Thank you to everyone who provided such lovely words of support in response to my original post (from the day I got the news).

Originally the plan was surgery in January. However I now have the MRI results and while my ovaries and lymph nodes still look okay, the gynaeoncologist said the tumour is big and visible enough that she doesn't want to take the chance of delaying till after Christmas. So I'm booked in for the hysterectomy in just over 2 weeks. My first instinct was "nooooo, I'm not ready!" But now I want to get it done.

I'll be staying with my parents once I'm out of hospital, probably until my post-op check up - I can't do any lifting over 4 kg - not even shopping bags - or exercise beyond gentle walking for 6 weeks, though I could be okay to drive by the end of the third week, according to the post-op care information from the specialist. It will be a very odd Christmas and New Year (I will miss my cats, but they'll be staying at a cattery where they will be doted upon and spoilt rotten, so they love it there) but all being well I'll be fine by mid to late January.

As I'm saying to every woman I know - any weird changes to your menstrual cycle, especially more pain and heavy bleeding (or bleeding after menopause), please get it checked - ask around for recommendations for a good female doctor in your community who understands women's reproductive health, if your normal GP just handwaves it away as "it's normal for your age, take a Panadol and lose some weight blah blah blah". My natural instinct is "ignore it and it will go away" and I'm so glad I didn't do that this time.

Oh, and I finally replaced my 20 year old double mattress that had been driving me bonkers for ages; I decided to get the new one sorted beforehand while I can still lift things. I managed to get the old one outside for collection and recycling AND set up the new one (I got one of those which come in a box and then expand) by myself! I was very proud of myself because I thought it would be a two person job.