Surgery is Wednesday

The follow up PET scan showed mixed results, but for the most part, I am responding extremely well to chemotherapy, with a reduction and elimination of much of the first sites that were discovered.

There is just one area where the cells have mutated beyond our original medications' reach.

The breast tissue is ready for removal, and the lymph nodes that were previously palpable are now no longer in evidence.

Surgery is finally on the books.

Wednesday April 15, I will have a bilateral sentinel node procedure, a bilateral mastectomy, lymph dissections, and installation of a chemotherapy port.

I have to go in the day before and have a lymph scan and an EKG, so I will work tomorrow, and be off then for about 3 weeks, much of it without pay.

FMLA papers were filed in February, so the job will be there when I got back, but the City of Tulsa, for which I technically work, does not offer short term disability.

Today, I will figure out some way to say good bye and thanks to my previously much loved, cared for, and beautiful 34D's that are now trying to kill me.

The oncologist said that I will return to chemotherapy 4 weeks after surgery to begin a new round of four treatments with a change in the medication in order to address the small portion of the cancer that did not respond favorably to the first four rounds.

This new concoction of medication will also continue to attack the rest of the other sites that have shown favorable response so far.

All in all, I am kicking ass.

We had a day of deep house cleaning yesterday.

My friend Julie came over and did windows, sills, and blinds. 

I got out the dust mop and the mop and got underneath everything with both. I dusted EVERYWHERE, vacuumed with the real vacuum (not just the mini vac).  

We only have one rug in the bedroom, and one in the laundry room, where the litter boxes are---but the back cat hair shows on the one in the bedroom, and the litter gets all over the laundry room...so the real vacuum has to come out pretty frequently anyway.

Dave emptied and washed down the litter boxes, fixed the dryer vent, and dusted the ceiling fans.  

I was so tired and sore last night, but it was something that had to be done before I have people staying with us over the next two weeks.  AN hour in our little hot tub last night did the trick, and I finally got some decent sleep last night.

The house cleaning needed to be done anyway, but I put it off for just before surgery for a reason, and I am glad I did.

Today, we will attack the kitchen, junk piles (mostly paper and electronics stuff) on top of the book case in the dining room, get my massage room transformed into the air bed guest room, clean the bathroom, and THEN we will be done.

The one thing I wish I could have done before Colleen and Carrie came for their surprise visit was get the massage room ready. Oh well. They didn't care.

I also need to write out checks for the bills that have to be mailed out on the day of my surgery, and get receipts entered into the check book, and figure out what to pack in my overnight bag for the hospital.

The girls from the dance studio gave me a gift certificate for a pedicure back in January.  I redeemed it yesterday, and got my feet and lower legs pampered.  No colored toe nail polish, though.   Seems that's not allowed when going in for surgery.  Who knew?  Not me, until I was sitting in the pedi chair and someone mentioned it on facebook.

My dear and long time friend Cathy Carroll arrives Monday night.   She is an excellent care giver, a breast cancer survivor,  and is retired, so could come at any time.  She will be here for the first leg of my surgical journey.

Then, on the 22nd, my sister arrives for a few days to help out.  I can't wait to see her, and for her to finally see our house! 

Local friends are said to be bringing food by, and many have offered to run errands or do whatever might be needed.

I am so very fortunate to be so loved and cared for!