Quiet house

After having someone here in the house to help me out for the first 10 days after surgery, it seems oddly quiet this afternoon.

Cathy continued to provide me with infinite comfort and help through her stay.  Dave took her to the airport on Tuesday afternoon, and she had a lay over in Salt Lake for 2 hours...she did not get to her home until almost 2 am her time, I think.

I can never thank her enough for all that she did for me, and for Dave, during this ordeal.

My sister arrived Wednesday afternoon. She missed out on the really rough first few days of my recovery, but was here to get me through the second phase.

It was wonderful to have her help in the kitchen and around the house while I tested my ability to raise and use my arms a little more each day.  She encouraged me to go out and take a walk with her one day, and her being here got me up and out of the house!!

Also? She's my sister, and I have missed her horribly.  It was a joy to know we were under the same roof for a few days.  Her presence brought me a great deal of peace, and a feeling of being myself again.

Anyway.... the post op visit to the surgeon was Thursday afternoon.  The surgeon took out the drains (that was a somewhat uncomfortable experience, but I was SO GLAD to get it done!!) and had the pathology report for us, and the news was good.

The original cancer (invasive ductal carcinoma) that was found in the right breast was almost completely gone because of the chemo, but what remained was the second type (tubular lobular in-situ) that they found initially only in the left breast.

Now we know why that type was present on the left....it traveled there from the right!

Still NO idea how this was all hidden in my tissue for possibly years without being discovered by annual mammograms and follow up ultra sounds.

Anyway, there were two lymph nodes removed on the right that were intramammary (not up in the axilla), but no other lymph nodes were found, not even the one that biopsied positive originally.

There was one lymph node that responded to the sentinel node procedure on the left side, and was thus removed.

That one was tested for pathology, and was found to be benign.

So, all in all, I had FAR fewer lymph nodes removed than was speculated (sorry if this is a repeat of information), and this means that I will probably NOT have to have radiation therapy after the next 8 rounds of chemotherapy.

All samples (read: tissue taken out of my breasts) were tested for "clean" margins.  All margins were NEGATIVE, which means they got all of the cancer in my breasts.

The chemotherapy port site is still pretty sore and itchy, because the incision still has tape over it that needs to stay in place until the skin completely knits.

The drain sites are still sore, and the left one still oozes a tiny bit.  The doc said I could get into a nice hot bath by today, but I don't think so.  I'd rather give the holes longer to close up.

All in all, I have been doing pretty well with my pain.  Have not needed many of the pain pills.  It still hurts when I do my stretches and exercises, but I keep at it.  The incisions mostly hurt at the ends, and once in a while, there is a twinge or stab of pain in the middle somewhere.

The day after the drains came out, I was sore pretty much all day, but that could have been because we were out and about, and because my body was adapting to dealing with the drainage organically, instead of the drains removing the fluid mechanically.

I took some pain pills that night and felt better the next day.

Had my oncology follow up on Friday. He also gave us the pathology results, and we discussed the next steps.

I have to get an echocardiogram before starting the next 4 rounds of chemo, because the medication being used in the next stage can harm the heart.

We need a base line so that we can monitor my heart and make sure no harm is done.

I have the echo on 5/4, surgical follow up/release to go back to work 5/5, and return to work on 5/7.

I will use the coming days to rest and heal and recover my strength and stamina.  I am drinking herbal anti-cancer tea every day while I am off of chemo, with the go ahead from my doctor.

Chemo starts again the week after I go back to work.

Yesterday, we went to the OKC Festival of the Arts.  Saw my dance studio's performance and walked around looking at the art.  It was 85, sunny, and crowded, but I did great!!  I didn't tire out until we'd been there over 2 hours.

Having some pain today, and am tired.

Took Elsa to the airport at noon today.  I tried driving.  Did fine, but the seat belt hits me right where the port is.  Ow.

Home now, doing laundry and taking it easy in the quiet house.

Hopefully, I have enough reading, coloring, and meditating/spiritual work to do this coming week while I am alone all day.

My 53rd birthday is Tuesday, and I keep forgetting about it.  Next year will be better, with a huge reason to celebrate, I am certain.

Happy Sunday, gentle reader.