Week of medical appointments

I've had four, yes four, medical appointments this week.  Most I've ever had.

On Monday, I had an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of your heart.  Apparently some of the chemo drugs I've had, or will have, can cause heart problems so they like to monitor your heart with an echocardiogram every 3 months.

On Tuesday, I had the consultation with the radiation oncologist to figure out the plan for radiation treatment.  I will have a simulation (aka set up appointment) on September 5.  My first radiation treatment will be September 19 and will continue every weekday for 6 weeks.

On Wednesday, I had a post-surgery follow-up appointment.  My surgeon is on vacation so I met with a different doctor.  He said the incisions and surgery locations look good.  He also let me know (which I'd already heard) that the pathology report came back showing clean margins.  I was very happy about that.

On Thursday (today), I had an appointment with the oncologist.  My original oncologist moved out of the area in July so this was the first time I'd seen this doctor.  Andy and I liked him.  I'll probably see him for at least the next 6 months.  My herception and perjeta infusions should start next week as soon as they get insurance approval.

While none of these appointments were particularly tough on me, I'm glad they're over.  Onto next week...

Surgery #2

I thought surgery would be on Thursday, but they ended up scheduling it for Wednesday instead.  I had to check in at the hospital at 10am on Wednesday, with surgery scheduled for noon.  It was a much easier process this time.  No "needle loc" or what I consider the most painful thing ever.

I got checked in, vitals done, beautiful green hospital gown on, IV in, and we waited.  I think they came and got me for surgery around 12:15 or 12:30.  I remember them wheeling me into the operating room and having me slide over to the operating table.... and then that's it.  I don't remember much after that, until I was back in my room.  Apparently the surgeon had a conversation with me, and told me how everything went, after I woke up.  I don't remember it though.

I did talk to the surgeon today and she said everything went well.  She said where she had to remove the tissue looked good.  She was also able to reduce the fluid build up which helped with my discomfort.

Now we wait for the second pathology report.  Here's to hoping everything comes back "clean."

After surgery & pathology results

Recovery from the first surgery wasn't too bad.  I went back to work the day after for a couple hours and then eased into half days after that.  I didn't have a whole lot of pain-- mostly just soreness and a tight/heavy feeling.

Pathology results were supposed to be back in 3-5 business days.  I still hadn't heard anything by Friday, August 3 so I called the surgeon's office.  Results were still pending.  On Monday, I thought I would hear something but the day came and went. 

The surgeon, Dr. Kennedy, called on Monday evening.  Pathology in the lymph nodes showed that she took 7 lymph nodes and only one had tiny cancerous cells in it.  Good news there.  The pathologist said she "probably" didn't quite get a clear margin.  Probably?!  They shouldn't be able to use the word probably! 

Dr. Kennedy, whom I trust completely, said she'd like to go back in and get more tissue.  As bummed as I was, I knew this was a possibility all along.  Several people I've talked to that have been through lumpectomy surgeries had to have what they call a re-excision (second surgery to get clean margins).  It's not abnormal.  Dr. Kennedy herself had to have a third surgery when she had breast cancer.

Dr.  Kennedy said the surgery would probably be on Thursday but she'd get it scheduled and have someone call me the next day.

I was a little upset after we got off the phone.  I didn't want another surgery.  However, as I thought about it more, I realized that I wanted to make sure that all the cancer cells or any tissue that had touched cancer cells were OUT of my body.