The other day I arrived home to a letter with the distinctive blue UCL franking mark; the type of envelope in which results of scans and blood tests for the ovarian cancer screening study used to arrive.
This time last year seeing one of these envelopes lying on the doormat caused more than a moment of anxiety. The result may, or indeed may not, have been reassuring but always it was preceded by days of apprehension, anxiety when seeing it had arrived and a tense moment when opening the envelope and pulling out the letter.
Now, with the study over, my last test this time last year and no results outstanding, there was no anxiety on seeing the envelope. Just an element of curiosity followed by pleasure when I found that it contained details of a forthcoming event I plan to attend.
What a difference a year makes.
