Page 61 of My Summer of Magic Moments

‘Religiously, morning and night. Not found anything at all, and I did a really thorough check in the shower this morning.’

‘Okay. Good.’

The doctor finished her examination and Claire got dressed as the doctor went back to her desk. She came out from behind the curtain and sat down.

‘Right, I’d like to send you for a CT scan. Just to be on the safe side, especially with your history. And they may then want to do a biopsy. I’ll also inform your oncologist.’

‘I see.’ So this was how it all began. Oh God. Shush, you’ll be okay, another voice in her mind soothed.

‘I have a strong feeling this is more likely to be an infection. Something’s set off your lymph nodes. But we’ll err on the side of caution. Though it may well just settle down by itself. I’d like to take some bloods while you’re here so we can test for infection, and I’ll also ensure we do a complete blood count.’

‘Okay.’

She readied herself for the needle in her inner elbow; she was used to it – needles became the norm after a while in hospital. Putting the line in for chemo. All those blood tests.

‘I’m going to prescribe some antibiotics so that if it is bacterial, we’re already countering it. And in the meanwhile, I’ll refer you immediately for a CT scan and put it on fast-track. You should hear directly from the Freeman Hospital in the next day or so. Can I just check your contact details are up to date?’

So, Claire confirmed her mobile and email address. And then she would have to wait.

‘Thank you.’ She stood to go.

‘You’re welcome. And if there are any changes or concerns in the next few days, pop straight back in to see me.’

The worry of waiting. And then it was all a whirl. Two days later and she was in hospital for a scan. Drinking her cup of contrast dye. Being laid out on the flat bed, then moved slowly through the scanner, trying her best to stay totally still. It felt like she was in a sci-fi movie. Then another wait for results and a chat with the consultant – inconclusive on the nature of the lump. Her emotions were in roller-coaster mode. And, she had to keep feigning tooth problems and trips to the dentist to cover her time off from work.

A biopsy was booked for the following Monday, after race day. Another wait. Another few days of hiding her fear from her family, her friends. She nearly caved in and revealed all to Andrea at work on the Thursday, but she really didn’t want to worry them all unnecessarily. And it was nearly the day of the Pretty Muddy race. At least that would keep her busy over the weekend. Training was all done. They’d had a gentle jog midweek as a wind-down, and now Bella’s Babes were as ready as they’d ever be for their big charity event. She was a bit tired, but there was no way she was missing out on this, and if it was bad news from the biopsy, then it would mean more than ever to have done this. She wanted to kick cancer up its horrid arse.

27

Doing something to help someone else

Saturday – the Pretty Muddy Race for Life day. Bella’s Babes are coming at ya!

‘Oh my God, look at that!’

Claire was driving them into the car-parking field for the event. Women were staggering back to their cars clarted up with mud – it was in their hair, all over their faces, caked on to clothes that were hardly distinguishable, drying on their bare legs. It looked like something from an apocalyptic movie. The last of the walking dead or something.

‘Whoa! Okaaay.’

‘Looks like we’re in for some fun …’

It was head-to-toe with the brown stuff.

‘Right,’ Andrea announced, ‘so we’re on at ten-thirty, and it’s now a quarter to.’

‘Time for some pre-run limbering up,’ Lou said chirpily.

‘How the hell do you limber up for this?’ Sal asked wryly.

They all got out of the car. They had numbers to safety-pin onto their bright-pink T-shirts. Claire had had the tees taken to a printer’s and got ‘Bella’s Babes’ stamped across the back. Though if the other runners were anything to go by, no one would be able to read anything printed on them after a few minutes.

They did a few hopeful stretches, including their flamingo move, propped against the side of the car.

‘Ready?’

‘Not really,’ Andrea responded.

They spotted two more women heading back to the car opposite. They smiled across at them, and the women gave a grin back – at least they were still smiling from beneath the mud.