I'm here! I'm doing well!

Thanks for looking for me and praying for me, folks! Means the world to me! Had my re-excision lumpectomy yesterday. Everything went smoothly and easily. Surgery was supposed to be at 1:45. Think I was getting wheeled back around 2:10 and I hit recovery at 3:00 and was home a little after 4:00. They used a deep IV sedation so no general anesthia to deal with. I was definintely sore last night and took my drugs (percoset) and that helped. But more than the breast pain I've had a nasty headache. Still had it this morning but it has eased right now. I've only taken tylenol today. I didn't see the surgeon after surgery but Rich said she said all went well. She cleaned out the fluid buildup in there in addition to removing the tissue that we hope gets clean margins on the cancer. My breast had actually gotten bigger in the past week with fluid 4 weeks after the original surgery. Hopefully we won't have more fluid to drain later but you gotta do what you gotta do. Since I had hematomas in there from the biopsies in early December and fluid from the first surgery in late December... I assume this time I'll have issues too. Now I wait. Again. I won't get the pathology bac****il Thursday next week at my post-op appointment. The two things are: 1) hoping no more invasive cancer is found and 2) hoping the surgical margins are clear. If the margins aren't clear again, I'm going to go for a mastectomy. I won't go through this a third time. Decision is made and surgeon already knows. She agrees but then again I could have opted for that all along - it is always OUR decision as women as to what we want. If the pathology shows it is all gone, I see the oncologist on 2/5 (the following Monday). My sister will be in town so she will go with Rich and I. It'll be good since she has been down this road. In fact, she spoke with her oncologist about me at her appointment this week and he gave his recommendations based on what he knew about my situation. That would be: no chemo, radiation and then hormone therapy. He would NOT put me on tamoxifen since my maternal grandmother had uterine cancer and tamoxifen increases risk of uterine cancer. He would instead chemically shutdown my ovaries (lupron/zoladex) and then give me a different class of hormone therapy that is for postmenopausal women called aromatase inhibitors. My sister takes one of these called Femara. So, I may be on the fast track to "personal summers in the Tropics". We'll see. Kathy

It's great to hear from you!! Keep on those pain meds and we're all still praying for a good pathology report!!!! Hugs, Laurie

Thanks, Laurie! Only took tylenol yesterday and that was for a headache. Now if I hadn't overeaten last night and sat with my face in the trash can hoping to hurl... it would have been a pretty good day. Ah, self-inflicted pain! Hugs, Kathy

Hey Kathy! So glad to hear everything went well! I am praying that you get wonderful pathology results. Take care of yourself and get some rest. Sounds like they sent you home really quickly after the surgery. Be sure to take it easy for awhile and let us know what you hear about the path results. Big hugs, Wanda

Hey, Wanda! Oh yea, this is quick in and out surgery amazingly enough and they used IV sedation so one comes out of that quickly. Heck even for a mastectomy they send you home. They figure you are more comfy there which is probably true. Thanks! Hugs, Kathy

I was so happy to see you posting again this morning. I've been worried about you. I again want to tell you that you are such an inspiration to us all. I wish that I could have half of the strength that you have. Hugs Heather

Awww, thanks, Heather. Honestly, I think you never know the strength you have until you are faced with things and the bottom line is that you do what you have to do. Heck, you know, dear. You've had your own struggles and look at you - you are doing great. Hugs, Kathy

Hopefully you are at home resting comfortably today.... keeping fingers, toes and all other body parts crossed that the path report is favorable.... Gentle hugs to you and give your hubby a big kiss for being there for you!!! Karen

Hey, Karen! Thanks! Rich is going through alot right now. He has me to worry about. His father too. And his mother who cries because she ran out of groceries... always the martyr. Of course, Rich asks everyday if she needs anything and the answer is "No". I hate what they both put him through but their lives aren't any fun... bad health overall and a very, very small world full of nothing but time to sit around and feel sorry for themselves. Wi**** were different. Thanks for thinking of us! Hugs, Kathy

Kathy, I send you positive thoughts every day and have been thinking about your surgery since you let us know about this and have been very concerned. You are such a positive power and leader for all of us.... (and I know that is a lot of pressure on you!) and I for one really appreciate all you do..... :Please just rest and keep us posted on how you are doing when you can.... I adore you. hugs to you and to rich, also!! J.