15. The Post Op Visit

The drains were out on a Monday.  The Post Op visit was scheduled for that Friday.  Another trip to the hospital.  Another reason for the caregivers to change their schedules to come with me.  It is ok.  They wanted to come.

Since the Pre Op visit, the doctor was pretty clear that no chemo would be needed.  However, radiation and some pill to be taken for 5 years was still in the cards.  Everything was pretty dependent on the pathology report.  So for the three weeks since surgery, thoughts and prayers were on the Sentinel Nodes hoping they did their job protecting the rest of the body, the cells did not do anything for the 100 days,  the margins in the removal area were good.

The thought came to me.  Check that portal!  They always post the results. I got in, and immediately read the report. I did not understand a lot of what I read, but I did see one word throughout the document. NEGATIVE.  I started to cry. 

The Baby and Husband sitting next to me looked at me.  NEGATIVE I said.  That is a good thing—right?  We all prayed that it was so. That the other words concurred with the negative.

Luckily I have friends who are in the medical field—maybe  not  in breast cancer –but can read the hieroglyphics. They agreed it looked good but cautioned to wait till it came from the horse’s mouth—my breast care doctor. (Well hores mouth may sound mean. . . blunt, that was me saying that and truth-I LOVE my breast care doctor and team.)

We arrived at the Breast Center and the caregivers found a seat at the opposite end of the room while I registered.  I  answered again. . .the mandatory Medicare questions and signed the docs that spelled out that I would be liable for all payments. Hey, when your health is concerned, blank check it is.  All in order,  I took my seat.

As I sat with the Baby and Hubby, I watched the women arrive. All somber.  All quiet.  One group, looked the same as mine, husband, daughter and a woman.   The woman was wearing  a belted wrap that went around her upper body. Interesting as it had loops that looked like an area for a seatbelt. Wow, I have not seen that in my internet search.  I had my small pillows, now thrown on the dashboard, that fit under the seatbelt.  I was getting used to them.

Before I could look at her cushion vest, the nurse called us in.

Hey, a friendly face--the Drain Removal nurse. I mentioned that as well as asked if the table was fixed yet. She laughed and said it was.    We went in to the room and she handed me the gown.  I turned my back to the family who had already seated, and put it on. I still was not ready for them to see anything.  Stupid idea I know as we were in a small room and I am sure the octor would ask to see me.  

The nurse began to ask a few questions, any pain? Have I been getting out? What is my activity level. Blood pressure and temp. (Pressure a little high, but it always is at doctor visits)  Doctor will be in soon.

She did arrive quickly.  I think as the waiting room was filling it would be a busy day.  Reason again to schedule those first in the morning appointments. 

Sitting down, she immediately began the interrogation.  How are we today? How are we feeling? Any Pain?

ME: No, only using Tylenol as needed, and I have not needed it.  I wouldn’t mind some oxi tho—Just kidding.  (I have learned that Doctors do not laugh, I keep trying,  but even I admit that was a lame attempt)

DOC: Let me take a look and see how you are doing.

Here is where I tried to angle myself as not to shock or make my family wince or see the mutilation that had just occurred on this body.  Arms stretched out to make a tent, I did see Baby strain to see and I tried with no avail to turn away more, however doctor was by then removing the sterile strips and examining.  I was trapped. 

DOC: Everything looks great. You are healing well.   You may close the shirt. Have I called you with the results? 

ME:  No, no call.  I did look. Not that I understood them. But I did see the word NEGATIVE.  

Came my response as I brought my body safely back inside the shirt.  

EDITORIAL COMMENT:  Should these medical portals be filled with Lab results etc. before the main provider has had a chance to read them and talk to the patient?  Think about it. A non medical anxious patient, looks at the results before the doctor has a chance to review?  What if the words were POSITIVE?   Could not these portals have a prompt that allows the doctor to release the portal information after a meeting with the patient?  Would the doctor be inundated with portal questions and have more work?  PLUS, there is now a movement to charge for these portal questions after all, they are working.  Think about it. . . .

She brought out a print out of the results and her pen.  What I love about this Doctor, she draws, underlines, circles, and writes down what she says for emphasis. There are many pages. . .Left breast. Right breast,  Left Nodes, Right Nodes.  In each differing paragraph, she circled the word negative.

For the Right and Left Breasts:  Negative and Margins 2 Plus MM—excellent.  Next to each breast paragraphs  that was circled and underlined a big 0 with the slash thru it.

For the Nodes:  Left Nodes 1 Taken.  Negative.  Right Nodes, 7 taken, 6 negative.  Next to each Node paragraphs  that was circled and underlined a big 0 with the slash thru it.

And then with a flourish for the finish:  She wrote:  Radiation:  0.   Chemo: 0.  AND, big 0- No follow up pills for 5 years.

I cried—happy tears this time.  And she added this tidbit for the no pills.  My chance of re-occurring is 2%.  Taking the pills would only lower it to 1%. Save some money.  Hey I’ll put it towards the bills I just said I would pay for if no reimbursements were made.   And I am getting this report framed.

WOW!  What can one say for all that great news. Were there any questions?

Well, let us remember Nuke Med. And the difficulty.  She and the radiologist reviewed and determined in the future; all Nuke Med procedures will occur the day before.  No day of appointments. (Hey I am a trend setter)  It was nothing that my breasts did.  The cancer in the ducts did not deter.  The Dense-ness the word that appeared on every mammogram I ever had—Dense Breasts.  All of this has nothing to do with it.   

Could the doctor tell anything from the breasts when they were removed. NO.   Only if there was a BIG tumor, and to be honest, if that was found, well. . .what can you say.  

Could you tell by the Sentinel Lymph nodes?  Well they did feel healthy—and she did the squeeze motion with her thumb and forefinger. But again, you cannot tell until pathology reports.

She went back to the breasts. 

DOC: My Team did have a discussion after your surgery.  We all think that your breasts were the heaviest we ever removed.  I bet your back feels better.

We all laughed.

ME:  I have  a confession as well.  The Day of Surgery I weighed myself.  I also weighed myself the day a got home.  Weight Down: 6 Pounds.  Question: What else can we remove from me?

So there you have it. No Radiation.  No Chemo.  No Pills.  The past 6 weeks went by.  We made the deadline of mastectomy before June.  The DISC remained at stage 0.  A Family call was made to the girls as we walked back to the car. We all celebrated by Phone. 

Back at home: My text messages lit up.  A bottle of champagne purchased. Glasses raised. 

REMEMBER:  MAMMOGRAMS MEAN EARLY DETECTION.  And what a difference 100 days makes.