Cancer returns

Brain tumour this time

Hey there, it’s me, Kathy. So how was your week? Let me tell you about mine.

I walked down the hall like a drunk on a train. I bounced off the walls, I couldn’t focus on anything.

That’s when Vicky said I was going to the hospital. She and Wayne had to almost carry me to the car. When we got to the hospital they had to walk me in a straight line to the emergency department. There, everything was checked and I was put in a room. They gave me IV fluids for hours then the emergency doctor said I could go home.

A few minutes later another doctor came in and said I was staying the night. The night turned into a week.

I was moved up to palliative care and I was still getting the IV fluids since I was so dehydrated. I must have gotten about 20 bags to bring me back to looking like me. I had to eat and drink lots of water before they would take me off the IV.

Finally I got off the IV and then I had to be able to walk around so a wandering I went.

Then I got a CT scan. They put the IV needle for the dye in my wrist which I didn’t like. You know how I hate needles I really hate needles. The nurse got it in during the first try. They did a scan on my brain.

The scan showed there was something there but they couldn’t tell what it was. It was bleeding and with the dye mixing with the blood, they couldn’t tell if it was a tumour but I was bleeding from somewhere.

So the next day they gave me another scan without the dye. And they still were not 100 per cent sure what they were looking at. So I had to stay in the hospital a few more days until they could fit me in for a MRI scan.

Finally I got the call to get the scan done and sure enough there was a tumour. It is very small but that is why my balance is off and I get headaches and it hurts behind my eye and I see black spots all over the place. I can’t concentrate on anything for very long.

So far their plan is to send me to Halifax and operate and radiate at the same time. The oncologists and surgeons and radiologists are having a conference next week and they are bringing my case to the table to see how they are going to handle this.

I hope it doesn’t involve too many needles.

It’s really scary to hear you have a brain tumour. I didn’t like to hear that at all. The cancer is taking a new strategy to get me. It will take more than that to take me down. I’ll never give up the fight. Even if it takes another 14 years I will hear the doctor say, ‘Kathy you are cancer free,’ only this time it will be for sure.

None of the doctors or specialists believe that but I do. Look at the team I have on my side - we can’t lose.

Thank you to everyone that came to visit me, thank you for the gifts and cards. The palliative care rooms are like hotel rooms and all the nurses are fantastic. They show so much compassion. Thank you to all the nurses and doctors that took care of me, thank you.

One way to tell if you are dehydrated is lift your skin on your hand and see if it goes back down fast. If it doesn’t then you need water. They want me to drink lots of water. I’m getting there - I’m almost at a litre a day but they want me to drink two litres a day. That’s going to be hard to do but I have to. Coffee, tea and pop do not count as water. They have caffeine in them and that makes you dehydrated.

“Do not drink sport drinks without asking your doctor. Soft drinks and juice can make matters worse. It’s water, water, water.”

Do not drink sport drinks without asking your doctor. Soft drinks and juice can make matters worse. It’s water, water, water. I drank two 500 ml bottles of water with flavoring in it while I was writing this column.

It’s starting to feel cooler in the evening now. School has started - can you believe how fast the summer went? Remember to watch out for school buses and the little ones. They are just learning about crossing the road. That’s a scary thing when you are little.

Dad and Janet were over to help me and to take care of Thunder. He got his needle today. He was so brave he didn’t even cry.

Keep your fingers crossed that I get a call to go to Halifax next week and I get this over with and out of my head fast.

Well I know I have a brain in there for sure ha - no one can say I’m brainless.

Have a good week folks and yes the wasps are out looking to build their hives high up - not good.

Kathy Golemiec is a native of Glace Bay who now lives in Pictou County. She is outlining her journey with cancer each week through this column. She can be reached at The News, PO Box 159, New Glasgow, N.S. B2H 5E3.