Great news, I'm benign
Hi the lymph node that was removed under my left arm was benigh. Yes, no breast cancer, but I will have to be monitored more, and mammograms every 6 months. The enlarged lymph nodes and knots are from the leukemia. The lymph node that was removed was a solid mass of calcium. I just wish I had that someone special that's in Costa Rica back in my life so I could share it with him. But when he when to take the drain tube out, I just about pasted out, it was so painful. They will have to remove one in my neck as it's pressing on my throat making it nearly impossible to swallow even liquids. But hey, I'M BENIGN, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. Even mom was jumping for joy on the phone. She was so excited knowing I wouldn't be dying anytime soon. The would treat the breast cancer but wouldn't be able to treat the leukemia and vice versa. Can't treat both, so one would have killed me quicker. So she's very happy for me now. I am a little lopsided. When he removed the left lymph node, I ended up swelling up in that breast, so it's rock hard and very hot (no wonder I stay chilled inside) and the right side looks like a pancake. I'm to wear sports bras only from now one. To keep it from swelling up, hey remove the right one and I'll have a matching pair. One is too big for my bras and the other doesn't even begin to fill it.
There's something wrong with this picture. LOL I am thrilled about that one. But I still have to have several more of these large knots removed as they are too hard for needle aspirations. But hey, that's ok, I'll never be cancer free because of my leukemia, it's a cancer of the blood and large bone marrow, but I don't have to go on regular chemo, just stay on the pills.
By the way, who is this Jeremy guy? I noticed he was in Aprils list of friends, mine. I dont have a clue who he is. Anyone want to supply by brain with the information? Off to bed, meds are knocking me out.
I love ya all, that's for being there, for your friendship, your support thru out all this termoil and letting me cry. You're the best, Kathy
Hi Janie, how are you doing? You're home already, just doesn't seem like it. Most get to come home after three days, except for me, and the open RNY they usually have to stay 4-5 days, I had to stay 5 days because I had to have blood being anemic and my potassium kept bottoming out. We didn't know it was from my chemo pills that I was getting while in the hospital. We found out just recently that the pills have been known to drop the potassium to critical levels. I'm jealous.
So how do you feel to be on the losers bench? Great isn't it. It's fabulous that I don't have breast cancer, but the cancer is still in my blood, that's the type of leukemia I have, so where that blood goes is dangerous to me at anytime. My lymph nodes and knots keep enlarging and can't be biopsied by a needle, they're too hard. So now it will be up to my oncologist as to what she wants to do about them, and my Ears, Nose, and Throat Dr. because there are two lymph nodes next to my throat that makes it difficult and very painful to swallow. I will find out what they intend to do over the next 2-3 weeks. I'm off to bed, it's blood workup in the morning.
Get well and don't forget to walk and drink. Love Kathy
Hi Janie, how are you doing? You're home already, just doesn't seem like it. Most get to come home after three days, except for me, and the open RNY they usually have to stay 4-5 days, I had to stay 5 days because I had to have blood being anemic and my potassium kept bottoming out. We didn't know it was from my chemo pills that I was getting while in the hospital. We found out just recently that the pills have been known to drop the potassium to critical levels. I'm jealous.
So how do you feel to be on the losers bench? Great isn't it. It's fabulous that I don't have breast cancer, but the cancer is still in my blood, that's the type of leukemia I have, so where that blood goes is dangerous to me at anytime. My lymph nodes and knots keep enlarging and can't be biopsied by a needle, they're too hard. So now it will be up to my oncologist as to what she wants to do about them, and my Ears, Nose, and Throat Dr. because there are two lymph nodes next to my throat that makes it difficult and very painful to swallow. I will find out what they intend to do over the next 2-3 weeks. I'm off to bed, it's blood workup in the morning.
