Surgery is done

Yesterday was surgery day, and was perfectly uneventful. It was done at the new surgery center at Geisinger Grays Woods, which is a very nice facility. We arrived at 8:15, and I was home by 1:45.

Before surgery, I had to go to radiology and have a wire inserted to guide the surgeon to the cancer. Everything was numb so I hardly felt a thing. My breast was also injected with radioactive material, which traveled up the lymph system into the lymph nodes. The surgeon could then use a Geiger counter to help determine where the first lymph nodes are that drain from my breast. While not overly pleasant, it really wasn't bad at all.

Everything moved pretty quickly after that. I was prepped for surgery - the IV was really the worst part of the whole experience... just uncomfortable. Various people came in to tell me what was going to happen, including the surgeon. She also told me that the genetic testing results came in that morning, and everything was negative. This means I made the right decision to move forward with surgery and I won't need a bilateral mastectomy.

My sister, Carol, and boyfriend, Jamaal, were there with me until I was taken to the OR. I remember chatting with the nurses in the OR, took a few deep breaths, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery. I had no nausea or any problems waking up, and was munching on crackers pretty quickly. I was taken back to my room, got dressed, and headed home.

Many people have mentioned that the incision for the lymph node biopsy is the worst part, because it's in your armpit. I lucked out and my incision is below the armpit, so I won't have that discomfort. The lidocaine they used on me yesterday lasted all day, so I am really feeling my first pain today, and it's not horrible. I can move my arm easily. I also think I'm still pretty even, so I doubt I'll need any reconstructive surgery (good news/bad news - no new perky boobs for me!). The weirdest post-surgery experience has to do with the blue dye she injected to help her identify the lymph nodes. It made my pee bright blue/teal! She had warned me that it may make my skin slightly purple, but that didn't happen - just a little pale.

Next steps will be determined after I get the pathology results from the surgery. They look at the tissue to make sure there's a good margin of healthy cells around the cancer cells that were removed. If not, I have to go back in to have more tissue removed - that happens about 20% of the time. They will also look to see if there's any cancer in the 2 lymph nodes they removed, which would indicate that some of the cells could have left my breast and moved into my body. If so, I'll definitely need chemotherapy - if not, I may still get it, but that will be determined by the oncologist.

So, all in all, good progress. I've heard from so many of you and really appreciate your love and support!