I've been meaning to blog and report in after meeting with the new plastic surgeon on Monday. She seems awesome. She seems super competent and the meeting went well after a bit of a rocky start. Tracy came with me and while I did almost lose it when the front office staff wanted me to re-fill out the 3 pages of forms it got better from there. When I explained that I had been there Friday and was seeing Dr. J because the other surgeon's schedule was too full they said they would go retrieve my record. I'm guessing the fact that Michele had called basically all of the assistants and schedulers of the random plastic surgeons Friday afternoon probably tipped them off. Again the doctor and the nurse I met with were terrific. I also got to pose in the studio for some more topless/headless pictures. On Friday the doctor just took the pictures, Monday they took me into a lit studio where apparently the person in the office who takes photos works.
She also took the whole process VERY seriously, and clearly doesn't like the idea that the other plastic surgeon just snaps away in the examining room.
MaryAnn is going to come on Monday, apparently I get 2 drains for this surgery - though one is little and is supposed to come out on Thursday. I will stay overnight and then probably go home but the doctor seemed to think I would be okay on my own for the following weekend.
I also spoke to my oncologist, who was also super supportive and who I am seeing post-mastectomy. She also really likes the G-town radiation oncologist who I am currently scheduled to see on Thursday - though it might make sense to postpone that appointment until after surgery when they can get more biopsy results. She (the oncologist) thought I was on the margin between getting radiation and not and thought it wasn't a terrible idea. (There is some evidence of radiation decreasing the probability of recurrence even with mastectomy for tumors of the size mine was.) She did repeat that I do not need more chemo - and I am happy to keep any forward progress I can.
Basically I am in a way better space now mentally - part of this process that is kind of amazing is how long ago things can feel. It feels like way longer than Friday when I met with the doctors.
This weekend I am going to NY to see my parents and sister and family and then my brother and his family come to DC on Tuesday.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Things do look better in the morning
I never did buy the ice-cream yesterday. But after watching a good trippy movie (Across the Universe - Julie Taymour directed, beatles music inspired trip through the 60s), and sleeping and getting out today things seem okay. I went for a walk on the C&O canal, went to a farmer's market and having lunch with my friend Sue I am feeling better. I seem to generally basically only wallow for a day or night and then seem okay with the new information.
Today seems like an okay day as long as the 30 or so people congregating in my neighbor's apartment for the gay pride parade don't drive me too crazy. Sue dropped me off at 3 and besides for the 20something blonde guy smoking and reeking of alcohol by 3 - it was okay that he kept waving but when he wanted a hug I had to draw the line. I would have thought my age, gender and saying I had surgery on my left side so didn't want contact would have done it. He seemed to want details and I said I had surgery on my arm but didn't really want to ruin his mood or discuss my breast cancer with him. I'm trying to remember if I've ever been that drunk at 3pm even when I was 20-something. Maybe when I lived in London during college but I don't even think then .
In the end I'm guessing it's going to come down to how good the concrete walls really are - of course I never heard the twins from upstairs so I'm hopeful I won't be too disturbed. It might be sad that I have gotten old and crotchety.
I will probably see another radiation oncologist to get a sense or consensus on the need for radiation - though I'm guessing I am at a point where going for more agressive treatment seems prudent. I will also figure out what I think of the new plastic surgeon after monday's appointment and figure out how long recovery usually is. I think my friend Mary Ann is going to come stay :).
I'm going to try to stay more active - and just take this one day at a time. (How many cliche's can I put in one sentence.) This also probably means a trip to Westchester to see my folks if I don't have them come post-surgery. I love them but not sure my apartment works for three people - I could maybe have my mom sleep on the futon but I don't think they wouldn't kill each other if they were both on the futon and after my surgery I'm not going to want to be on the futon.
Ir will work out in the end. I might go buy frozen yogurt now.
Happy pride for those celebrating - I will try not to be too cranky, even if the carousing does keep me up :).
