29: Post op

To quote my breast surgeon Dr. Nakashizuka,

“ The chemotherapy worked, these are the results we want to have”. “The breast tissue showed no evidence of aggressive cancer cells.” “The Lymph nodes also did not show evidence of aggressive cancer cells!” “There was only signs of non invasive cancer cells.”

Doctor spoke these words in a joyful voice with such excitement. She talked about the size of the original cancer and the lymph node and that there was no longer any signs of the tumor and that the Chemotherapy treatment recommended worked. She mentioned that my medical Oncologist would again talk to me about the need for Radiation Treatment.

Doctor removed the dressing over the mastectomy site. While examining the surgery site, Dr. Nakashizuka was asking Monique about the amount of fluid discharge. Monique was rattling off numbers as fast as doctor was asking for them. Doctor then says, “the drains are ready to be removed”! I immediately ask, “is it going to hurt?” Doctor smiled and said I have been through much worse and tapped my shoulder. Ummmm, that didn’t answer my question! Well, no I didn’t feel pain when she pulled them out.

It was a good visit. I have a busy week of appointments. I am being referred to Physical Therapy, to help avoid Lymphedema. My first appointment is tomorrow at 730 am! No sleeping in for me!! After that I will get my monthly blood draw, and on Friday I get my Herceptin infusion after seeing my Medical Oncologist.

It’s going on 11pm here on Oahu, time to call it a night……good night.

Much Mahalo for reading

Pina (Josefina Wallace)

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