Get well and don't forget to walk and drink. Love Kathy
Hi Amber, thank you, I try not to concentrate on the Leukemia. It's a fact, and as long as I remember to take the chemo pills, I could live another 20+ years. But I don't remember to take them in the mornings especially if I have appointments because they make me queasy and sleepy. I'm that already. I'm just glad that I don't have breast cancer as they originally thought. That doesn't mean I won't get it later, my type of leukemia (CML) is a cancer of the blood and large bone marrow, where that blood goes to, so does the cancer. So I am still in a danger zone especially with all these large knots appearing all over the top half of my bode. They can't do needle aspirations as they are too hard and bent the needles, even the two lymph nodes in my neck was tried on Tuesday and she could only get a few drops of blood, the needle was bent. The surgeon says if they remove all the lymph nodes, I will swell up, and not from fluids either. Like my left breast is swelled, very hard, and very heavy vs the pancake on the right side. I'm to wear sports bras 24/7 from now one to keep the left side compressed. Finding them is the problem when you stay broke.
I see my ENT Dr. on Wednesday to see what he wants to do regarding the swelled nodes in my neck. They are pressing on my throat making it painful to try and swallow in liquids. Most of the time I end up can't swallow, and can't throw it up, so I start choking. Lovely for Thanksgiving isn't it. This will be my first Thanksgiving as a loser. My sons and their families will be here that Saturday as I cook the Thanksgiving dinner, they do the Christmas one.
How are you doing?
Right now, I would love to just crawl into bed and sleep for about 12 hours. Been at the cancer center since 7:30 this morning, was done before noon, and had to stand around for 4 hours waiting for my transportation to show up.
Take care of yourself, Kathy
Hi Kathie, when they took out the lymph nodes, did you swell up a lot from them being taken out? After a week of having the left lymph node removed, my left breast swelled up, it's hot, hard vs the pancake on the right side. I apparently got an infection in the left side from all the draining. The last time I got one like this I was nursing 28 years ago. Every chill causes pain. I'm to wear only sports bras 24/7 to compress the left side. Finding them to fit me being lopsided is another matter, but I'm to buy them a size smaller then what I would wear. Kathie, how did you manage 25 years ago having your lymph nodes removed? Last year when I found out I had leukemia, it hit me hard, then having the surgery, I dwelt with that and the chemo. then I was told I had cancer, that the leukemia was going into my lymph nodes, ripped me apart inside. I was on cloud nine yesterday when I was told that one lymph node was benign. Today it's like cancer is still in my body, there's no change. I still have leukemia that will never change. There is no cure. My upper body is building large hard knots, and one of them has cancer in it as my blood work came back today that I still have cancer cells multiplying.
I am too tired right now, I don't whether I am coming or going. I find out on Wednesday if I will be having the nodes removed from my neck or not. They can't do a needle biopsy. I am so tired of the needles every week, tired of all the Dr.'s poking and prodding me, there are days when I want to say no more. Enough!!! Then I see my two baby grandson's and two sons, and I cry on the inside and smile on the outside. I have to make some major decisions, whether I move closer to Nashville, stay in the east of Knoxville. I am so confused inside. I feel like a rag doll, passed around from one surgeon to another, don't know if I am coming or going these days. There are times when I feel so alone, no support group for leukemia patients in my area or for weightloss. This board is my only support for both. I appreciate it so much, I just wish I had a life outside of hospitals, doctors, and needles.
I wish I had all the answers, life would be grand, but I don't, only God does. I am sure he has a plan, just wish he would let me in on his plans. Thank you, Kathy
Kathy!!!!! I am so happy for you, I am in tears!!!! God is so good, He is so awesome, and the power of prayer by name is so at work in your life. You are headed for divine healing Kathy, I just know it!
On another note, Jeremy is one of the OH staffers...he is a specialist in diet and excercise and I think he is just updating his friends list with the most recent surgeries, upcoming ones, and illnesses, I think. That is just my theory but he also asked to be on my friends list as well so since I am having surgery in three weeks and Janie just had hers, and you are dealing with this mess...that's just my theory.
Oh, email me and fill me in on the Costa Rico situation...I didn't know J. wasn't in your life!
Love you, feel better, always in my prayers!--Kym
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