Today seems like an okay day as long as the 30 or so people congregating in my neighbor's apartment for the gay pride parade don't drive me too crazy. Sue dropped me off at 3 and besides for the 20something blonde guy smoking and reeking of alcohol by 3 - it was okay that he kept waving but when he wanted a hug I had to draw the line. I would have thought my age, gender and saying I had surgery on my left side so didn't want contact would have done it. He seemed to want details and I said I had surgery on my arm but didn't really want to ruin his mood or discuss my breast cancer with him. I'm trying to remember if I've ever been that drunk at 3pm even when I was 20-something. Maybe when I lived in London during college but I don't even think then .
In the end I'm guessing it's going to come down to how good the concrete walls really are - of course I never heard the twins from upstairs so I'm hopeful I won't be too disturbed. It might be sad that I have gotten old and crotchety.
I will probably see another radiation oncologist to get a sense or consensus on the need for radiation - though I'm guessing I am at a point where going for more agressive treatment seems prudent. I will also figure out what I think of the new plastic surgeon after monday's appointment and figure out how long recovery usually is. I think my friend Mary Ann is going to come stay :).
I'm going to try to stay more active - and just take this one day at a time. (How many cliche's can I put in one sentence.) This also probably means a trip to Westchester to see my folks if I don't have them come post-surgery. I love them but not sure my apartment works for three people - I could maybe have my mom sleep on the futon but I don't think they wouldn't kill each other if they were both on the futon and after my surgery I'm not going to want to be on the futon.
Ir will work out in the end. I might go buy frozen yogurt now.
Happy pride for those celebrating - I will try not to be too cranky, even if the carousing does keep me up :).
Friday, June 12, 2009
Visit with surgeons.
Thought I'd check in though my news is kind of frustrating. I met with the plastic surgeon and team who thought I might need radiation so thought best option for surgery would be to do the mastectomy and put in an expander and do reconstruction (either tissue transfer or implant) after I am done with radiation if I need it. I was bummed this process would be more drawn out but after talking to the radiation oncologist I had thought I would probably need radiation too.
We (BoSoxFox, my steadfast companion) then went to see my general surgeon - while Dr. E was a little surprised about the concurrence about doing radiation she was happy to defer to the experts. We then tried scheduling surgery which the fancy plastic surgeon couldn't do until July 16, even though it would only be 45 minutes of his time since we were only doing the expander surgery and 2 hours earlier they seemed to think they could get it scheduled fairly quickly. This is the point where I basically lost it. After much finagling by Dr. E's assistant I am going to have surgery June 29 with a different plastic surgeon who is interning with the the microsurgery guys putting in the expander. This new doctor is a certified plastic surgeon and my doctor thinks she will do a good job and that I could still have the reconstruction afterward.
I'm not sure why the idea of having surgery on June 29 seems much more doable than mid-July but it seems dealable given I want the cancer out of my body. My sugeon pointed out most of the tumor is gone, so that is good news even though the stuff that's left seems more hardy. So more surgery, then radiation then some decisions about reconstruction but the cancer will be out of my body. I'm trying to figure out if I am being totally irrational and foolish in not waiting the extra 2 1/2 weeks to have the surgery with the more experienced surgeon. If I balk after meeting with the new plastic surgeon on monday I can see about rethinking this whole process.
My surgeon also gave me the option of having the mastectomy and then having the expanders put in later but having another surgery also seems like too much - given the 2 I've already had.
The other thing I'm trying to work out today/tonight is what recovery will look like and what I need to do in terms of having people stay and for how long. My parents are supposed to be going back to Vegas from NY on that day and logistically I'm not sure it would work to have them come up straight from NY.
I'll figure this out this weekend and Monday. Will try and write more or expand this over the weekend.
Kim
We (BoSoxFox, my steadfast companion) then went to see my general surgeon - while Dr. E was a little surprised about the concurrence about doing radiation she was happy to defer to the experts. We then tried scheduling surgery which the fancy plastic surgeon couldn't do until July 16, even though it would only be 45 minutes of his time since we were only doing the expander surgery and 2 hours earlier they seemed to think they could get it scheduled fairly quickly. This is the point where I basically lost it. After much finagling by Dr. E's assistant I am going to have surgery June 29 with a different plastic surgeon who is interning with the the microsurgery guys putting in the expander. This new doctor is a certified plastic surgeon and my doctor thinks she will do a good job and that I could still have the reconstruction afterward.
