The Decannulation Room

Today I had the start of my first six monthly review to see how my cancer treatment is progressing.

I say start as I will not know the answer for another fortnight. Today was about tests

I had three appointments booked in at the Royal Marsden today – the first at 10am was bloods, the next at 11.10 was an MRI of my liver, and the third at 15:45 was a CT scan of my thorax, abdomen and pelvis.

Monday is always an odd day at hospitals as they deal with the fallout from the weekend and the restart of BAU. I got to the hospital at 09:20, checked in with outpatients and took my ticket for the deli counter, I mean bloods!

I was seen at 09:45 and they fitted me with a cannula as I had the other sessions later. They took four huge vats of blood from me. Ok, 4 test tubes. Let me Hancock a bit a least!

I got to the MRI reception about 10:20 and they saw me early so I put on my pyjamas (pro tip) and laid down in the drum. Everyone was really helpful and the machine was especially funky today.

So I was back at the waiting room by 11. Thinking I would then have a long wait until 15:45 I got out my book and settled back to wait while reading an excellent Edwardian set spooky story only to be called almost immediately for my CT. 10 minutes later I had been scanned and I was led to the decannulation room, of which I cannot speak.

And I was home by noon

So brilliant care from the Royal Marsden as ever.

And it reinforced that the NHS is utterly reliant on immigrants.

So zero tolerance of racism and fascism!

Anyway, more anon once I know what the results are.