The 2 1/2 weeks since the op has gone very slowly and there have been many sleepless nights and worried days - was it all removed, has it spread to the lymph nodes, did he really tell me it was bigger than expected or was that a dream?
I've read and re-read all the leaflets, websites, forums you name it but of course there is nothing I can actually discover that will put my mind at ease.
We were ridiculously early for our appointment with God and yes, you've guessed it, he was running 1 1/2 hours late. Actually I don't mind that because some cases need more time spent on them than the standard and one time that case might be me and I wouldn't like to be rushed. From a waiting room full of people, it finally came down to just two of us waiting (with husbands) and we had a good laugh as to who was the lucky one and getting in next - yippee, it was me, I promised to be quick.
After the obligatory pleasantries we got down to the facts, the tumour was completely excised and no evidence of cancer in the 3 lymph nodes removed. Thank God (both of them) I don't think I have ever felt so relieved in my whole life. The tumour was indeed larger than first thought 23mm not 18mm but when I asked God if he had told me that already, he said "No", but he had visited me in Recovery.
But apparently when I was stripping off behind the curtain, he looked back through his notes and with what Ian describes as a cheeky grin said "Oh, maybe she was right!"
The seroma was still quite large and very red and angry looking and he was most upset to see it and could not stop apologising. The line of incision on the boob is just amazing, it's a semi-circle which follows the line of the nipple completely and I should imagine in a couple of years will hardly be noticeable. So he is clearly a very clever and neat surgeon and to see the horrible red, lumpy seroma was obviously a shock for him. But he aspirated again (50ml) this time and squeezed and prodded it about - ouch! prescribed some stronger antibiotics and, blow me down, drew on me yet again!!! A circle around the area with strict instructions to switch antibiotics if the redness started to go out of the circle.
He has arranged for me to have a follow up mammogram and appointment in one year's time but for now is handing me over to the Oncology Dept who will discuss further treatment. Oh and the HER2 test results came back borderline so they are retesting under a different method (FISH). And if I am HER2 negative then I am a good candidate for the Oncotype DX test.
We were ridiculously early for our appointment with God and yes, you've guessed it, he was running 1 1/2 hours late. Actually I don't mind that because some cases need more time spent on them than the standard and one time that case might be me and I wouldn't like to be rushed. From a waiting room full of people, it finally came down to just two of us waiting (with husbands) and we had a good laugh as to who was the lucky one and getting in next - yippee, it was me, I promised to be quick.
After the obligatory pleasantries we got down to the facts, the tumour was completely excised and no evidence of cancer in the 3 lymph nodes removed. Thank God (both of them) I don't think I have ever felt so relieved in my whole life. The tumour was indeed larger than first thought 23mm not 18mm but when I asked God if he had told me that already, he said "No", but he had visited me in Recovery.
But apparently when I was stripping off behind the curtain, he looked back through his notes and with what Ian describes as a cheeky grin said "Oh, maybe she was right!"
The seroma was still quite large and very red and angry looking and he was most upset to see it and could not stop apologising. The line of incision on the boob is just amazing, it's a semi-circle which follows the line of the nipple completely and I should imagine in a couple of years will hardly be noticeable. So he is clearly a very clever and neat surgeon and to see the horrible red, lumpy seroma was obviously a shock for him. But he aspirated again (50ml) this time and squeezed and prodded it about - ouch! prescribed some stronger antibiotics and, blow me down, drew on me yet again!!! A circle around the area with strict instructions to switch antibiotics if the redness started to go out of the circle.
He has arranged for me to have a follow up mammogram and appointment in one year's time but for now is handing me over to the Oncology Dept who will discuss further treatment. Oh and the HER2 test results came back borderline so they are retesting under a different method (FISH). And if I am HER2 negative then I am a good candidate for the Oncotype DX test.