I'm not sure why the idea of having surgery on June 29 seems much more doable than mid-July but it seems dealable given I want the cancer out of my body. My sugeon pointed out most of the tumor is gone, so that is good news even though the stuff that's left seems more hardy. So more surgery, then radiation then some decisions about reconstruction but the cancer will be out of my body. I'm trying to figure out if I am being totally irrational and foolish in not waiting the extra 2 1/2 weeks to have the surgery with the more experienced surgeon. If I balk after meeting with the new plastic surgeon on monday I can see about rethinking this whole process.
My surgeon also gave me the option of having the mastectomy and then having the expanders put in later but having another surgery also seems like too much - given the 2 I've already had.
The other thing I'm trying to work out today/tonight is what recovery will look like and what I need to do in terms of having people stay and for how long. My parents are supposed to be going back to Vegas from NY on that day and logistically I'm not sure it would work to have them come up straight from NY.
I'll figure this out this weekend and Monday. Will try and write more or expand this over the weekend.
Kim
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Back from Cambridge and still waiting to see the plastic surgeon
(Note lots of random discussion of reconstruction - so if flesh talk makes you squeamish be forewarned.)
Just thought I would check in, though no real news to report. Cambridge was fun and it was great seeing old friends (friends that I've had for 20+ years - none of us are old despite that math, we were apparently toddlers in college) over the weekend and then some newer friends at the conference Sunday-Tuesday. The Harvard undergrads turned out to be safe and the most reckless thing I did was buy 4 pairs of shoes and assorted other clothing with Pam and Taleen. A little retail therapy did me good as did the re-introduction of alcohol back into my life. I'm sticking to one maybe 2 drinks and trying to make them weak. (Yes I had three mojitos yesterday but they were largely mixed with extra sprite and ice and I did have the bartender add more vodka to my orange juice Monday night in Cambridge.) I'm guessing the drinking multiple nights in a row is also not a habit I will keep up but seemed to work this past week. (I didn't drink Wednesday or Thursday.)
Cambridge was beautiful, the conference was interesting though I apparently can handle going to about 3/4's of a day long conference. This was true this past week and at the NTA meetings the week before.
Tracy was a champ at presenting our synthesis non-paper and I basically asked and answered questions. It was interesting being with other people who care about what's happening to locl governments. I may have to apologize to some folks who during the cocktail hours and breaks may have thought they would be coming and having lovely conversations about local finances and what people were working on and ended up finding themselves faced with boob talk. A number of folks at the conference are people I know pretty well and have been following my progress throughout the year. In general, public finance/tax folks are very nice and have been super supportive. But it has in the end meant I've ended up talking about my breasts with way more men than I'd ever have thought. Of course they maybe should just be relieved that I'm not stripping down and showing them my scars, something I've mainly done with women.
Coming back to DC was fine though it has been rainy and dreary. I'm doing okay and while the weekend break was welcome I'm a little sad i passed up the Monday morning meeting with the plastic surgeon - as I am still waiting to see him on Friday.
In the meantime I've started reading about reconstruction. I think I'm leaning towards the free flap surgery - which entails moving flesh, fat and skin but not muscle from the stomach or butt to form a new breast and then reattaching to the blood supply. Upside, it is my own body, doesn't require moving my muscle (tram flaps and other earlier surgeries include moving and using ab or back muscles), and looks more natural(then implants) and if everything goes right, I have a minor second surgery to create a nipple and then I'm done. Down side long (possibly 11 hours) surgery, month-long recovery time (longer than implant recovery) due to 2 incision sites and higher potential for the surgery not to be successful and the flesh could die.
Implant surgery requires putting in a chest expander (unlike cosmetic surgery it goes behind the chest muscle as the skin needs a source of nourishment and the breast flesh is gone) which is partly filled with saline and you need to come in a couple of times for more expansion and then have the final surgery. Downside of implants - will look much more different than other side (implants stay round and perky) , feel less natural and likely will need to be replaced at some point and might require doing something on the other side for symmetry. Upside surgery is quicker, and more surgeons can do this.
