2. The Clock Starts Ticking

It seemed like once I actually went to the Dr's, and came home and told Paul the real reason I had gone, things started to suddenly feel more urgent. I could no longer drive home and have private me time with my neck lump, sit and cry in the bath so no one could spot my face was a bit red and puffy and ask questions. But after 10 days I still was waiting for that appointment, still waiting on that phone call. It was at that point, in hindsight, I made one of the best decisions I could ever have done. I telephoned my private health provider. I knew they didn't cover cancer care, but I knew they did cover up until diagnosis, and if you felt it was going to take too long they stepped in and paid for you to see a private consultant. So I rang and told them the situation and how I was still waiting and they agreed funding my diagnosis by email the following day. At the same time, within an hour actually, I received a telephone call giving me an appointment for the local hospital NHS head and neck clinic for 22nd July. They had managed to just meet their target by 1 day! I decided in first instance to take the NHS route and see where it took me.

The First Head and Neck Clinic Appointment

I sat in the corridor, annoyed at myself for not bringing a better newer face mask than the screwed up slightly grubby version I found in my jacket pocket, as people all around me it suddenly had dawned on me were here in a Ear Nose and Throat capacity and were coughing and sneezing all over the show. I heard the ever present voice in my head <<< well if you weren't sick before you damn well will be now coming here >>> After what seemed like hours and breathing in about 8 versions of respiratory disease including Bubonic Plague, Covid and Spanish flu, I finally got called into a room with a consultant who failed to tell me his name and 2 nurses. I briefly recapped what the GP had sent them to be true and he asked me all the questions which I have found since to be the default 'has this person got cancer' interrogation list.

No. My voice hasn't changed, No I haven't got a sore throat or swallowing issues. No. I haven't lost weight <<< Hahahaha you wish Fatty >>>

Then he asked to have a feel of my throat and said he wanted to do a nasendoscopy and he'd spray some spray down my throat. This all went ahead pretty drama free with lots of 'ahhh'ssss and eeeeee'sss' He told me, and showed me the video he'd just recorded that there was no sign of anything and although he didn't think it was anything, he was sending me round to the ultra sound department for a scan and maybe a biopsy. So 2 hours later I left the hospital, after being told by the ultra scan department, the lump looked smooth and had a bright hilum, all signs of no cancer, they took 4 core biopsies which I have to say were a bit uncomfortable but nothing to be particularly traumatised by, and told it would be at least a 2 -3 weeks wait and I'd get a call or a letter. Life could soon go back to normal. The lump was very quiet on the way home.