Step 1
So today was my first official 'cancer activity'. I had my sentinel node identified via radioactive injection. It was pretty ordinary.
One of my closest friends took me. We have decided that while I need to do "cancer" stuff, we will try to bookend it with fun stuff. It doesn't take much for us to create fun. (Insert disproportionate laughter that the label on my Coke was the same as my shirt...)
My surgeon performs sentinel lymph node biopsy so hopefully I will avoid the traumas of lymphodema but the trade was today's little adventure. The young woman performing the procedure was very gentle and I imagine that she was informative but I'm not really processing complex concepts very well at the moment. She advised that there would be a small sting followed by a larger sting. What that means is that you get a needle in your boob then it's injected with 14 litres of boiling lava. Ouch. Then you spend an eternity mauling your (in my case already battered and bruised) bosom until the liquid starts to drain into the lymph node. Then to take images you are subject to the human toastie maker. Not awesome for my claustrophobic brain. This process runs on a loop until results are achieved- in my case, this took an hour. I have no interest in EVER repeating this.
On the upside, I found my very favourite Chanel lipstick that I thought I had lost forever. It was hiding in my never-used overnight bag, waiting to surprise me. And today I bought Peter Alexander pyjama pants (with robots!) at an op shop for $2.50. Evidently these are good omens!
Surgery tomorrow. I'm feeling ok. Scared, but I'm acknowledging that emotion without wallowing there.
Sending good vibes out into the universe for my sisters who are going through similar things xoxo
