Thursday, Aug 23, 2007

Dear Friends & Family-

Thank you for the support and encouragement each one of you have
been sending me. As I move through the phases of cancer recovery, I
draw strength from each of you. Keep up the good work.

July 16th was the day I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal
Carcinoma. It was in two quadrants of the right breast, mulicentric.
This meant I HAD to have a mastectomy. ME.... I had no choice. Now,
most of you know how I like to be in control of EVERYTHING! Which
now, looking back, probably made my choice of whether or not to do
bilateral breasts harder, because I could control that decision.

It took me four weeks, until the week of surgery to decide that I
was going to do bilateral breasts. I have such a overwhelming family
history of breast cancer, that I knew bilateral was the best choice
for me. However, I should express that this was an extremely hard
decision to make, the kind that kept you sleepless and not paying
attention when one should.

My surgery was Friday, August 17 2007. I got to the hospital at
0600, went to nuclear medicine at 0800. They keep saying it's
because I'm in such good shape that the radiographic dye went to its
supposed site (the bad lymph nodes) immediately. The rad techs tell
me the dye imaging process could take up to three hours, or longer.
I was in and out in 50 minutes. This meant I had to wait, and wait,
and wait, and wait until the OR was ready for me. This was a trying
time, because I was ready- I was there- I was emotionally prepared
to do this and then get better. My husband, my mother, my friends
Gina and Mike waited so calmly; God bless 'em (that's all I'm gonna
say about that!)

I went in & I came out. What else is there to say. Out and in a
room late Friday night. Don't remember much, except I had LOTS of
chest pressure and I was super hot. I experienced a lot of nausea
before I eventually felt better. Saturday afternoon was when my
friend Gina and mom, MADE me get up and sit and eventually, walk. I
was mad, but got over it. By Saturday night I was wiping down the
counters, and dusting my room. I got home from the hospital at
9:30pm Saturday, August 18, 2007.

I can't get down into bed by myself, still. Nor can I put on the
camisole that I wear to hold my drains and dressings. Other than
that, I can do for myself, although Steve tends to all my
everything. My torpedoman who doesn't care for anything hospital
related (he thinks it's all disgusting) has been a super caregiver,
and a wonderful patient advocate.

Now, I sleep a lot. Take my medicine every six hours, and track my
drain output every eight hours. Now that I'm under 30cc in a 24-hour
period (drainage), it's only a matter of time. Friday, the 24th, I
have an appointment for drain removal; I'm expecting all three to
come out.

Thank you for all the cards and flowers, and edible arrangements!
I've strategically placed the flowers around the house, so that when
I enter a new room, I see & smell them. I'm okay.... I"m healing,
and getting better every day.