Tram flap (the other surgery type using your own body) requires using muscle can take as much time as free flap but it is less tricky since not detaching and reattaching veins and arteries but does involve moving a muscle. Given my back issues I'm not sure I'm ready to use lower ab or back muscles.
I think assuming the plastic surgeon says i am a good candidate I would go for the free flap if we can do it pretty soon. If they don't think this could be done I might go with the implant and potential surgery on the other breast to even things out. The idea of using my muscles kind of freak me out.
I'm having random dreams about not being to have the surgery right away and the cancer remaining in my body is freaking me out. I want this to be over and I'd also hate to have to start recovery all over. My arm and breast are still hurting now - if I'm totally recovered and need to start over I'll be somewhat bummed.
I have names of women who have gone through this decision making process and will begin having discussions. Most of the people I know have had double mastectomy reconstruction - I'm not sure if the considerations are all the same given the symmetry issues don't come into play for them.
Otherwise, things are okay. I'm hoping that things will be somewhat resolved on Friday. I might see about scheduling an appointment with another plastic surgeon for this week to try and have more options.
In other minor news -my hair is coming back (i have even started shaving my legs) and have lost one of my big toe nails - the other one is bound to come off soon as well. They've both been pretty dead since taxol times and have been the other body part I've been somewhat obsessing about. (Of course if we tally it up, most of my body is getting a certain amount of attention - checking on hair, wanting my arm to be less sore and start working, my breast needs to stop aching and the toe-nails. I also need new glasses/contacts but figure that can wait for next flex-period.)
Hope you are all having a good day and best wishes for those participating in the random race for the cure races throughout the country.
Kim
Just thought I would check in, though no real news to report. Cambridge was fun and it was great seeing old friends (friends that I've had for 20+ years - none of us are old despite that math, we were apparently toddlers in college) over the weekend and then some newer friends at the conference Sunday-Tuesday. The Harvard undergrads turned out to be safe and the most reckless thing I did was buy 4 pairs of shoes and assorted other clothing with Pam and Taleen. A little retail therapy did me good as did the re-introduction of alcohol back into my life. I'm sticking to one maybe 2 drinks and trying to make them weak. (Yes I had three mojitos yesterday but they were largely mixed with extra sprite and ice and I did have the bartender add more vodka to my orange juice Monday night in Cambridge.) I'm guessing the drinking multiple nights in a row is also not a habit I will keep up but seemed to work this past week. (I didn't drink Wednesday or Thursday.)
Cambridge was beautiful, the conference was interesting though I apparently can handle going to about 3/4's of a day long conference. This was true this past week and at the NTA meetings the week before.
Tracy was a champ at presenting our synthesis non-paper and I basically asked and answered questions. It was interesting being with other people who care about what's happening to locl governments. I may have to apologize to some folks who during the cocktail hours and breaks may have thought they would be coming and having lovely conversations about local finances and what people were working on and ended up finding themselves faced with boob talk. A number of folks at the conference are people I know pretty well and have been following my progress throughout the year. In general, public finance/tax folks are very nice and have been super supportive. But it has in the end meant I've ended up talking about my breasts with way more men than I'd ever have thought. Of course they maybe should just be relieved that I'm not stripping down and showing them my scars, something I've mainly done with women.
Coming back to DC was fine though it has been rainy and dreary. I'm doing okay and while the weekend break was welcome I'm a little sad i passed up the Monday morning meeting with the plastic surgeon - as I am still waiting to see him on Friday.
In the meantime I've started reading about reconstruction. I think I'm leaning towards the free flap surgery - which entails moving flesh, fat and skin but not muscle from the stomach or butt to form a new breast and then reattaching to the blood supply. Upside, it is my own body, doesn't require moving my muscle (tram flaps and other earlier surgeries include moving and using ab or back muscles), and looks more natural(then implants) and if everything goes right, I have a minor second surgery to create a nipple and then I'm done. Down side long (possibly 11 hours) surgery, month-long recovery time (longer than implant recovery) due to 2 incision sites and higher potential for the surgery not to be successful and the flesh could die.
