Chemotherapy. That's the next step for me. On Monday (Sept. 26) I went to the Cancer Center for a brief educational tour of the Infusion center. The wing had a very open floor plan, but still afforded privacy for each patient. Each patient area had a comfortable (treatment) lounge chair, tv, chair for a companion, and access to beverages. My visit (lasting about one hour) was a one on one mini tour with an experienced Infusion floor nurse. She explained procedures to me ... side effects ... advised me about medications I would be taking during my Chemo treatments, and answered all the questions I had. She had also given me a packet of literature covering a wide range of information concerning chemotherapy treatment.
When all is said and done, I left the Cancer Center feeling overwhelmed. Maybe consumed is a better word. Fear, anger, sadness ... I knew I would only be going for 4 treatments of chemo ... but that didn't make it any less consuming. Why was this happening to me? was all I could think of.
Yesterday was a long day. Went to see the whole team. I started with the medical oncologist first. CHEMO. I don't hate the word. It is just a word that frightens me. As she had originally told me, the doctor again recommended 4 treatments at 3 week intervals. I know it is the best recommended treatment for Triple Negative Breast Cancer. And I know that different people react differently to the treatment. I have stomach issues ... and Chemo tends to make nausea all the more intolerable. I was told about nausea medications administered during treatment and for after. Maybe I'll be one of the fortunate ones and things won't be so bad. Either way I can't do much about it. I will take each treatment as it comes. There is really no choice here. Maybe God will give me a break with this one. It's bad enough I'll probably lose my hair. But on the plus side ... I love wearing hats! I don't know if I want to do the ... wig thing. My first treatment will be October 6th. Hopefully I will be finished about 2 weeks before Christmas.
Second stop ... the surgical oncologist. My incisions healed beautifully. No problems except a slight allergic reaction to the bandages (actually the edges where it adhered to my skin.) Steri-strips were put on and will no doubt be falling off in a few days. Good movement in my arm and shoulder. I believe that's due to the fact that I'm left-handed and my surgery was on my left breast. Had been using my left hand and arm quite a bit during the past 2 weeks after surgery. Couldn't help it. I am VERY- LEFT HANDED ... if you know what I mean.
Third stop ... radiologist. He explained things to me very clearly. About a month after Chemo ends I will be seeing him 5 days a week for 6-7 weeks. He told me his patients tell him that radiation is a "piece of cake" compared to everything else. I will probably be one more patient that will be saying the same thing to him. At least, I hope I'll be.
I guess I am ready ....
It's been nine days since my surgery. Most of the bruising has faded. The incisions are healing very nicely. Not a lot of pain, only twinges now and then. I did have one issue a few days later that drove me ... crazy! Blistering and itching where the edges of the bandages covering the incisions under my arm and on the top of my breast met the skin!
Naturally, I panicked. I called the oncology nurse and described what was going on and she made an appointment for me to come in see my surgeon on September 12th. My husband, Bill - my rock - was right beside me.
It turned out to be nothing serious. Probably a reaction to the tape edges of the bandage. My Oncology surgeon checked me over ... happy with the way everything was healing. As far as the blisters and the itching, he cut the tape away from the area that was causing my discomfort and advised me to use some Bacitracin for the blistered skin.
I left the office feeling relieved, but found the situation hadn't really resolved itself when I followed his advice after I had gotten home. All the Bacitracin did was leave the skin continually moist and the blisters kept reforming. I decided to try another course. Twice a day I gently washed the areas and carefully patted them dry. Then I took a small bit of talcum powder and lightly dusted the areas where the tape and skin met. Voila! Problem solved in less than two days!
You might think I had over-reacted a bit, and I probably had - but the visit had also ended with an unexpected bit of wonderful news. The doctor had gotten my test results back and everything was - great! My lymph nodes were unaffected by the cancer - and the margins around the removed tissue were clean! Thank you, God!
My first follow-up appointment with my team is September 20th. Wish me luck!
Three days have past since my surgery. I am sore, bruised, have some swelling, and feel tugging when I move my left arm. When I look at myself, it isn't a very pretty sight.
At least I still have almost all of my left breast. The Oncology surgeon removed the cancerous lump or "tumor" as well as some of the healthy tissue that surrounded it called "margins". In my case, the surgery was a "wire-localized" lumpectomy. Because my lump could not be felt by the surgeon, prior to the surgery, under local anesthesia, a radiologist had placed a thin wire into the abnormal area in my left breast to guide in the removal of the cancerous growth during the actual surgery.
Can't forget the blue dye. The radiologist also did a Sentinel Node Mapping procedure. Also under local anesthesia, the radiologist injected a blue dye/radioactive substance into my breast above the nipple. The dye then flows to the first lymph node - The Sentinel Lymph Node. The Sentinel Lymph Node is the first node where cancer would most likely have spread. In my case, the surgeon removed two lymph nodes which would be sent out for additional testing.
After the above two procedures, I remember being wheeled out of my room and down the hall toward the operating room. Someone remarked that they were giving me some "Happy Juice" to help me relax. I remember being wheeled into the operating room ... the bright overhead lights ... and then nothing until I woke up in recovery a few hours later.
I had spent about 9 hours at the hospital in total. I arrived home about 5:30 that evening. Although I had not eaten since the day before the surgery, I was not all that hungry when I got home. I managed to eat some crackers and jello. I was actually more thirsty than anything else, but took only small sips. I didn't know how my stomach would react. During the surgery I was given drugs to control any problems with nausea. Thankfully, I had no problems then or afterward.
That night I "hurt", but did manage to sleep for short stretches. I was glad the day was over.
It's Monday September 5th, 2016. It also happens to be Labor Day ... the last hurrah to Summer. I'm in a low key, mellow mood. At least I'm trying to be.
I am having a breast lumpectomy on Wednesday, September 7th. I've had a few surgeries in my 65 years ... a gallbladder removed in 2008 and a hernia repair in 2010. Yes, women do get hernias. This upcoming surgery though is different. Guess you could say it's more ... personal. More woman defining.
I'm trying not to dwell on it, but that's easier said than done. I am not a religious person ... but I am a spiritual person. I trust in a higher power and that gives me ... comfort. There are many ugly things in this world, but beautiful things far out way the ugly. A sunrise ... a baby's smile, a flower ... just to name a few. I intend to enjoy the lovely things for a long, long time ....
the sight of a Heavenly Blue Morning Glory to greet me as the day begins
and the image of a White Moon flower to brighten my spirits as the evening sets in.
