Breast cancer diagnosis

I often think of you, and always send thoughts of strength and well-being.

Ditto ditto ditto!

It is the second week of my six weeks of radiation. So far, no ill effects. Last week, my H asked my radiology doctor to further explain the risks and rewards of radiation (to which I added that my surgeon said I didn't need it). She's the type of doctor who loves to explain to her patients everything she knows (love doctors that give out a lot of information ). She pulled up images of my first PET scan showing where all the cancer was. I had a modified left radical mastectomy which means they took all the breast tissue but none of the muscle (they used to take some of the peck muscle too). Even though they removed more than a dozen lymph nodes, there was one (possibly two) small one behind the muscle, near my collar bone that looked cancerous (but was never biopsied) and after my chemotherapy she felt it still looked a little suspicious. I feel better about getting the radiation now. She added in a funny way that I am not glowing green either. She has a wonderful bedside manner.

I am now very sunburned in the area below my left collarbone and above the mastectomy scar. I have a couple of creams that I apply to it often. Some reddening/darkening from my lower left neck to the area under my arm pit to a couple of inches below my mastectomy scar. Seven more treatments and then I am done. I am so grateful that I have healthcare. It saved or extended my life. I want all our citizens to have affordable healthcare. For a while, I sold/signed people up for a variety of healthcare plans. I know how expensive it is. When my mental health crisis resulted in me being in the hospital for nearly a month (two operations), my "healthcare plan" was bankruptcy. I have forgotten how much the bill was but the amount owed to the hospital was much more than our house is worth.

I had a CAT scan on Tuesday and was able to view the results yesterday. It did not show any signs of the cancer returning. I also recently was fitted for and received three bras with one prosthetic and a compression sleeve and glove to help prevent swelling in my left arm where my lymph nodes were removed. Interestingly, I sweat under my right arm but not my left. I still shave under my right arm but no longer have any hair under my left arm--perhaps the radiation removed the hair. My next appointments having to do with this diagnosis are in June (mammography on my right breast) and July (appointment with the plastic surgeon), so the next updates will likely be about when I get reconstruction surgery. In the meantime, having the prosthetic is better than before, my H joked that my adjustments of the fiberfill I was using (it would creep up when I walked) reminded him of Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies . No need to make those adjustments anymore--the new bras have a pocket for the prosthetic.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful news!

I forgot Granny used to do that! I always thought she was adjusting a sack of squirrels on her back! Your H is funny!

He IS funny sometimes! Does it mean that I am bipolar that some days I laugh at all his jokes and other days I can't, no matter how hard he tries?

Thats an interesting explanation. Sometimes my funny bone just refuses to be tickled, but most of the time it is on a hair trigger. I dont understand it myself.

TunedOut

Just want to add my support. Take good care of yourself.

You've been very rational in your words of support in my posts. Thank you!

My infusaport (a device in my chest where they gave me my chemotherapy) was removed yesterday. It is still a little sore but it is so good to have it gone. Reconstructive surgery still is not scheduled because I am following the advice of one of my doctors who said I will get better results if I wait a year so the tissue that was treated has a chance to soften up...

It must feel absolutely liberating to have the infusaport gone!

Today I went to work. Before heading back home I made a stop at Walmart for a few items. As I was shopping, I noticed an older (quite old) lady shopping with lots of Gatorade in her cart, a loaf of white bread and I can't remember the third thing or if there was a fourth.... I ended up at the checkout line (of course it was not self check-out--I like the old fashioned way where there are interactions) with her in front of me. She said, "go ahead, I am going to pick out some candy too.

As I was checking out, she said, "There is not a speck of cancer left--the doctor said: 'No one did it but Jesus!' --it was on an ovary, in my uterus". I said, "I believe!" As I begin driving home, I found myself balling at the first traffic light (red) but it was a happy cry. Coincidence or divine encounter? I am sure it was a divine encounter. If you read this--What do think?

It’s all divine encounter.

a divine encounter