Lumpectomy Post Op recovery

Part of my blogging about this cancer journey is for me, but also so that others coming behind me can be prepared. This is the information I looked for that I had a hard time finding.  I'm going to be very honest, and sometimes that may mean more details than you are comfortable with. Guess what? Breast cancer involves talking about things like nipples, breasts, milk ducts, and all things related to them. If you are uncomfortable with those words, please pray you never develop breast cancer.

I have two incisions. One is about 1/2 inch above the nipple and about 4 inches long. The other is near my armpit and about 3 inches long.

The first couple of days the most painful area was where the lymph node biopsies were done, which is near the armpit. The body chooses which are the "sentinel" (or first) lymph nodes to filter fluids from the breast, so when the doctors decide to find those nodes, it means sometimes those first nodes are not right near the surface. No, my first three sentinel nodes were a bit deeper, meaning muscles and stuff needed to be moved.

My chest has been wrapped in a large ace bandage to keep pressure on the area. Yesterday I was able to remove that bandage to shower for the first time. Ummm wow…. That bandage was covering the fact my boob looks like it was pummeled with a baseball bat. It only feels slightly better than that. It also only took me a second to remember what the surgeon told Dean when he was done working on me, "I had to take a bit more tissue than I expected." Umm yeah. Not all things are pointing in the same direction they used to be and…well…divots are for golf courses, not boobs! I'm told some of this will fill in with fluid as I heal. I hope so.

Today, day three after surgery, I'm still *really* tired. I've never been so tired so many days after a surgery. The anesthesia and complimentary drugs must have been a bit different this time, because I'm wiped out! Yes, I have cancer, but this was a very slow-growing cancer that wasn't yet affecting my general health. Maybe its just a combined problem of coming home with Audrey, finding out I have cancer and all that stress, getting the house ready for me to be out of commission for a few days, and then surgery itself?

I have a couple update posts coming about the kids. I'm tired of talking about cancer. Next week I'll have a visit with my surgeon and oncologist, but until then, lets talk about the FAMILY, shall we???

Hello and GOOD NEWS!

Thank you so much everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

The first event on yesterday's agenda was the dye injection for the sentinel node biopsy, which was done at the breast center. This injection needs to be done in the nipple, putting radioactive dye into the breast that is later followed to the first few lymph nodes using a Geiger counter. I'm happy to report that although I had TONS of anxiety about this procedure, I didn't feel a single thing. Not even a tiny sting! The dye is infused with lidocaine so the entire procedure is not felt. It was a bit awkward that the radiologist doing the inject is Greek God hot. He also made a nice big black "X" over the lump for the surgeons reference later on.

Then I was brought over to the pre-op area at the hospital and Dean joined me there. I got all hooked up to the various things. My surgeon came in to talk to us, and I said, "Lets go! Get this thing out of me." He replied with, "We're gonna cut it out, chop it up, look at all the cells, and get you back to 100% in no time!"

I suggested they give me the happy drugs ASAP so I would just stop talking everyone's ears off about various dumb things. When the finally did I think I was in the middle of signing something. They next thing I know they were waking me up! LOL

Surgery did take a bit longer than the surgeon expected. As is common with this type of cancer it has a lot of little fingers and can be hard to get clear margins around the tumor. He told us there was a chance  I'd have to go back into surgery in a couple of weeks to get the rest of it.

After surgery he told Dean the first piece of good news! The preliminary pathology report done in surgery is that the lymph nodes are clear of cancer. YAY!!! Thank you God for this answer to prayer! This is a *very small* chance that cancer will be found when the full pathology report is done, but it doesn't happen very often.

Last night was pretty rough. I was taking percoset which doesn't agree with me very well. Lots of vomiting and that horrible feeling of just being out of it. I couldn't even sleep well because it makes me jittery. This morning I got up and helped Dean get the kids off to school, then Audrey and I hung out for the day. I only needed tylenol today. I'm a bit sore, mostly under my arm where they had to go through muscle to get the lymph nodes.

Then, just a few minutes ago, at 8:00 pm tonight, my surgeon called to tell us the margins are clear! That means I don't need another surgery!!! It also means as soon as I'm healed from this one - 4-6 weeks - I can start radiation. I will have this all behind me by my birthday the end of June!

Thank you all again for your tremendous amount of love, thoughts and prayers during this ordeal. Still a few weeks of trials ahead of us as we navigate fitting radiation and its side effects into our lives, but tonight I'm feeling SO much better about everything!

Sentinel Node Biopsy

Next week when I have surgery I'll also be having a Sentinel Node Biopsy.

First I'll go to the breast center and will be injected with radioactive dye. Then they'll take me over to surgery to remove the tumor. They'll also use a geiger counter to follow the radio active dye to the first lymph node to biopsy it.

I came up with a brilliant question: "How do they inject the dye into the breast?"

I don't think I will be be asking anymore questions.

"The dye is injected through the nipple. You will be given a local anesthetic but there will be some discomfort."

What the…WHAT????

Through the nipple??? Ummm excuse me? That is a one-way orifice! Things don't go "in", they only come "out".  OUT PEOPLE!!!

Who came up with this idea? "Lets get a woman with breast cancer, and put a needle into her nipple, inject blue radioactive dye, then chase it around with a geiger counter. Yes. Yes lets do that!"

For your viewing pleasure, I present to you this one minute video titled, "Sentinel Node Biopsy"


I am not at all worried about surgery and being put to sleep. No. No instead I am worried about the DYE being injected before hand! I want a sedative. Now would be good.

Ok. I get it. Just like labor and delivery, thousands of women experience this every single day and they live through it, and in all likelihood I will too. Yes, I get that. I just don't really want to be one of those thousands who experience this biopsy. I don't want the "badge of honor", I won't want the battle scars. I just want it to go away.

Stupid cancer.