Surgeon and oncologist appointments going over pathology results, stretching, starting more activity

This week we saw both the surgeon's assistant and the oncologist to let us know the next steps.

The surgeon told us that they removed 3 sentinel lymph nodes, and they were all clear, meaning they found no evidence of cancer cells under the microscope. That is great news, as it means it is unlikely to spread elsewhere in my body. The tumor had 70% response, which means 70% of the cancer cells were killed, and the margins around the lump they removed were clear. The clear margins mean I don't have to go back for a second operation to remove more, because they got the whole thing out. Yay!

She then told me what restrictions I still have to do, and what activities I can start to ease back into. The incisions are mostly healed; she snipped off a bit of a stitch that was poking out and said she thought that hole would close up in a few days. I can swim as soon as the incisions are completely closed, which is good since we're heading to Maine on Sunday for a few days up there on a lake. I can always dangle my feet! I'm supposed to still keep taking it easy for a week, but I can walk faster and longer. She suggested that when I am going to do something that will be very active, I should wear two sports bras for a while, do it for less time and intensity than I would have done before my diagnosis, and to see how I feel the next day and evaluate.

The oncologist told me I only have to do 4 weeks of radiation rather than 6, since the lymph nodes were clear. I'll be going to a radiation center in Nashua that's an easy 20-minute drive away for a treatment every weekday. They'll be calling me soon to start that.

Then she told me about my options after that. There was a lot of information, so I'm not completely clear on that yet, but she gave us handouts and information to look up, so we have some research to do. The goal of any treatment at this point is to improve the likelihood that I do not have any cancer return. I wouldn't start these until after radiation is done, so we have a while to decide. 

One of the options is to continue immuno-therapy for 9 cycles of one infusion treatment every 3 weeks. Another is to see if I qualify for a trial that does chemotherapy infusions and immuno-therapy. I would have to see if I qualify for that trial, which involves facts like what size and type the tumor was, and a blood test to see if I have circulating cancer cells in my blood. And the third option is to take twice daily chemotherapy pills, I think along with the immuno-therapy infusions. I got a little confused about that part and about how long those last. Right now our plan is to review everything and take the blood test to see if I qualify for the trial. Then we'll have enough info to go ahead and research and make the decision.

My right arm and armpit are pretty sore still, but the arm is getting better. It hurt much more than the areas that actually had the incisions, which were the top of the right breast and just below my armpit .The surgeon said is because nerves get cut during the operation that affect that area of the arm and the armpit. Discomfort means the nerves are healing, so that's better than numbness. I have been keeping a small pillow (that my sister's church made for cancer patients) under my arm most of my time I'm awake, and that pressure seems to keep it more comfortable. I also use it while walking, and in the car for when we're going over potholes and our bumpy dirt road.

I was sleeping propped up on an inclined wedge and pillows. I have stopped that and can sleep on my side again now, and I'm sleeping through the night most nights. I've been doing stretching exercises with my arms and the range of motion is getting pretty close to where it was. I do shoulder rolls, overhead reaches, pinching the shoulder blades together, going up behind my back as high as I can, putting my hands behind my head and stretching back, and pushing elbows back by my side then extending them forward, as well as deep breathing exercises. I do notice that I am slouching more, so will have to keep working on those, especially the shoulder rolls and pinching shoulder blades!

I started walking faster and longer right away. I'm up to about 3 miles walking around a 22 minute/mile pace. Double bras really help how it feels the next day. My first time putting on double bras was a challenge though: I was pulling up the strap of the second one and it caught on the first one and my hand slipped and I punched myself in the jaw!

Last week, I tried putting on a pull-over sports bra and got stuck with my arms both up around my head and had to call Frank to help! I'm getting better at it though, honest!

And, I scheduled an Ultimate Frisbee game for next Thursday! My plan for the first week is to be a person who mostly stands there yelling encouragement and catches frisbees and does either gentle throws or left-handed throws! I'll see how well I do there, then in a few weeks, hopefully I'll feel well enough to try volleyball. Definitely not there yet!

Our neighbor invited me to swim in their pool, so I plan to start that in July to help recover strength and flexibility. Maybe by then I'll be able to get a bathing suit on!

Hair is coming along! If you zoom in, you can see my eyelashes and eyebrows coming back.

A sign we saw on our way in for our appointments. 

Happy PRIDE month!