Thunder and lightning rocked the house around 5am. Seems ironic since that's how I've been feeling for the last couple of days.
My son came to bed with us. Even at age 11, he's still afraid of the thunder and needs his mom. It was nice laying between my two favorite men.
By 8am I was at the docs office. Seems the tumors aren't so bad. They are slow growing, fueled by estrogen. The bigger one is less than 2 centimeters. They are in the same quadrant of the breast, so the doc feels she can take them both out with a lumpectomy.
Apparently, the lumpectomy comes with some hardware. The morning of the surgery, I go the place where I got the biopsy. With ultrasound, they insert 2 wires. One for each tumor. THEN, they inject some radioactive dye into my lymph nodes. I asked if I would get some Spidey powers and they were pretty sure that I would! I always wanted to shoot people with my web!
Actually, the procedure is called....sentinel-node biopsy. It's blue dye and they say I will actually become smurf-like for 24hrs. So, I'll be Smurfette! The dye will go into my lymph nodes. Once the wires and dye are in me...they will take me across the street to the hospital where the doctor will be waiting. The doc will have a scanner that will show which node is most radioactive and she will remove it. She will send the node to the lab, while doing the lumpectomy, the lab will determine if the all the lymph-nodes need to be removed. If not...good for me and I'll be done. If so, she will remove them at that time.
After all that is done, I will go home. It's out-patient surgery. They claim there isn't much pain associated with this procedure and some patients even go out to dinner that night....however....I plan on milking it for everything it's worth. Surely I can at least get out of doing the laundry!
Anyway, 3 or 4 weeks after surgery, I'll start radiation. I will have to go 5 days a week, for 7 weeks. Apparently, it's a lot like getting an chest x-ray. Not much side effects. Mostly fatigue. Surely, I can milk that too!
At this point, the doc doesn't think I'll need chemo. Thank God for that! Of course the lumpectomy will tell the full tale and so we will see. If I do have chemo, they have guaranteed that I will lose my hair! Yippeeeee! Bald is beautiful!
As horrible as it all sounds, it doesn't sound tooooo bad! Things could be a whole lot worse. For now I'll just have to take it one step at a time.
So that was my day.....how was yours?
Grace, sounds good, seems they caught it early,if the lymph nodes are clear it's all good.
ReplyDeleteStill praying for you and yours.
Love and warm hugs,
Paul.
Oh, dear, haven't been popping in for a bit - poor timing on my part. Will add you to my prayers, but you DEFINITELY have the strength and the family to take care of this. One step at a time, lots of support out there if you want it.
ReplyDeleteDear Grace,
ReplyDeleteI've got a great visual of you with your smurfette hat. Love the spidey powers, ever so jealous!! I was speaking to another blogger about how she hadn't a clue she carried positive influence to many. She dealt with her burdens like a humorous trouper. You my dear are also on the list - because you, Grace, are a joy! Prayers for medical wisdom and a continued happy and healing heart.
Grace this is wonderful news! I can tell you are relieved because your sense of humor is at an all time high.
ReplyDeleteI have a few questions though. Isn't getting taken out to dinner part of "milking it?" I mean I don't think you should cook after a lumpectomy. After my lumpectomy they said no housework for a week. You better get this clarified with the doctor, and I'd get it in writing.
Another thing I want to know. You say after they insert these wires in you, they will take you across the street? How? Will you get to ride in an ambulance? Woohoo! Or will two techs just walk you across the street with these wires hanging out of you?
Well radiation sure beats chemo, but 7 weeks yikes! You might better run out and buy lots of new clothes. That's a long time to go without doing laundry!
Personally I think I am going to keep praying. I think it's working! Keep us up to date.
Love and Huggs!
Theresa
Grace, in the grand scheme of things, this is good news. It is still a process. I'm still thinking about you and trying to send positive thoughts from the right side of the country to the left side! Hope you are feeling it. :)
ReplyDeleteYour post was upbeat and I hope that you are feeling better.
Hugs,
Debbie :)
{{Hugs}} Grace!
ReplyDeleteKristy
You're gonna be just fine. Like I told PK on the phone yesterday... I don't know one single person who's died from breast cancer but I know a half dozen or so survivors... you'll be one. I'm certain of that. Love you!!!
ReplyDeleteEva
I smiled at this plan. At the moment unless they had told you the whole thing was a mistake it's about the best you could hope to hear.
ReplyDeleteCheck your insurance - there must be a maid clause for radiation treatments. And I'm not exactly sure where I read it but I'm sure I read somewhere that fun spankings really boost the bodies immune system. Maybe I didn't read it, maybe I wrote it - but I'm sure it's true. Tell Bossman you read it somewhere out here.
Love you
PK
Grace, Praying for you and your family. I agree with PK, there must be a maid clause and gg spankings will aid in healing and boost spirits.
ReplyDeleteAll joking aside, do consider checking in with your local breast cancer groups. They are incredibly considerate about backing off and giving only the support you want if you are unsure about wanting anything, but they can tell you what resources are available. I did read something recently about maid service offered in one area free of charge for a few hours weekly for women, but, of course, I don't remember if it was for chemo or radiation or either, or if it was a local program...
ReplyDeleteJust had a thought - that's something that one of those friends who is asking "what can I do?" could do for you. I know I always feel better when I can offer concrete help.
ReplyDeleteGrace,
ReplyDeleteYour positive outlook is wonderful.
I picture smurfette running through the hospital with her gown open in the back, shooting spidey webs at all the doctors and nurses creating real havoc. Hmmm maybe she will need a spanking for all the mayhem.
And I am positive that doing laundry and cooking are detrimental to your health. Thoughts and prayers and continued good wishes.
C
Ok first of all Grace does laundry once a month so getting out of laundry would be like not doing laundry for a year. So I think my plan will be that you need to keep your mind off of things which means more work and a great bit of spankings.
ReplyDeleteHey what am I here for if not to love you as much as humanly possible.