Finally some good news!

I finally have some good news.... I am CANCER FREE! 

I had my second surgery last Thursday (January 19th).  The surgeon took out some more breast tissue and what he believes is anywhere between 15-30 lymph nodes.  Well he called me tonight around 5pm to let me know that the pathology report had just came in and that everything was clear!  Margins were all clear and all lymph nodes were negative for any cancer!  What GREAT news!!

Now don't get me wrong, even after 3 other surgeries, I was no where near the "perfect" patient.  I still freaked out, had a panic attack and was what one would call "emotional".  You would think that after being through other surgeries, I would be used to the routine.  Not so much!  But its done, and I don't need any other surgeries until I get my port out - which will not be for a while.

I am really sore from this time around.  My arm, side, and back are all numb.  Hopefully most of it is just temporary.  I also have fluid built up under my arm which swishes around like a 1/2 filled bottle of water.  I went yesterday to see if it needed to be drained, and my surgeon said that the amount that's there is "normal" and it will drain back into my body on its own.  He also said that I am healing really well and that there is not much swelling  (in his eyes) at all.  Me on the other hand, think that there is a lot of swelling.  Sleeping is hard to do, as I usually lay on the side that is swollen.  I need to just give everything time, and hope that I will get back to normal.

Up next will be radiation.  I need to recover for about a month and let the swelling go down.  I think radiation will start sometime in early March.  I will need 6 weeks of that then be DONE!