In recovery mode after my lumpectomy
I'm recovering well from my lumpectomy operation of yesterday. I was up with the birds and had a 35 min walk on the treadmill to get my blood and my endorphins flowing before heading into Hobart for my operation (the nurses and surgeon were very impressed with me lol). Dressed in loose clothing, file, x-rays, book, notebook and special breast cancer bra to wear after the operation, soft feather pillow packed into a rather large carry bag, we were ready to leave on my excellent adventure.
We left home at around 7.30 am and proceeded to Women's Imaging for my hook wire procedure. And yes, it sounds awful but other than a sting of the needle (rather like a bee sting) there was little pain - it only only took 15 mins for the wire to be inserted (whilst my breast was squeezed flat on the mammogram machine - lovely!) There I was with a an 8 cms long, wire with what looked like a flag a-top sticking out of my shirt. I'm sure this looked very odd! This was for the benefit of the surgeon to find the middle of the cancerous mass when operating. At 9.10 am we headed to the hospital (arrived around 9.30 am) for my lumpectomy which was planned at 11.30 am but on arrival I was told that my operation was delayed until 2.00 pm.
The worse part of the whole day was the waiting time - four and half hours waiting in a waiting room (which was exactly like a doctors waiting room) with other day patients, some dressed in their surgical gowns with hard chairs to sit on. I stood for most or the time or walked around the room - it was all very basic and surprising for a BUPA Private Hospital. Luckily they didn't ask me to change into my surgical gown until 15 minutes before my operation. I felt sorry for those who waited an hour or so dressed in their surgical gear! The nurses kept apologising to me for my long wait ... I had to be at the hospital so that I did not dislodge my hook wire.
At 1.45 pm I walked myself to the operating room and climbed onto the operating table (it all seemed unreal as they asked me to take off my sandals and leave them under the operating table!) Believe it or not, we are not a third world country - I did wonder! I have to say that I was a little flabbergasted at this!
The most painful part of the whole procedure was the insertion of the needle for the IV. I woke in recovery at 2.30 pm and shortly after I was offered a lemon icy pole for my throat which definitely helped the soreness. Other than a couple of Panadol tablets for slight pain (they kept on offering me pain killers) to keep them happy (even though the pain was bearable) I finally accepted them just to get some peace. I dozed on and off and was woken regularly for my blood pressure to be taken. At some point in time my surgeon came in to say that all went well but to the life of me I have no idea of what he actually said. I probably just nodded and agreed! Once my wooziness had passed I was moved onto a comfortable recliner at 4.00 pm and finally had a cup of sweet tea along with a fresh sandwich and a moist cake, which went down a treat (after a 20 hour fast). The nursing staff were marvellous (as was my surgeon and anesthetist) - I really can't complain. I had excellent post-operative care.
It is the first operation I've had without suffering from sickness which made a huge difference in my recovery (they gave me a drug in my IV to stop the sickness). I finally left the hospital at 5.30 pm with my very patient husband who stayed by my side for most of the day (only disappearing whilst I was in surgery). A soft feather pillow a-top my breast protected the wound from the safety belt rubbing on the drive home. I was still very drowsy last night, but I felt more than comfortable and managed to eat a light supper. I also slept extremely well and woke late this morning. The breast cancer compression bra was very comfortable and made a huge difference as has my day compression bra. Well worth the money spent!
I have had little pain so have not needed painkillers - I have a very thin half moon scar of 5 cms just below my bra line (all I have is a clear waterproof plaster across the wound). The surrounding tissue is bruised but the bruising is very slight. I can also see that I now have a dent in my breast where the tissue was removed (the scar tissue may fill most of this), so really I have been extremely lucky. I have made my own cold compresses to put over my wound and they've worked extremely well. I cut up a thick sanitary pad into three, watered it down and placed them in the freezer. They froze well and are soft on the wound and mould themselves to the skin when they start to thaw. I have found that they do not burn the skin and they last for around 20 mins which is just right. They have certainly helped with the bruising and have stopped much of the swelling around the wound (though my breast does look larger than before!)
I had strict instructions to rest today but I am allowed some light exercise tomorrow. I can move onto my workouts on Friday depending on my soreness. The wound is quite sensitive and will probably need extra care over the next few weeks. I can use light weights and have been told to slowly increase my weights over the next week or two towards the weight I was using before my operation. Tomorrow I plan to have an easy 30 min walk on the treadmill and will do some upper body and arm exercises with light weights if I can.
My surgeon is now on vacation and because of this, he has organised for my pathology report to be sent to my own GP who will give me my results either on Friday/Monday.
This is when I find out whether the healthy tissue around the breast cancer is clear of cancer and whether I have hormone receptors on my cells which means I could be given hormone therapy after radiotherapy which reduces the risk of my breast cancer recurring and increases my chance of survival (which is excellent at 98%).
If the margins do show cancer cells then I will need further surgery. My next appointment with my surgeon, is in the second/third week of February. He tells me that the delay in seeing him is all to the good as it will allow scar tissue to form which will help him if he needs to remove further tissue.
I have to say, it has become a long drawn out affair. Always a problem when something happens around the Christmas/New Year period as well as Summer holiday I suppose. It is a little stressful waiting around.
If no further operation is required he will organise for me to see an Oncologist, at my next appointment when he checks my breast and wound - my probability of receiving radiotherapy is high (5 weeks was mentioned instead of 8 weeks) so we will see what transpires. I will be under the Oncologist for 5 years having regular check ups, etc.
All in all, I have been extremely lucky that they found my cancer early and it is confined to a milk duct (only the pathology will tell us for sure) and it has not spread to my lymph nodes or throughout my body. It is something that I would never have found myself as it is not palpable - if it had become a lump it would have been a lot more serious.
I am also extremely lucky in that I have not suffered from any pain. I think this is because of my workouts and lifting weights every other day, being relatively fit (thanks to my workouts and diet) and having lost all my extra weight. I have definitely benefitted in so many ways with my weight loss and fitness regime.
I have gained a few kilos over the last month whilst waiting for my operation. If I do have radiotherapy, I am told it is very common for people to lose their appetite and drop weight. As I was at the lowest end of my Body Mass Index (BMI) I thought it would be better to be closer to the higher end of my BMI thus if I do drop weightif I am sick during radiotherapy I won't end up being stick thin. The weight gain can be seen in my face and I definitely have a slightly thicker waist line but it is all good. I know I can lose this weight again once I am given the all clear and radiotherapy is over.
I shall move back to Level 1, Module 1 of Circuits which is fairly easy for me and seems to cover a whole body routine. My goal for this year is to join the mid-year fitness competition when my radiotherapy is completed. It gives me something to work towards and to build up too and will keep me on the straight and narrow for the next 6 months. As for my diet, not much changes, lots of protein, lots of calcium (for the radiotherapy) and lots of veggies and fruit and of course eating to maintenance and maintaining the weight I am now at. 'Simples'. 