgeon and the nurses till Wednesday, […]
Needing a wee, pushing, awaiting the magic of the catheter where the feeling disappears as the liquid goes down the tube into the bag, I’m suddenly soaked with warm water. It’s all over my legs and tummy, the sheets and duvet. Oh no. Ringing my buzzer, I’m shaking. This is horrible. The nurse comes […]
“Hello Tanya,” my plastic surgeon says, beaming his huge smile. “How are you?” “It’s been ages,” I say, smiling back at him, sitting at the desk opposite him. “It’s nice to see you.” “Have you been keeping well?” He says. “So, I’ve got to have some more surgery,” I say. “Yes, I’ve been talking […]
“What are you doing?” I ask Mum from underneath my furry blanket. “Just moving some photographs around,” Mum says. “Why don’t you sit here with me and do the crossword?” I say. “You’re always saying that you want to see me, and now I’m here you…” “Finished the crossword,” Mum says. “Anyway, you’re writing the […]
The flat phone rings. “Hello?” I say. “Hello my lovely,” Seb says. My heart lifts as I hear his voice. “My darling,” I say. “How are things?” Carrying the phone back to my bedroom, I crawl into bed. “Not too bad,” he says. “Although we’ve just had a class on graphs and spreadsheets and I’m […]
“So how are you, Tanya?” Dr Stein says, pen poised above the paper. This is his current folder of my notes. He must have hundreds of these folders, dating back over the last seventeen years. “Well, my mood is still low,” I say. “But I’m doing what I have to do: work, the blog, exercise. […]
“How are you my love?” Seb’s message comes through yesterday whilst we’re sitting on the plane, on the tarmac, with no prospect of taking off. “You still on holiday? Hope you’re enjoying yourself.” Medal for correct spelling of ‘you’re’. Good boy. “Sorry I’ve not made much contact, been rather lost in work,” he continues. “Still […]
“How are you, Tanya?” My plastic surgeon says, beaming his big smile as I sit across the desk from him. Mum is sitting next to me. “OK, I think,” I say. This is the first time I’ve seen him this year. He looks jolly, as usual. It always cheers me up to see him. “So, […]
“Let’s have a look, shall we?” My plastic surgeon says. He pulls the blue plastic curtain around us. Slipping my top off, I look down at the flat right side of my chest. It’s healed up beautifully. “That looks good,” he says. “It’s healed very well. What did your oncologist say?” “He says that it’s […]
Scars, Tears and Training Bras 