GOOD NEWS...

Waiting, it's what we do. We had testing done and we waited for the results. We got the diagnosis then we waited to see drs. We saw the drs and we waited for surgery. Had surgery and we waited for the pathology report. Now, we have the pathology report and now we wait to heal so I can begin more treatment. This whole waiting game has really taught me patience, something that I have never really considered a virtue of mine but now I can say I am a more patient person. I really don't have a choice because there is no way to speed up this process. Since surgery Monday, I have been at home, healing and waiting, waiting for the phone to ring to hear the results of my pathology report. Finally that call came. The phone rang and Dr. Nate was on the other end. I love that when results come in my drs don't have their nurse call me, they call me directly so that nothing gets missed and if I have any questions they can answer them immediately. So, like I said, Dr. Nate called with the pathology report. He began explaining the surgery. I know you're thinking, why explain the surgery, I'm sure you went through that multiple times before surgery but that is how these drs are, THOROUGH. Every time we sit down with Dr. Nate he starts at the beginning which lets me know that he is a GOOD dr and he cares! So, the pathology report...like I said, Dr. Nate began explaining the surgery saying that like he said he would do, he took 99% of my breast tissue, first the left then the right. When he got to the right and began removing the breast tissue, he reminded me that we originally thought there were 4 spots but it turns out I had one big spot that was big enough that when seen in the MRI it looked like 4 spots. So, he removed all of that and when he got to the lymph nodes, as he told me the day after surgery he had found some cancer so he removed a chunk. Well, it turns out he removed 19 lymph nodes. I know you're wondering, where is the good news? The good news is...he sent all of the breast tissue, from both sides, as well as all of the lymph nodes for testing. The left side, as we thought was completely clear. On the right side, he had all of the margins tested. This means that during the surgical biopsy, a rim of normal tissue (called a margin) surrounding the area is taken out to be sure the entire tumor was removed. The pathologist looks at the margins and decides whether or not they contain cancer cells. In this case, THE MARGINS ARE CLEAR which means the entire tumor was removed!! Also, the pathologist determined that of the 19 axillary lymph nodes that were removed, there was only cancer found in 1 therefore that has all been removed. So, as I said, GOOD NEWS!!! Dr. Nate stated that he would like to see me for a follow up in 2 weeks then we will need to see Dr. Bhatia again regarding chemo because as I said before, since there was cancer in the lymph nodes chemo is pretty much a guarantee. He also said he wants to get me in to see a Radiation Oncologist to see if we need to do radiation since there was cancer in the lymph nodes. I may not need radiation since most women that have a mastectomy don't however, in some cases it is used after a mastectomy to treat the chest wall and the lymph nodes left around the collar bone and underarm (axillary) area. Until I heal though, I am in the hands of Dr. Stalnecker (the Plastic Surgeon) until I heal. We can't begin chemo or anything until I heal because it increases the risk of infection.  I will see Dr. Stalnecker weekly and he will continue to inject saline and salt water into the implants. Hopefully Monday, I will have 2 of my 5 drains removed and then the following week I am crossing my fingers that the rest of the drains are removed. Things will be so much easier without these drains. I did go yesterday to see Dr. Stalnecker because I caught one of my drains on something throughout the night and pulled it out a little and it was SO PAINFUL and while there I received my first injection. It wasn't so bad but they warned me I would be sore last night and this morning because that injection is stretching the muscles in my chest. They were right, I am definitely SORE. It is an odd feeling to be numb and feel my chest muscles being stretched at the same time. So, now we continue to pump these babies up and wait to heal. Once healed, treatment can continue :) I am so grateful for my team of drs because they are SO AMAZING!!