Week 23: Post Op Check-in

Last week was a very busy week - I had follow ups with my oncologist, surgeon, radiation oncologist and I had my first physical therapy session. But first, the surgeon.


So what did they find?

• The surgeon decided to remove 4 lymph nodes, all of which tested negative for cancer - a tremendous relief for us. This is significant.
• As had been seen in the MRI, the pathology confirmed the shrinkage of the tumour and the surgeon had clear margins (that is, no cancer around the excision site). All good.
• The surgeon said everything was healing up quite nicely and at the appointment removed my drains. (After surgery, the surgeon leaves tubes attached to the surgery site that drain into plastic containers shaped like grenades. It drains lymphatic fluid and prevents infection.) The care and management of those drains (I had 4), while not painful in themselves was a very big hassle. The process of checking the drains, changing dressings, wrapping bandages etc., all without having the kids see me was quite an effort. Now that the drains have been removed, I feel more normal. I think the psychological effects of having those things in were greater than the physical. But enough of the gory stuff.
• My oncologist reviewed the pathology report, which showed atypical cells on my non-cancer side, which could potentially develop into cancer, further confirmation that the bilateral was the best decision for me.

 So what's next?

• I have some fluid build up at one of the drainage sites, so I have to wear some compression garments to try to reduce that, but at least I can shower more normally.
• The visit to the radiation oncologist was a status check - if I was able to move my arms more, he would have measured me for my radiation treatments. As it is, I'll have to go back this week and start radiation (1 of 33 daily treatments), next week.
• I saw the physical therapist for an evaluation and she showed me some exercises I need to do to improve my mobility. I will go weekly for about a month to get myself back in order.

So time is marching on, I still feel sore, swollen, tender and numb all at the same time in various places. My arm is still sore on the right and I can't reach and stretch very well. I don't feel comfortable walking with my back straight yet.  The severity and frequency of my eye-twitching is less. The pain in my fingers is gone, but thumb and index fingers on both hands don't feel quite right, not painful, just a little odd. Perhaps I have lost some sensation there, and my fingernails are still purply.

 And what about Lucas?
As you can see from my book shelf I am reviewing my diet. But wait, where are all those parenting books I so obviously need? Well, those books are great to give you a gazillion and one ideas of what to do with your child, but since my child can only action 3 basic items at a time (and then over a period of weeks), those wonderful books would be purely academic at this point. For now, Lucas' first week back in school seems to have gone without incident.

We are plugging on. I hope many of you were able to support or participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure this past weekend in Austin. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to, but thank you to everyone who was able to do it.