Implant surgery requires putting in a chest expander (unlike cosmetic surgery it goes behind the chest muscle as the skin needs a source of nourishment and the breast flesh is gone) which is partly filled with saline and you need to come in a couple of times for more expansion and then have the final surgery. Downside of implants - will look much more different than other side (implants stay round and perky) , feel less natural and likely will need to be replaced at some point and might require doing something on the other side for symmetry. Upside surgery is quicker, and more surgeons can do this.
Tram flap (the other surgery type using your own body) requires using muscle can take as much time as free flap but it is less tricky since not detaching and reattaching veins and arteries but does involve moving a muscle. Given my back issues I'm not sure I'm ready to use lower ab or back muscles.
I think assuming the plastic surgeon says i am a good candidate I would go for the free flap if we can do it pretty soon. If they don't think this could be done I might go with the implant and potential surgery on the other breast to even things out. The idea of using my muscles kind of freak me out.
I'm having random dreams about not being to have the surgery right away and the cancer remaining in my body is freaking me out. I want this to be over and I'd also hate to have to start recovery all over. My arm and breast are still hurting now - if I'm totally recovered and need to start over I'll be somewhat bummed.
I have names of women who have gone through this decision making process and will begin having discussions. Most of the people I know have had double mastectomy reconstruction - I'm not sure if the considerations are all the same given the symmetry issues don't come into play for them.
Otherwise, things are okay. I'm hoping that things will be somewhat resolved on Friday. I might see about scheduling an appointment with another plastic surgeon for this week to try and have more options.
In other minor news -my hair is coming back (i have even started shaving my legs) and have lost one of my big toe nails - the other one is bound to come off soon as well. They've both been pretty dead since taxol times and have been the other body part I've been somewhat obsessing about. (Of course if we tally it up, most of my body is getting a certain amount of attention - checking on hair, wanting my arm to be less sore and start working, my breast needs to stop aching and the toe-nails. I also need new glasses/contacts but figure that can wait for next flex-period.)
Hope you are all having a good day and best wishes for those participating in the random race for the cure races throughout the country.
Kim
Friday, May 29, 2009
More surgery for me
I just got back from my appointment with my surgeon. There is evidence of lymphovascular involvement, which means while there is no more evidence of cancer cells in my breast flesh there is evidence of cells in the lymph system (or how it got from the tumor to the nodes). The involvement is in both the area above and below the part that was removed and my surgeon (and basically I think the oncologist and radiation oncologist) feels the next step is a mastectomy. I kind of thought this might be the outcome after yesterday's appointments with the oncologist who had seen the pathology report and didn't want to be too positive and after receiving a message from the radiation oncologist (the person who would do radiation) saying she thought we may have to change the scheduling of my measurement appointment. I'm coming to terms with it and, after reading about the lymphvascular involvement, I guess I would be nervous to leave things intact even if they had said the next step was radiation.
My surgeon recommended some plastic surgeons and there is one she really likes. Her assistant tried getting me an appointment and they had one for Monday, which I can't make, so I'm scheduled for June 12 but they are going to try and get me in sooner.
I'm going to Cambridge tomorrow and will be gone through Tuesday. Hopefully it will be good to see people, though I might be a total bummer or be trying to do reckless things. I will try really hard not to pick up any Harvard undergrads or returning grads (reunion weekend this weekend) but can't actually make any promises. I'm guessing given the lack of drinking right now this will actually translate into large quantities of ice cream and chocolate.
A plus side of the weight gain might be the possibility of them using some of my excess flesh to rebuild. I think the plan is to do immediate reconstruction if that makes sense. This does mean I have another drain in my future.
I'm somewhat bummed and processing tonight but in the end willing to do what needs to be done. It is however, a waste of some lovely prior surgery as people do keep commenting on the good job my surgeon had done.
Kim
My surgeon recommended some plastic surgeons and there is one she really likes. Her assistant tried getting me an appointment and they had one for Monday, which I can't make, so I'm scheduled for June 12 but they are going to try and get me in sooner.
