This week has been busy, and it’s not even over yet. One of the things I had to do, was go to London for a hospital appointment… are we surprised?

Since I stopped the chemo in July, the functioning of my remaining  adrenal gland needs to be tested. Mitotane, the chemo I was on, acts by destroying the adrenal gland, the idea is therefore that it kills off the cancerous cells, the healthy adrenal cells are the collateral damage. Without any functioning adrenal gland a person would need to take replacement steroids, to keep them alive. Damage was already done to my adrenal gland when I had the cancer inside me. Because the cancer was producing excess steroid hormones, the other one went into hibernation.

It’s rare but not unheard of for an adrenal gland to “wake up”.

To find out a Short synacthen test is performed. Last time this was attempted I had an adrenal crisis, a truly horrific experience I never want repeating. So going in I was nervous.

Here’s how it goes.

I missed my morning dose of hydrocortisone, the steroid used to replace the cortisol I can’t produce. Once at the hospital I am cannulated and my blood is taken, then I’m injected with something that stimulates my adrenal gland, half an hour later more blood is taken and a further half an hour after that blood is taken again. The results, when they come back, will show how well, if at all my adrenal gland is functioning.

It was, thankfully a boring appointment. When sometimes it can feel like nothing goes right for me where hospitals are concerned, a boring appointment is warmly welcome.

All I can say is I hope it’s working, so I can come of these steroids!!!

After the appointment I met up with someone I’ve spoken to for a few months now. She became a member of the of the ACC group I’m in when her husband was diagnosed with ACC. her husband is currently in hospital recovering from surgery, and as we were both there, we met for a drink. It’s a strange relationship that builds when something like cancer connects people. Meeting her was lovely. Something she said stuck with me, in so many areas I think this should be applied. She spoke of holding onto any hope, even if things seem bleak.

Hope doesn’t necessarily mean setting unrealistic expectations for the future. But hope can m give you the drive and strength to keep going when everything feels impossible.

There’s a few things I’m hopeful for right now. I just hope things go my way this time.