Feeling very thankful this week, for:
1. The fabulous team of some of the best doctors.
2. The urgency Dr. Meyering had to get my treatment started and more importantly for her treatment choices.
3. Dr.Schreier- he is a rockstar surgeon. My boob looks great!
4. Kensington's pneumonia has passed. She is healthy and happy again.
5. And the most important, You! I am so lucky to be me.... and feel so grateful to have you.
Radiation:
I met with my radiologist today, Dr. Lewinsky (yes, he is Monica's father). He is one of the best in the business! I will have 33 days of radiation, 5 days a week, starting next Wednesday. I was fitted today for the machine, had a CAT Scan and got three tattoos. For all of you that know me well, you know I would NEVER have gotten tattoos under any circumstances (insert big smile).
We will radiate from the bottom of the left breast and up to my neck and shoulder. It is quite a larger area than I anticipated. He said that he is choosing to radiate a larger area than just the breast because my cancer was aggressive and my tumor was large. Think of radiation as my insurance policy for future re-occurance and the mop up from chemo and surgery. I will have more information on radiation next week, but this is a sneak peak for you.
The day I start radiation, I can no longer have any antioxidants for the duration. I am going to be like a chipmunk this week, when you see me I will have strawberries and blueberries hiding in my cheeks. I won't be able to eat red beans, spinach, berries and a few other things I LOVE. Seriously... thought I was over the food restrictions.
I also saw Dr. Schreier today, all is healing well on my breast but not the case for the area in which they removed the lymph nodes (armpit). He removed my surgical strips, very happy about that. My boob is free! I have lymphatic fluid that has accumulated in my armpit, about the size of a walnut. If it becomes so uncomfortable that I can't lower my arm then they will drain the fluid, otherwise it should go away on its own over the next 4 weeks. The not so happy news- I have had pain and numbness from the shoulder to the elbow on the back of my left arm. He disrupted a nerve in surgery. It may be permanent. When I told him about the pain, he made a face and I could just tell something was wrong and it was serious. That's when he said that individuals that have only 3 lymph nodes removed usually don't have this condition, but lucky me.... I do! I can't even touch my arm without saying a bad word (and you know I don't like to cuss).
I will start physical therapy soon. I don't have great movement in my arm because of the pain from the nerve so hopefully physical therapy will fix me.
6 weeks:
My last chemo infusion was 6 weeks ago today and surgery was 3 weeks ago. All day today I have been thinking about how quickly time passes and when you least expect it.
A friend and colleague of mine, a huge supporter of me through all of this, is walking in the Avon Breast Cancer walk. Participants have to raise money in order to participate and the funds help advance breast cancer research. She will be walking with my name on her and a dear friend/colleague, Ruth Foster. If you are interested in donating or reading about the walk,click here.
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