3rd Annual

Regular visits with my oncologist at three month intervals have become my norm. Planning other appointments and especially, an adventure coinciding with the journeys into the city has become routine.

A totally new site has become a sore spot, painful upon urination, painful to the touch. Again, a colposcopy. Again the dreaded and oh so familiar diagnosis. Vulvar cancer, again. Another wide local excision is scheduled.

Again I ask myself; can I actually be getting used to this? It brings the term "3rd annual" into a new meaning and focus.

Again, I elect for day surgery at the clinic and will recuperate at home.

The oh so familiar surgical prep procedures. The déjà vu of awakening, the pain, the smells, the sounds, the efficient nursing staff.

There's something new! I awaken completely alert. New family of drugs I'm told, and I have a catheter and urine bag. Dr. Miller tells me that she has decided upon this method to help with the post-op recovery, that this should prevent the "peeing acid" that I have described. It is wonderfully different. Not much pain, no pressure, no urgency.

The now very familiar journey home is much easier. Amazing how quickly I adjust to the concept and the reality of a urine bag; to the logistics of carrying, holding, positioning and emptying. I even pass the time reading in the car. Home I immediately go to bed and relax into sleep. The first three days pass in slow relative comfort. Sleeping is greatly improved without the physically demanding feeling of pressure to void or the well remembered dread of the bathroom. By this time we have purchased our own Colloidal Silver Water generator and Ken makes an endless supply. I am drinking a few ounces a day and bathing the incision frequently.

Colloidal Silver Water

Then there is the new experience of removing the catheter myself. I am feeling triumphant in such a speedy recovery and greatly encouraged that this is finally it.

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