I'm going to Cambridge tomorrow and will be gone through Tuesday. Hopefully it will be good to see people, though I might be a total bummer or be trying to do reckless things. I will try really hard not to pick up any Harvard undergrads or returning grads (reunion weekend this weekend) but can't actually make any promises. I'm guessing given the lack of drinking right now this will actually translate into large quantities of ice cream and chocolate.
A plus side of the weight gain might be the possibility of them using some of my excess flesh to rebuild. I think the plan is to do immediate reconstruction if that makes sense. This does mean I have another drain in my future.
I'm somewhat bummed and processing tonight but in the end willing to do what needs to be done. It is however, a waste of some lovely prior surgery as people do keep commenting on the good job my surgeon had done.
Kim
Saturday, May 23, 2009
2 hour sleep schedule
Hi, I just wanted to report in that i am doing pretty well. As BoSoxFox reported things went smoothly and more quickly than the prior surgery. Recovery seemed a little harder after surgery but i think this was due to my having less drugs in my system and being aware sooner. I did kind of miss the hard stuff but was happy the anesthesiologist was willing to use my mediport so there wasn't even an attempt at accessing my veins.
Melissa took me home and after sleeping off and on - Rob showed up bearing a box of bbq stuff from Kansas City. After making the decision to postpone authentic KC foods until tonight once Tracy and Ellen showed up we hung out for a while. Melissa went home to pack and get ready for a trip away and the rest of us hung out. I am definitely in pretty good shape - spent a few hours on the couch and we discussed the nta conference which seemed to go well and generally hung out. Thank you Tracy.
Back to surgery, I'm hopeful that we have clearer margins. I'm not in much pain. In fact the underarm incisions from 2 weeks ago are in some ways more bothersome than the recent surgery. I do seem to be on a two hour sleep schedule again but i'm hopeful that is fleeting and a consequence of sleeping off and on all of yesterday. I am a little sad that I think there is significant diminishment in size - this might be due to the bandage or fluid being drained from the last surgery but I think I am about to join the millions of other women who have different size tatas. Of course figuring out the aesthetics of this all can wait for a little while.
I am about to try and sleep some more - I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I'm supposed to go to Tracy's tomorrow night (we are potentially moving ribs and BBQ outdoors and she has a backyard) and may try more excursions, of course I also might just maintain my constantly napping schedule.
Kim
PS Not to make Melissa feel too bad but it seems like the Mets beat Boston yesterday :)
Melissa took me home and after sleeping off and on - Rob showed up bearing a box of bbq stuff from Kansas City. After making the decision to postpone authentic KC foods until tonight once Tracy and Ellen showed up we hung out for a while. Melissa went home to pack and get ready for a trip away and the rest of us hung out. I am definitely in pretty good shape - spent a few hours on the couch and we discussed the nta conference which seemed to go well and generally hung out. Thank you Tracy.
Back to surgery, I'm hopeful that we have clearer margins. I'm not in much pain. In fact the underarm incisions from 2 weeks ago are in some ways more bothersome than the recent surgery. I do seem to be on a two hour sleep schedule again but i'm hopeful that is fleeting and a consequence of sleeping off and on all of yesterday. I am a little sad that I think there is significant diminishment in size - this might be due to the bandage or fluid being drained from the last surgery but I think I am about to join the millions of other women who have different size tatas. Of course figuring out the aesthetics of this all can wait for a little while.
I am about to try and sleep some more - I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I'm supposed to go to Tracy's tomorrow night (we are potentially moving ribs and BBQ outdoors and she has a backyard) and may try more excursions, of course I also might just maintain my constantly napping schedule.
Kim
PS Not to make Melissa feel too bad but it seems like the Mets beat Boston yesterday :)
Friday, May 22, 2009
out of surgery, take 2
Hello Friends and Family of Kim,
This is guest blogger BoSoxFox (Melissa) again. Kim and I have just returned to her beautifully clean home (which is filled with lovely flowers from her amazing friends and colleagues). She is resting and listening to some NPR, so I thought I would post a quick update.
The second surgery went well. Dr. E reported that all went according to plan. They were able to use the same incision, minimizing the difficulty of the surgery. (The resident was very impressed by the incision.) The nurses and patient liasons in the surgery recovery area were all really great.
