I saw Dr Camberos my plastic surgeon on Tuesday and the appt went really well. My lovely mom went with me and we were able to enjoy a yummy lunch together before the appt. We all had a laugh when Dr. Camberos first came in the room because he didn’t’ recognize me when I said hello to him in the hallway walking down to the room. He was wondering why this gal he didn’t know and hadn’t met with before was so friendly saying hi to him. We laughed because the first time he met with me I had a different wig on and a hat. The second time he saw me was in the operating room when I had on the oh so adorable cap they put on you before surgery (it resembles a shower cap). So I totally threw him off with my different wig without a hat. J I joked with him that next time I will come in with a completely different wig or maybe no wig at all! J
He took out two of the four surgical drains (hallelujah!!) and will take out the other two most likely at my next appt which is scheduled for this coming Tues the 30th. He said he put in four to be sure I would drain well and to avoid a possible infection or build up – makes sense! I was just so happy to have two removed and boy does it hurt when they are removed but so worth the momentary pain to get those suckers out. I had gone earlier that day to get the pathology report at the hospital and was so pleased to read that there was no cancer found in the right breast tissue – chemo did its job!! Praise the Lord!! I was expecting that news but it is certainly reassuring to see it on paper.
Dr Camberos took off all my bandages and said I was healing nicely. To be completely honest, it was very difficult to see my chest like that. I had to fight back tears in the room because I was so overcome with emotion when I saw what was under those bandages. I know in time my chest will look better once the swelling goes down, the scars fade, he continues to fill my tissue expanders and eventually puts in the implants but it definitely shocked me to see myself looking like that – almost in a deformed manner. I was so happy and anxious to cover up again with new bandages. My incredibly sweet and encouraging husband told me yesterday that I was a like a caterpillar metamorphosing into a beautiful butterfly. It made me cry to hear that – it was so comforting and loving to hear those tender words! I love you Babe!
Yesterday I went to see Dr. Subramanian my oncologist and had a great appt with her. My next stage of treatment is hormone therapy which I will begin in two weeks. Hormone therapy involves me getting a monthly injection of Zoladex for two years which will stop my ovaries from producing estrogen and progesterone (my breast cancer was considered estrogen and progesterone positive – which means it was basically feeding off my hormones) which in turn will cause me to go into early menopause. I will also be taking a daily pill called Tamoxifen for five years which blocks my estrogen and helps prevent the breast cancer from recurring. Even though I have had a bilateral mastectomy, the cancer can still come back in another part of my body. It would still be considered breast cancer since that is where the cancer initially was found. Let’s pray that won’t happen – which I am sure it won’t! Go Pink!!
I was initially concerned about the side effects of hormone therapy but my oncologist said the more severe ones such as uterine cancer, heart disease, blood clots, and stroke are usually a concern for women over 60 who are post menopausal. The most I will have to deal with will be menopausal side effects such as night sweats and hot flashes and possible bone/muscle pain. I will need to take calcium supplements and vitamin D to maintain healthy bones. I left the appt feeling much more comfortable about going through hormone therapy.
Dr. Subramanian said since I had the bilateral mastectomy I won’t need mammograms or MRIs in the future. My blood will be checked every three months for cancer markers and if they are high then I would go in for a scan. Since they did all those scans early in my treatment I won’t need another scan unless the markers are high. She said to report any pains in my head or back or elsewhere that are unusual or persistent.
While I was waiting to see Dr. Subramanian I was talking with her super sweet medical assistant who was commenting on my ring back tone “I Praise You in This Storm” by the Casting Crowns and how she played it for her brother. They both really liked it. She told me she really wanted to get back into church. I asked her if she used to go and she said yes – she was raised Catholic. She said she had her first three kids baptized but will have her younger three make that decision when they are older and understand what it is all about (yes she has 6 kids, she’s 36 and looks great!). I told her about North Coast
Overall I feel great! The pain is pretty much gone and the range of motion in my arm improves each day. Once I get the last two surgical drains removed I will feel so much more comfortable. I still feel pressure on my ribcage and chest wall from the expanders (its like I have a rubber band around my chest – not too tight though just a bit annoying) and my skin is still numb around where I had my surgery but in time that will diminish. I have all my eyelashes back (if only my upper lashes were a bit longer!) and my eyebrows are almost completely grown in (I have never been so happy to pluckJ). My hair continues to grow but I am still not comfortable going out with my super short hair – my sweet and encouraging friends and one of the nurses in the hospital said I look great without my wig. Maybe I will give it another month and see. If I wait a couple months, maybe I can “reveal” my new look on Halloween! J
I continue to relish how faithful God has been in healing me – it just shows you the power of prayer and how much He cares for and loves His children! Thank you all for everything!!! I am one blessed pink lady!!
Lots of Love,
Kelly
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