Excising the past

The new year is an appropriate time to get rid of the old and start life anew.

I've lived with a lump in my right breast I detected through BSE (breast self-examination which every woman should practise every month) over three years ago and have done nothing about except monitor diligently.

As I went for my annual mammogram and ultrasound last December, I decided that I had enough of the alarmed looks and stony silences I received as the tumour showed up on the X-ray looking decidedly cancerous (jagged edges instead of smooth).

Never mind that it hasn't changed shape or size in three years. With cancer, who knows when a benign growth transforms ominously into one loaded with abnormal cells that will spread and kill the host body?

Given rising medical costs, I thought to myself it's time for action.

I opted for local anaesthesia as the quicker and less disruptive option as my doctor and surgeon, Dr. Hoe, presented this alternative to me.

A visit to his clinic and within the hour, I would walk out the door about a gramme lighter.

It took an hour and a half (with another half hour spent prior the procedure to mark the location with ultrasound) as it was deeper than expected.

I was mostly calm and relaxed before and through the entire procedure, although the last bit where he stitched me up was decidedly uncomfortable as the anaesthesia was wearing off.

It was novel and strange to have someone cut a hole into you, stretch open the hole, stick a finger inside to determine the location of the tumour and subsequently excise a part of you.

To hear and smell the cauterizing of blood vessels to stop the bleeding, know what size needles were used to finally stitch you up...

I am glad I was conscious through the entire operation, so that I could continually pray that the Spirit guide my surgeon's hands.

There was even room for levity when Dr. Hoe tried to apply more anaesthesia and it accidentally spurted skyward, landing on my eyebrow. I enquired quizzically, "Botox too?" and he and his nurse both burst out laughing.

Best of all was the call from his nurse the day after informing me that it was benign.

B. said she knew that would be the result. Tongue in cheek, I said so did I.

Given the Scripture verse I picked at the W2W's new year's thanksgiving dinner, I was unafraid:

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me." - Psalm 23:4

What I took away from the whole experience is that medicine can indeed be a noble profession and not just an extremely lucrative one.

The impression one gets mostly is that specialists specialize only in lightening your pocketbook.

Dr. Hoe has been great from day one, always cheerful and ever-ready to answer silly questions of mine with patience and clarity. He has always taken the time to allay my fears. And his nurse and receptionist are equally friendly and warm.

What impressed me most during the operation was the way he spoke to Christine, his nurse, politely and with respect.

Notwithstanding that he was thorough and precise, and took the time to explain to me what was happening throughout.

I feel blessed to have so much to be thankful for just into the new year and I am grateful not just for the skill of my surgeon, but the concern and care of all the people He has placed in my life.

And I see that life is blessing and blessing is life.