Kim has taken some percocet to help her with the pain. They did not resort to any of the hard-core drugs (morphine, nitrous) this time. I'm trying hard not to add to her pain by talking too much trash, even though our teams (BoSox and Mets) are meeting tonight. Please, no 1986 jokes!
Alas, the second day of the NTA conference has gone on with her participating only by text message. While I know Kim's disappointed not to be there, Dupont Circle does have significant advantages over L'Enfant Plaza. (If I can't trash talk sports, I can try for neighborhoods, as I am an honorary employee in L'E P.)
I'm sure Kim will be posting soon on her own!
Hope everyone has a great long weekend.
Melissa
This is guest blogger BoSoxFox (Melissa) again. Kim and I have just returned to her beautifully clean home (which is filled with lovely flowers from her amazing friends and colleagues). She is resting and listening to some NPR, so I thought I would post a quick update.
The second surgery went well. Dr. E reported that all went according to plan. They were able to use the same incision, minimizing the difficulty of the surgery. (The resident was very impressed by the incision.) The nurses and patient liasons in the surgery recovery area were all really great.
Kim has taken some percocet to help her with the pain. They did not resort to any of the hard-core drugs (morphine, nitrous) this time. I'm trying hard not to add to her pain by talking too much trash, even though our teams (BoSox and Mets) are meeting tonight. Please, no 1986 jokes!
Alas, the second day of the NTA conference has gone on with her participating only by text message. While I know Kim's disappointed not to be there, Dupont Circle does have significant advantages over L'Enfant Plaza. (If I can't trash talk sports, I can try for neighborhoods, as I am an honorary employee in L'E P.)
I'm sure Kim will be posting soon on her own!
Hope everyone has a great long weekend.
Melissa
Friday, May 15, 2009
Two steps forward - one step back?
Hi, I just got back from the surgeon and thought I would report on the meeting. They took the drain out :) and my stitches and incisions all look good. The pathology of my lymph nodes was good - they removed 24 and only 2 (the sentinel node and one other) tested positive for cancer. My surgeon also thought that it was highly unlikely I would need more chemo - she said that the lymph nodes aren't a gateway to the rest of the body but give a good picture of whether cancer has gone beyond the breast. I need to check in with my oncologist to confirm that no more chemo is in my near future but that seems correct. So it looks like my hair growth (just currently stubble) can continue unabated.
The main negative news was that the margins of the area removed were not large enough. They want there to be a 4mm margin around the tumor in the tissue excised and on some edges (they know which ones by dyeing each side a different color) the margin was 1mm or less. This means more surgery for me but my doctor was optimistic that doing a limited surgery would produce the margins needed to go forward.
I'm somewhat bummed that every step seems to be more complicated than under the best scenario but I'm getting used to it and am happy for forward progress. The next surgery will be easier - no lymph nodes to radiate, dye and remove and no wires to place and I should be home that afternoon. The lack of a drain and involvement of my underarm area will also help. The timing is a little unfortunate as I am having surgery next Friday, the day of a national conference I co-organized. Everything should be set but I'm sad to miss the panels we worked to set up. I hope I still get my thank you gift :).
Anyway, having surgery sooner rather than later will make it easier and keep things moving along. I'm supposed to go to Cambridge the following weekend ( for another conference) and my doctor seemed to think that would still work. She even thought I could have potentially had the surgery that Friday (5/29) and still have gone to a Monday-Tuesday conference the following week. All indications that the surgery next week should be straight forward and easy.
I do try to keep reminding myself that this will be over in a little while - things are taking longer than I would like but I am moving forward.
Kim
The main negative news was that the margins of the area removed were not large enough. They want there to be a 4mm margin around the tumor in the tissue excised and on some edges (they know which ones by dyeing each side a different color) the margin was 1mm or less. This means more surgery for me but my doctor was optimistic that doing a limited surgery would produce the margins needed to go forward.
I'm somewhat bummed that every step seems to be more complicated than under the best scenario but I'm getting used to it and am happy for forward progress. The next surgery will be easier - no lymph nodes to radiate, dye and remove and no wires to place and I should be home that afternoon. The lack of a drain and involvement of my underarm area will also help. The timing is a little unfortunate as I am having surgery next Friday, the day of a national conference I co-organized. Everything should be set but I'm sad to miss the panels we worked to set up. I hope I still get my thank you gift :).
