The roller coaster rushes on

Well, the great day dawned and we went off to see the surgeon.
He's tall, handsome, Italian and seems very confident and competent. I have only met him once before, and that was the day that he told me that I had cancer, so I wasn't really terribly together at the time, but all the research I have done tells me that he's one of the good guys and that I am lucky to have him as my surgeon.
He reports that all has gone well with the chemo - the tumour is very much reduced, the MRI shows a huge reduction in size. He did an ultrasound scan and said that the thing is now 11x14mm, which is much better than the 4cm diameter mass that was there before! He also found (and showed me on the scan) a large cyst in my left breast, which I hadn't even noticed and can't find now! But it's just a cyst and doesn't need any intervention at all.
After he'd finished scanning and I had put my clothes on again, we talked about the surgery. Initially dates in mid-December were discussed, and looking over his shoulder his diary does seem very full! However, when we waved the magic wand that is health insurance, mid November suddenly came within reach. I don't want to go into the posh private hospital quite near to my house (although it's very nice and comfortable) - I would rather use the private suite at the big local hospital, for two reasons - a) the company that runs the posh hospital has plenty of money and doesn't need my contribution and b) if anything goes wrong, I would rather that there was an ITU and emergency care team on site!
So in the end we are scheduled for next Saturday morning. It's a couple of weeks sooner than the NHS would be able to do it - not a huge difference, clinically it makes little odds and it would only have been a month to wait. However, it gets it over with which makes me feel better (I want the wretched thing gone!), and more importantly it means that it will all be over and I will be fit in time for the much-longed-for tickets for a certain show in mid December!
PS - the much awaited bath last night was bliss!!!!