23rd February 2016 - McGrath Foundation Breast Care Nurses Rock!! Colds Suck!!

So, after three hours in the hospital, and cancer clinic, I'm home, snotty and all. My blood pressure is back to more normal (it was 180/87 after last week's disastrous visit. The anesthetist isn't thrilled i have a cold but basically said we need to do this surgery asap so unless it goes to a full blown chest infection he's happy not to put it off. I am at more risk of asthma attack or developing a chest infection during and post surgery even though its just a cold, but the risk is minimal. We then went on to see Megan my McGrath breast care nurse. She was able to tell us so much more about the pathology. They have to look at and treat the cancer as though it's two separate identities. The cancer in the breast isn't the normal common cancer (of course I have to be freaking special) My breast cancer started off in the milk ducts. The margins were clear was around most of the tumour (10mm clearance) and there was only one or two spots where it narrowed. So we are hoping that if those spots were clear, they wouldn't even be considering mastectomy. I know it's only a breast, but after discussing the risks during and after this type of surgery, and the problems that come of this type of surgery, if I can avoid it I would like to do so. (one of the issues is the chance of chronic pain developing post surgery not a fan of living with chronic pain). But at the end of the day, if a mastectomy saves my life, I can deal with that. There is no choice. Have ya'all seen how gorgeous my family is. I have to be around a lot longer yet to another the crap out of them! Anyway, back to my boobs. SO given i have just that little bit of narrow margin, and big boobs, and the fact that my actual surgeon hasn't seen my chart yet, we are keen to discuss all options. But the final decision is up to the doctor Now the sentinel nodes that were removed in the last surgery had large deposits of cancer in them. So that's why all the lymph glands have to be removed and then chemo therapy and possibly radiation to the armpit as well. The amount of cancer cells found in the lymph glands to be removed will determine how much and long chemo I have. Worst case scenario is 24 weeks of chemo therapy. And it will be the type of chemo that makes my hair fall out.
SO the lovely Kellie from elective surgery is taking my file to the surgeon on Thursday to discuss my options with him and hopefully get me in to see him asap (possibly monday morning late.
Rick and I came away today with such a more positive feel, like we are slowly clawing back a little bit of control, and have so much more information.

Have I also mentioned how much I LOVE my McGrath Breast Nurse Megan xxxx 

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