I'm done. I'm done with the painful, sickening treatments for the second time. I've fought breast cancer twice, and for the time being I've won. Again.
I think it will be a few more days before the full magnitude of these statements sink in. I'm done!!!
The appointment today was perfect. Dr. Surgical Oncologist snipped my stitches and pulled out my J-P drains. Whew! It wasn't quite as ticklish as last time. I think it was due to the fact that the drains were shorter--she said that she trims the length of the drain tubes based on how many lymph nodes she removes. Since I only lost two lymph nodes, the drains were relatively short, perhaps about 6-8 inches each. I had gotten so accustomed to having the drains in that all day I've been having to re-learn how to live without them. No, I don't have to clutch my elbow to my side and lift slightly to relieve the pressure on the stitches. No, I don't have to make sure I'm not slamming them in the car door. No, I don't have to avoid laying on them while I'm sleeping. Oh! Sleep! It will be so sweet tonight!
She also gave me the results of the Tumor Board's discussion. Based on the favorable pathology results, the consensus is that I do not need radiation for either my lymph nodes or my lungs. Huzzah! They do still recommend that I remain on Herceptin + Pertuzumab "indefinitely". That's fine with me. I'm so lucky that there is something to help control my disease.
I still have so much recovery ahead of me, but I'm thrilled to know that it won't be undone for awhile. For the first time in months my recovery will be exclusively forward. No backward steps due to do further treatments. Just forward.
Lovely. <3
ReplyDelete“Write it on your heart
ReplyDeletethat every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.
This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
You and your never ending positive, optimistic mind. It never ceases to amaze me, Sister. You are an inspiration. <3
Hol, that's beautiful. Thank you.
DeleteYAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletewords are insufficient to express how happy I am for you to finally be at this point. Love you.:)
I love you, too!!!! !
DeleteWoot woot! Thinking thoughts of continued health your way!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I'm so happy that you are doing better and moving forward!
ReplyDeleteHoly smokes!!! This calls for an excerpt from "Heather's Log of the 1994 Family Vacation to Yellowstone National Park".
ReplyDeleteSaturday, 13th of August, 11th day
11:24 We played a game. "I'm going to Mars and I'm going to bring..." That game. Then we ate RAVIOLI for lunch. I was opening it and I dropped it. Then I picked it up. Then I spilled it again. Now we're singing to the radio. By the way, we're in Nebraska. More like Ne-boring. Toodles.
12:54 Now we're in the Centroal Time zone. Mountain time would be 11:54.
1:19 Potty break. We're going to eat cheese and crackers.
3:49 Hol and I are making a scarf. Dad took us to McD's. They screwed up our order, so we had to go back. You can tell we're getting closer to home because it's humider.
5:21 Potty break. Only 2 pots were open. 2 were closed due to vandalism, and the 5th one had a turd on the floor. There was a crabby lady with a tacky bow, too. Holly changed the pattern on the scarf. I don't like it as well anymore.
6:29 We're in IOWA!
7:36 We finished our scarf - finally. We're to Casey. Almost home!!!
7:49 Holly put the scarf on her head like a turban. We got a picture.
7:54 Here's the Redfield exit. We're pullin' in. Ah, there's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's the radio tower. Ah, I like this. Familiar landmarks. The trailer park. The water tower. There's Max. The greenhouse, the tracks. The house.
That's so awesome, dad. I wish I remembered that scarf. I'm super curious, now. :)
Delete"By the way, we're in Nebraska. More like Ne-boring." <-- I love everything about this.
ReplyDeleteSo much in such a tiny little word like forward, huh? It's my favorite word today.
Love you and all of the things that you're headed for from this point ... forward.
B.
just blogwalking.. nice post :D
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Delete