Anyway, having surgery sooner rather than later will make it easier and keep things moving along. I'm supposed to go to Cambridge the following weekend ( for another conference) and my doctor seemed to think that would still work. She even thought I could have potentially had the surgery that Friday (5/29) and still have gone to a Monday-Tuesday conference the following week. All indications that the surgery next week should be straight forward and easy.
I do try to keep reminding myself that this will be over in a little while - things are taking longer than I would like but I am moving forward.
Kim
Thursday, May 14, 2009
checking in
Hi, just checking in - still no news as my doctor's appointment is tomorrow. I am feeling somewhat better - slept 4 hours without waking up last night - have stopped taking the percocet and even showered both yesterday and today. My drainage has declined and is pretty minimal and while my arm hurts I'm guessing much of it has to do with the awkwardness of the drain. I'm hoping i will have it removed tomorrow and begin doing some exercises. The stiches still look pretty good. I still haven't really put on outside clothes - this might make going to meetings next week interesting. I'm not sure how many shirts i have that button up.
Anyway - thanks for the flowers, delicious food and good wishes. I've been remarkably content to mainly hang out at home with various visitors or by myself.
Kim
Anyway - thanks for the flowers, delicious food and good wishes. I've been remarkably content to mainly hang out at home with various visitors or by myself.
Kim
Saturday, May 9, 2009
One-handed typing
Hi, I am out of the hospital and home and seeing how well I can function with one arm. I meant to blog earlier but have had some phone calls and visitors. I am doing okay now and am going to have chicken soup for dinner and then watch grace kelly or audrey hepburn movies. I'm not in much pain and doing pretty well - it only hurts when i move my arm too much, but I have a supply of percocet to deal with that.
Yesterday was a long day and finding out my sentinel lymph nodes were cancerous was a bummer, and I'm not sure what it means for treatment. In the short run, it means I have a drain which is a rubber grenade shaped ball (which does not contain munitions) attached to a tube in my arm from where they excised my lymph nodes that needs periodic emptying. I'm guessing it also means I will be mostly spending time at home.
The pre surgery stuff was okay, though weird to become radioactive and then have a wire sticking out of me. They also injected me with blue dye - which made for a colorful bathroom experience and I might have discovered how they make tidybowl bathroom cleaner.
I had an iv put into my right wrist rather than hand which was somewhat painful and was way too incapacitating. Nothing like waking up in recovery to have one hand not functional because of the iv and the other arm really sore.
I will write more later, but now I'm going to snack on pate and bread while the soup boils. Bottom line is I'm okay and need more information about what things mean and will try and focus on recuperating. I'm pretty up and thus far had Melissa and Elizabeth visit in the hospital and Sue, Rich and Jon stop by at home. I'm feeling pretty okay given the lack of sleep the last few nights.
Bye for now - snacking calls.
Kim
Yesterday was a long day and finding out my sentinel lymph nodes were cancerous was a bummer, and I'm not sure what it means for treatment. In the short run, it means I have a drain which is a rubber grenade shaped ball (which does not contain munitions) attached to a tube in my arm from where they excised my lymph nodes that needs periodic emptying. I'm guessing it also means I will be mostly spending time at home.
The pre surgery stuff was okay, though weird to become radioactive and then have a wire sticking out of me. They also injected me with blue dye - which made for a colorful bathroom experience and I might have discovered how they make tidybowl bathroom cleaner.
I had an iv put into my right wrist rather than hand which was somewhat painful and was way too incapacitating. Nothing like waking up in recovery to have one hand not functional because of the iv and the other arm really sore.
I will write more later, but now I'm going to snack on pate and bread while the soup boils. Bottom line is I'm okay and need more information about what things mean and will try and focus on recuperating. I'm pretty up and thus far had Melissa and Elizabeth visit in the hospital and Sue, Rich and Jon stop by at home. I'm feeling pretty okay given the lack of sleep the last few nights.
Bye for now - snacking calls.
Kim
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