Not the car insurer, no silly dogs here. The end of the beginning passed last week with Sarah's final radio therapy session. Treatment all over, with a little remaining cosmetic tidying up to come around June/July. But the cancer related work is finished.

We met with Alison the oncologist this morning who explained what happens next. Every three months for the foreseeable future Sarah will have a series of tests to establish if any of the cancer cells have survived and having lain dormant decided to make their unwelcome presence felt. Almost certainly if this were to happen the cancer would metastasise, in other words appear some where else in her body. Scarily there is no cure today if this happens, just management of the cancer with the goal of prolonging life. You can fill in the blanks.

The test's include CT scans, blood tests, vitamin D and calcium. CT every 6 months. The blood for cancer markers, vit D and calcium in case of osteoporosis as a result of the chemo potentially triggering the menopause.

Unconsciously prompted by me Alison offered to calculate Sarah's exact statistical likelihood of the cancer returning, using all of the data points related to her situation. I'll confess I bottled it. Knowing it's "about a 70% chance you'll still be alive in 10 years" some how felt better than "it's X.Y%". Knowing that number doesn't change anything if it does come back. There's a right and wrong side of this line, your either "it" or "not it".

I asked the question, if the worse happens what would we regret doing or not doing that might change this outcome. Live healthy & exercise but accept that there is fundamentally nothing you can do. You'll just be unlucky. Which seems to be putting it mildly. Being triple negative and not hereditary means that most of the breast cancer advice you hear about doesn't apply to Sarah. Essentially because the advice you tend to read about relates to increased oestrogen levels caused by, for instance alcohol. One small thing Sarah can do is to take a small dose of aspirin daily. There is some research being conducted that it can have a positive effect on some cancers. In five years they will know if this includes breast cancer. Nothing ventured, nothing gained and no harm done if tried.

Life goes on and the waiting begins. Carpe diem.

Rob.