I look like something out of Mortal Kombat or The Silence of the Lambs in my Covid-19 face gear

Beth Purvis, aka Bowel Warrior, writes for the Indie as a forty-yr-old married mother of two from Elsenham dwelling with phase 4 most cancers…

I have missing track of the times – has not absolutely everyone? Guilt-free lie-ins every early morning. Switch on the information, which would seem to be on a loop apart from the odd nugget from throughout the pond what will their esteemed chief entertain us with today?

In this bizarre new globe where by nothing at all would seem to transform, a lot has truly transpired for me due to the fact I previous sat down at a laptop or computer and tapped out a handful of phrases to share.

Next affirmation that my cyberknife remedy – a variety of specific radiotherapy – has been authorised, it’s in no way as easy as just finding earlier the funding hurdle.

The health care provider carrying out the futuristic remedy needed an up-to date CT scan to test nothing at all has modified although we have been waiting around. Good enough, helps make feeling… so I hold out for a date.

Rather of grabbing the publish as before long as it arrives, I am waiting around for a telephone call – yep, every little thing is now performed significantly far more effectively by telephone and a stick to-up electronic mail to ensure. It only took a pandemic to shift the NHS into this century.

When an not known number pops up, I remedy in the hope it is the healthcare facility and not a person contacting about the incident I didn’t know I was concerned in. It was a slight shock to be explained to I was booked in for medical procedures in 4 days’ time.

Very well, erm, cling on – can a person test be sure to? Is cyberknife however an choice? Which is safer at the instant? Do I get a selection? If I go for cyberknife and it doesn’t function, can I however have medical procedures at a later date? “We’ll get the surgeon to speak with the radiologist and question him to call you back.”

In this new, far more fashionable NHS, appointments and conversations with consultants are no lengthier a vacation to the healthcare facility to sit in a packed waiting around area for two several hours to get your five minutes with the health care provider. No, they telephone you, and you can be any place as prolonged you have your telephone with you. I say you could be any place, but presently the selection is bedroom, kitchen area, dwelling area, toilet or backyard garden.

My surgeon identified as me to speak as a result of the professionals and cons of every remedy and the dangers sure, those people excess dangers with Covid-19 make an physical appearance. He confirms I can pick out in between cyberknife and medical procedures, and if in the unlikely function cyberknife is unsuccessful, medical procedures stays on the table.

We sensibly agree that a further CT scan is wanted ahead of we can make your mind up which remedy is the better, but even he is erring towards not reducing me open up and owning me stay in healthcare facility for a 7 days.

Unfortunately, I can’t keep away from truly going to the healthcare facility absolutely and have experienced to make two visits to the Royal Marsden for scans. I wanted to be prepared. No lengthier does my ‘leaving the house’ test listing consist of purse, keys and telephone – no, no, it’s now purse, keys, telephone, anti-bac gel and encounter mask.

Beth on her way to her hospital appointment in London (34049339)
Beth on her way to her healthcare facility appointment in London (34049339)

I didn’t fancy the healthcare encounter masks, so I acquired myself something significantly far more trendy, enjoyment or potentially terrifying. My husband Richard reckons I glimpse like something out of Mortal Kombat in my new encounter gear, even though mates have instructed it’s far more The Silence of the Lambs… go the Chianti! Both way, I’m completely ready to hold kicking cancer’s arse.

Back again to the healthcare facility visits. For starters, that all-crucial CT scan which uncovered the tumour in my appropriate lung has not truly performed significantly and can however be attacked by cyberknife. It also showed something new in my remaining lung, but the healthcare facility are staying non-committal about what they think it is so we are just going to check out that for now and see what it does.

Next, for a setting up scan for the medical doctors to function out the specific dosage of radiation to zap me with, amid other items. Whilst I was there I acquired a few small tattoos to enable line me up in precisely the identical place for the remedy as I was in for the scan. I acquired my remedy dates, too: eight periods in just underneath a few weeks, setting up on May possibly 12 and ending on June one.

I have a handful of weeks to unwind now and target on attempting to house-school the little ones although honing my expertise in the kitchen area as if I had been aiming for star baker on The Wonderful British Bake Off, just like absolutely everyone else.

Beth and Abi's pampering session (34049349)
Beth and Abi’s pampering session (34049349)

So, of course, I get on with staying a domestic goddess and function towards Ofsted Fantastic standing by indulging my ten-yr-old daughter in her motivation to have a spa day.