Well, I am still hanging in there. This surgery is no joke. I am tired of being tired. I am tired of being sore. I am tired of depending on other people to do things for me. I am just tired! I have never taken pain pills for 10 days straight, until now. It has been pretty uncomfortable.
I saw my surgeon on Tuesday. I really like her a lot. She removed one of my drains...woot woot. She went over my path report with me. She was able to remove all of the cancer :) the margins were all clear. That is really good because they don't know for sure when they are doing surgery that they are getting it all. It's not like the cancer is blue haha. Would be nice if it was. She also removed 28 nodes and only two had any cancer in them. I totally freaked out when she said she removed 28 nodes. I was like what the heck does that mean? She an my oncologist explained it to me like this......they said that our nodes are like a bunch of grapes dangling down in my armpit area and when they do surgery they go in and grab that bunch. Some people may have a few, others 10,20,30. The better news was that only two of the 28 were positive for cancer. There were probably more nodes that had cancer in them, but the chemo took care of them.
It was really nice having my mom here for a few days and then my sister here for a few days. Great to have family around. Haley has been home also and that too has been really nice.
Yesterday I noticed that my other drain had drastically started to drain less. They had told me that once I was down to draining 30ml or less I could have the drain removed. I called and headed back to Swedish to get that drain removed. My nurse wasn't totally happy with me and was feeling that I should keep it in a little longer. She wanted me to be draining under 30ml for a couple days. I was in Seattle, again this week, and I wanted that icky drain removed. So she removed it :). Of course reminding me of some things that can happen if I continue to drain. I was instructed to totally take it easy and do nothing. Well that is what I have been doing for 10 days anyway so should be pretty easy. Also I need to watch for any puffy or squishy areas. I think so far so good. Still all looks the same to me. It is SO nice to have those drains out. I have so much less discomfort. Actually, this is the first day I have not taken a pain pill. Yay for that!!
This next week I see my radiation oncologist and I see a physical therapist. I am anxious now to start radiation. Lets just keep on rolling and get this done. My friend Libby just finished her radiation today. Lucky dog!! I hope to start May 21st. The nurse yesterday said you have to be 30 days out of surgery. No one told me that before. They have always said 3-4 weeks past surgery depending on how you are healing. So I guess we will see what the radiation oncologist says next week. I want to get started! Once I start radiation I will have to have 30 hits. That will be everyday Monday - Friday for six weeks. I have heard it is more of a nuisance than anything. As far as what I go through, it should be a piece of cake compared to everything else. So that's good news.
I need to see a PT to get my arm back in motion. I have been doing exercises. But my arm is really sore. It will move in all directions, but it hurts!
OH OH OH......on Tuesday I get my port removed :) Will be so nice to not have this big purple bump above my chest anymore. Dan calls it my over grown zit......eeeww
I thank each and everyone of you for your continued support, encouragement, well wishes, prayers, thoughts and LOVE.
Sounds like your journey is moving right along. So happy the pathology report came out good, drains out and soon the port will be gone. Luv you so much your Sis :)
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