Just a quick note that I had my last port blood draw yesterday for the BRCA testing. (Testing for the genes that are known to put someone at higher risk for ovarian and breast cancer.)  I was at the drive through at my bank on Tuesday and my windows were down.  I heard “Hi P…” coming from the other drive through lane.  It was A one of the other really kind nurses who was around for chemo.  I just burst out “I’m having my port removed Friday!” and she cheered and cheered.  I suppose it’s sort of like me picking out bananas at the grocery store and someone coming to me to tell me about their latest accomplishments with substance abuse / mental health recovery.  When I hear good news it helps me to remember why I do the work I do.  When people approach me and start talking about struggles, I always table it for a more private conversation.  SO I left laughing, hoping A felt the same way!

Well, I was able to find out what A thought, because when I went for my blood draw, she was the nurse accessing the port.  First, I was sent to the lab, but the nurse calling me in told me I had to get a kit from the social worker. SO I went back up.  The social worker had special consent forms for the genetic testing, and did have a box, the kit, which she handed to the nurse when we went back down to the lab.  A celebrated the last draw and it went without a hitch.  There were hugs and people smiling as I left.  The results are due in 10-14 days, and Dr. Genetic Specialist will set up an appointment with me as she likes to review results with everyone.  I remember she said “I’m never surprised by a positive result, but I have been quite surprised by negative results.” This means that people she considers very high risk have been negative for BRCA 1 and BRCA 2.  This also means that there may be some other genes connected to ovarian/breast cancer which have not been cloned yet.  She puts me in the low risk category, by the way.

So the next circle closing is the port coming out on Friday.  I had a dream last night about it, it was sort of one of those dreams that didn’t make much sense.  I am looking forward to seeing Dr. Surgeon and getting this vein saving device out of my body.  It will make  A and E very happy to, not see it sticking out under my collar bone.

This is what this trail seems to be now.  There will be times of quiet.  There will be times anticipating more blood tests or scans.  I may think I have found something foreign like a lump on my body somewhere, sometime, which may lead me to think about all the what ifs.  And there will be the waiting for results.  I know there are others out there with me who are holding their breath when I am, and who are holding ME when I can’t hold myself.  I know there are other out there who have to get tested much more often than I, who have to deal with uncertainty constantly.  I know all of us have to survive something.  I also know that there are others who have not survived.  I’m just grateful to have had this chance to come through this.

More after the port comes out.