HaPpY nEw YeAr!

Pathology Results

Yesterday I went to visit the surgeon for my post-op appointment. I found out that the three lymph nodes that he removed were all clean. Good news. Then he told me that he removed seven millimeters of cancerous cells (about one quarter of an inch) with clean margins. More good news. He said that about 70-80 percent of patients will have some tumor cells remaining after pre-surgery chemotherapy. Now I can truly say that I am cancer free.

During the first week of January I have an appointment with the radiation oncologist and my oncologist. I will be starting the Avastin treatments then if all looks good.

I have truly had a happy holiday with the good report from my surgeon. Hope you do too.

Update

I went to work for half a day the last two days before vacation. I wanted to make sure the students had new books to read for the holidays. My first morning back it was a mob scene in the library. There were several stacks of books three feet high to be returned. I got those books back on the shelves, and the students checked out more. I was also able to unpack about 3 boxes of new books. I brought home my own stack of new titles to read. I have finished two of them. I am glad that I went back early. It was nice to see everyone.

Now I have a two week break from school. I am going to enjoy myself since I finally have energy and feel good.

This afternoon I go to see my surgeon and get the pathology for the tissue that he removed. I will report after I hear from him.

Stayed at Home Today

I thought that I could make it into work for a half day today. I am having some issues, but I don't think that they are connected to the surgery. I am not whining here, just stating the facts. I am having terrible allergy issues: sneezing, sore throat, and dripping nose. It is most unpleasant. I have to carry tissue with me everywhere I go (around the house). I know it is allergy not a cold. I am trying to control the running nose with Benadryl, but it is not working. My other issue is my stomach. I won't go into the icky details, but I took an Immodium this morning. It seems to be working.

I plan to work the mornings only on Thursday and Friday. I know the kids want to see me--I have been getting text messages on my phone and a few emails. I want to see the kids and teachers too. Plus, I have a shipment of $4000 in new books just sitting there. I want some new reads for the holidays!

My First Venture Out

Until this evening, I had not left the house since we returned home from Ochsner Hospital on Wednesday afternoon. I have enjoyed sleeping, reading, and answering the telephone. I haven't even watched that much television, though I caught the movie, Christmas in Connecticut today with Barbara Stanwyck and Sydney Greenstreet. It wasn't very good, but I still enjoyed it.

Steve had to work today, so I decided to walk Josey Brown with him when he came home. I didn't even change out of my flannels. I added a hat and scarf and walking shoes, and we took a short walk with the dog. It felt pretty good to be out.

I sort of like this recuperation gig. It is very relaxing.

Up in the Middle of the Night

I can't sleep, so I am catching up on the emails that I missed today. No, there was nothing that couldn't wait, but I enjoyed hitting the delete button to clean up the trash.

The surgery went so well today. There were two procedures pre-surgery that I thought would be painful. They weren't. The area was numbed before the needles were injected, so neither the wire insertion or the radioactive dye were problems.

I am feeling great! I have slight discomfort but no real pain. I did take a pain pill before I went to sleep, as I did not want to wake up with throbbing at the site of surgery. Instead I have a bit of insomnia.

On Friday afternoon I will be able to take off the dressing and shower. Everything has gone so smoothly that I anticipate not to be disappointed with how I look. Anyway, it has been a difficult battle, and I expected to have some battle scars.

I want to give a shout out of thanks to all who put me in their thoughts and prayers. It worked! I am so pleased with today's outcome.

It's Over

I meant to post this as soon as Elizabeth was out of surgery. Blogging on the ipod touch in the family waiting area at Ocshner Hospital turned out to be more difficult then I expected. But anyway the operation was over by 1:30, and it was a major success. I spoke with the surgeon right after the operation, and he was very pleased with the outcome. Three sentinel lymph nodes were removed, and they were all cancer free. We will find out the pathology of the tissue removed when Elizabeth returns for a follow-up on the 23rd. We would be very surprised if there is any cancer cells present. All things considered this was as good as it could possibly get.

We got home about 4 this afternoon and Elizabeth is feeling pretty good. She's been up and around. We just had a very nice dinner her Mom made for us and now we are about to take it easy for the rest of the night. Thanks to everyone who called and wrote; we really appreciate your concern and your prayers.

It started

Elizabeth was wheeled into surgery at noon today. The operation should take about an hour.

Tomorrow,Tomorrow--the Big Day

I am scheduled for surgery at 11AM tomorrow. There are only two people ahead of me, so maybe I will actually get wheeled into surgery for 11. My first procedure is at 7:45AM at the Breast Center, and then they want me in the hospital as soon as that is finished so that they can start to prep me. Maybe I will be home for 4PM.

Steve plans to post here on the blog when they wheel me into surgery, and then post again after Dr. Corsetti talks to him post-surgery. If you want to know what happens, you can read it here. Almost in real time, Steve will have the iPod Touch, and the mini-keyboard will be a bit of an obstacle.

Wish me luck, or as I have been telling the students at school---you should be wishing the doctor good luck. He will be doing all the work, not me.

Counting Down the Days Until Surgery

Wednesday is the big day. I have a 7:45AM appointment at the breast center. They will insert a wire to mark the site of the tumor. Or should I say, where the tumor use to be. Then I go across the street to surgery. I do not know the time that the surgery is scheduled. I won't know until they call me on Tuesday. Steve will be with me. He will probably get to sit with me until I go into surgery. Then the surgery should take an hour, and I will be sleeping it off for 90 minutes to 2 hours. Steve will be allowed into recovery after that. I won't be staying overnight in the hospital; I will go home that afternoon.

The surgeon did not expect any surprises with my surgery--all routine. For him that is, not for me. I am getting a bit nervous. I know that on Thursday that I will be happy that half of my treatment has been completed.

The surgeon wants me home for a week and a half, so that brings me up to my school's winter break. I will have three and a half weeks to rest and get myself back together before going to work and continuing my treatments. I return to the doctor for radiation treatments a month after the surgery.