Easter surgery

So I saw the specialist just over a week ago, and surgery is confirmed for the morning of Wednesday, 15th April at Basingstoke District Hospital. The operation will be a "wedge resection", which is essentially removing a wedge of liver from one lobe, to take out the largest and only 100% confirmed lesion. The operation won't be keyhole, but this will give the surgeon a chance to examine the other two "blurry" points of my scans to confirm if they are tumours or simply scar tissue, hopefully for the first time giving us a clear picture of just what we are dealing with in the liver. And, of course, hopefully removing all last traces of the cancer from my body.

I expect to be in hospital for around 6 days, and then will be resting up at my parents house for a couple of weeks following. Full recovery is expected around 6 weeks after the operation, so I imagine I will be returning to Chemo (and work !) at the start of June for 6 more weeks (Chemo, that is - hopefully work will carry on quite a bit longer than that, despite the current economic climate). Hospital is a bit of a trek from London, so I imagine visitors might only come at the weekend. If you let myself know in advance, that I can send travel information about how to get there. Otherwise contact Mimi when I'm in hospital, just so we don't get too many people trying to come at a one time.

So that's the facts. Emotionally I'm obviously a little scared, but reassured by the surgeon who seems highly competent and comes recommended as one of the countries finest liver surgeons. Also reassured by the fact it all happens whilst I'm unconscious too ! It's just tough putting your life totally in other peoples' hands, elevating them temporarily to the status of gods. I'm such a control freak, so I guess there is quite a clash there too. So focusing on the good aspects of it all - a clear(er) liver, being looked after by Mimi and my parents and one more step to the end of all my treatment. Also focusing, as always, on the small practicalities - such as at which point I stop being paid full salary from work (quite soon !) and budgeting accordingly (not hard, won't be going out too much !) - more cheap nights in are needed ! Board gaming anyone ;)