Path to Recovery!

Went to the breast center yesterday to get my drain out - yay! No more carting the bulb around, looking like I've shoplifted something and put it under my sweater.

My surgeon is out of town, so I met with an RN to get the pathology results from the mastectomy. My tumor was 1.6cm with an 8mm satellite tumor. The margins are clean, so no cancer in the chest wall, thank you! No cancer in the nodes, which we already knew. Then she tells me that I'm triple negative and that's not good. Triple negative means that you don't respond to hormone blockers or herceptin and it's more aggressive. "Huh?" I say to her, "before I was Her2neu positive." I didn't really question it because she's reading the report, not me. I'm just happy to have the drain out and get the okay to go back to driving, working, etc. - I can even wear a bra! So, I get home and I'm getting ready to go to work when she calls me back and tells me she read the report wrong and I am Her2neu positive - yay! She also forgot to give me a copy of my pathology report, so now it's in the mail. I will not name her, but she seemed a little scattered. I know they are really busy, but jeez! Oh well, at least it was good news.

Next stop - Plastic Surgeon on the 5th!

Also, to all of you who have called, emailed, sent flowers, books, ipods, cards, dropped off food, and generally been there for me these last couple of weeks after surgery - THANK YOU!! I am overwhelmed by the generosity I've been shown. You are the wind beneath my wings!

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve and it's snowing again - aaargh! As you all know, I am not a fan of the white stuff, so this past week has been a bit torturous. We've been making the best of it by walking up to our local video store, coffee shop and watching the sledders go up and down our hill, but boy will I be glad when the snow is gone. We managed to get our Subaru out today, so we're gonna make the trek to Bothell for our annual family Christmas Eve - yay! I hope you are all able to make your holiday celebrations as well. I am looking forward to seeing all my friends soon! Being at home is for the birds.

I called a co-worker yesterday and got a ride into work. It was wonderful! I got lots done and was even able to do some final shopping at Fred Meyer. I can't wait to get back into my normal routine. After my visit to the breast surgeon on Monday, I'm hoping for an "all clear" to go back to work full-time and start driving. I haven't really needed my narcotics since I came home, so that should help. I'm also getting my drain out - can't wait to get this grenade off my body!
Anyway, that's the news for now. Back to watching Dora for the thousandth time with Connor!

Have a wonderful Christmas, everybody!!

I'm back!!

Hey all,

the surgery on Tuesday went really well. They found no cancer in the lymph nodes they took out. I will find out the final pathology on the 29th.

Since you're probably wondering what Righty looks like, I'll tell you. She's deflated, kind of like an underdone pancake. have to call and make an appointment with the plastic surgeon to see when they can start reconstruction, but if I have to stick in a cutlet for a while that's fine.
Amazingly enough, losing this boob hasn't bothered me. It's an interesting specimen now. I've been cleaning my drains myself and have almost normal use of my right arm. Doing the exercises really helps. I can't lift Connor, but so far that's the only downside to this experience, as yet. Percocet is lovely, but I am mostly relying on ibuprofen. My pain level is pretty minimal except when Connor accidentally elbows me or the cat jumps on me.
I am trying to take it as easy as possible, the snow actually helps since I can't go anywhere.
I feel like I could go into work right now for 8hrs, but I promised I'd slow down a bit.

Anyway, I'll continue to keep you all posted. If I don't see you, have great holiday!

Bye Bye, Righty

Barring a blizzard or something, tomorrow is the day I lose my friend Righty. It feels like I'm about to go on vacation - what clothes, what books, did I get all my work done? - that sort of thing. Maybe I'll freak out tomorrow, but today I'm calm. So, what will I miss about Righty? Well, she filled out my bra, but then so will my fake boob. She fed Connor, but I'm done with that. She's pretty much served her purpose. So, RIP, Righty. Coming soon, Righty 2.0!

By the way, thanks for all the emails and phone calls! I am really feeling the love and support.

Talk to you soon.

Shana

FIRST AND LAST IN THE FAMILY?

Bob Resta, genetic counselor and heck of a guy, called today. I do not have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. Yay for all my female relatives - unless we've got some crazy cancer gene they don't know how to test for, they have no more chance than the next person of getting it. Bob says I can keep my ovaries, too. So, good news all around!!