Nell: Thank you for the sandwiches.
Me: My pleasure.
Nell: Now tell everyone what the nurse said.
Me: Well, it was definitely good news in the main.
Nell: Carry on.
Me: The scar’s healing nicely, apart from one small area, and there’s no sign of melanoma. They checked everywhere including my lymph nodes.
Nell: Good news, indeed.
Me: But a red mark on my arm, which was worrying me, bothered her too, so she called in a senior doctor who confirmed it was Basal Cell Carcinoma.
Nell: What’s that?
Me: It’s a mild form of skin cancer but it doesn’t spread.
Nell: What can they do about it?
Me: I have to put cream on it twice a day for four weeks. They’re hoping this will burn it away.
Nell: Did you say burn?
Me: Yes. It’s an aggressive cream and will make things much worse before they get better.
Nell: That doesn’t sound very pleasant.
Me: I don’t care as long as it gets rid of the cancer.
Nell: What if it doesn’t?
Me: Then they’ll have to cut it out. Unfortunately the waiting list is long but that’s ok.
Nell: Yes. We’ve dealt with this before and we can again.
Me: Exactly. All in all I’m extremely relieved.
Nell: So, why are we having to wait downstairs then? David is particularly distressed. He’s been chewing his paw.
Me: The cream is extremely toxic to dogs so I’m waiting until it’s dry and I can cover it. I can’t risk you licking me.
Nell: When will that be?
Me: About 30 mins.
Nell: I’m not sure David can get through the wait without bacon.
Me: It’s Thursday, Nell. Thursday isn’t a bacon day.
Nell: Nonsense. Every day is a bacon day. Particularly in times of stress.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
