Surgery

On Wednesday it happened. I had my double mastectomy. The doctors removed one sentinel lymph node on th right side, the side with the cancer. That node was negative on the initial pathology in the OR. On December 1 I will get the final report, I am confident that that report will also be negative.  My hospital stay was an amazingly short 27 hours.  I was given a spinal block which is an amazing thing.  The doctors said it generally lasts about 24 hours, I think mine is actually wearing off now at 40+ hours later.   The pain levels have been low and easily managed. Being flat chested is very strange and will take some getting use to. I have only seem myself completely unbandaged once. It is difficult to look at but the scars mean I kicked cancer's ass.

No more chemo.

I haven't updated in a while and for that I apologize. A quick recap of the last few weeks.

Before cycle 5 I celebrated my baldness with friends by having a henna party. My friends were able to have their hands or feet henna-ed and I had my bald head done. Asma did an amazing job.  

I had a wonderful time.

In the middle of cycle 5 our new granddaughter decided to make an early appearance. 

Emma Jane, born October 5, weight 4 lbs 8 oz. I think she came early to have more to snuggle with Grammy before my surgery.

Cycle 6, the last one!

 On our way out of the infusion center we rang the bell, TOGETHER, because that is how we did this. I could not have done it without Patrick.

Half way through cycle 6 I had a visit from Ian and Moira. I was wonderful to see them.  Of course if Moira was here a trip to the American Girl Doll store was necessary. 

 

Unfortunately at the end of their visit I spiked a fever and had to go to the emergency room. I had a "touch" of pneumonia and my electrolytes were seriously low. 8 hours in the ER and I was able to go home.  

At the 3 week point after chemo I was feeling better. We visited Dr K and found that my platelet levels were high enough to go out on the bike again!  I still have herceptin treatments every 3 weeks but they are easy. There are 10 of those left. Easy peasy! 

Last week, I truely started to have more energy. I had a list of things I wanted to do in my last week before my double mastectomy. All of that was put on hold. Monday afternoon I went to check on my mother in law only to find that she had fallen. She hit her head and broke her hip. Patrick and I have spent this week sitting at the hospital with Mom. She has been in traction that whole time and unable to move, she needs help with everything. Her surgery for a partial hip replacement has been scheduled several times but keeps having to be postponed. Now we are looking at Monday for surgery. Tuesday is my 10 hour pre-op day at MDA and Wednesday is my surgery day, a double mastectomy without reconstruction. Life is crazy right now but we are managing one day ( some times one hour) at a time.

Cycle 4 day 9

My daughter has reminded me that I have not updated my blog. If I am being honest with myself and you it is because I have been a little blue.  Each round has been a little more difficult. I have nausea, diarrhea, mouth sores, head aches, fatigue, body aches, numbness in my legs, muscle spasms in my eyes, incredible heartburn and nothing tastes good, nothing!  My first two weeks of each cycle are spent just managing side effects. The medicines make me sleepy and unable to focus on anything.  I miss my life, I miss my creative outlets, I miss food, I miss my hair.  I know I have only two chemo cycles left but after fifteen years of medical issues and four rounds of chemo I am tired. Two more rounds of chemo are not the end. I have to have a double mastectomy and six months of herceptin therapy. I know I can do it I really do but it's hard . 

Cycle 3 day 8

My imagining results are amazing. My molecular breast imagining report says,   "The known carcinoma has markedly improved, with only residual non-mass 1.8 x 1.0 cm moderate uptake at 10 - 11 o'clock position, 6 cm from the nipple (prior 2.4 x 2.2 x 2 cm). No uptake is seen on the corresponding CC projection in order to obtain the 3rd measurement. No other suspicious lesions seen in the remaining breast. "

The chemo is worth it. The tumor is shrinking!

Cycle 3 day 1

It has been another 12+ hour day at MD Anderson. Labs, Dcotor, visit, ultrasound, mammogram, molecular breast imagining, more labs and chemo. They could not detect my tumor on the mammogram! On ultrasound it measure a little less than 1 cm. It is now less than half its original size. It's after 7 PM and chemo is almost finished. I received a new premedication to help with the nausea and vomiting and another new med to help with the diarrhea that plagues me in the second week. Hopefully these help week one and two be a little better. I also got a prescription for my head prosthesis a.k.a wig. I am not sure a wig is for me but insurance covers it so I took the prescription and I will think on it. Thank you all for your well wishes. They are working. We are kicking cancer's ass!

Cycle 2 day 20, no hair

Well I did it, I had my head shaved. I just couldn't take the slow progression into baldness. The hair tickling my shoulders, arms and back felt like a bug crawling on my. I lost so much hair in the shower on Friday morning that my hair was looking thin and scraggly. 

It was time. 

Two more days until cycle 3. 

Cycle 2, day 15, hair

You know from the beginning that your going to loose your hair. You cut it short and donate what you can. You buy scarves and evaluate your hat collection. You think your prepared. Your not! I run my hand through my hair and my hand comes away covered in hair. I am not sure what to do. Do I hold on to my hair as long as possible? Do I shave it? I didn't cry when they told me I had cancer but seeing my hair in my hands brings tears.