Histopathology Report
After my mastectomy just before xmas, I found out at the post op visit that I'd have to have more surgery.
So on Jan 31 I went back into hospital for an axillary node dissection.
After the mastectomy I had 2 drains and a pump and didn't really lose that much fluid. The drains came out in less than a week.
So going home with only the one drain and no pump after the node operation seemed easy.
But the bag was filling up every day. I didn't know where all that stuff was coming from.
By day 7 it's leaking at the point of entry as well as thru the tube into the bag.
I had no more bags and it's the weekend. I wasn't game to leave the house for a second.
The community nurse arrived in the nick of time on the Monday, thank God.
I used face washers taped to my side. I went thru about 5 every day on top of what was going into the bag.
My clothes line looked like the old days when women washed their menstrual pads, lol.
I lost litres of fluids and only yesterday, after 13 days, did I lose that horrible leaking drain.
Today I saw my breast surgeon for the post op visit.
What could she possibly have to say this time round?
I've had the 5 months of chemo, 2 operations, I've always known I'd be hit with the heaviest dose of radiation (6 weeks) and will see the radiologist this Friday.
Everyone seemed cheery. Her assistant was there (nurse), my assistant was there (sister) and she said her job was over.
I should see her again in 6 months.
I was given an appointment to see the radiologist in 2 days (Friday). I know I have 6 weeks of radiology ahead of me.
Just as we were about to leave I asked for a copy of my report.
She said I'm printing it out as we speak.
It's a good thing she didn't print it out before we spoke otherwise I might have kept her there somewhat longer.
When I get home I remember I should look at the report but the dog was begging for a walk.
I'd been feeling pretty good knowing that I was moving into Stage III of my treatment with the chemo and operations behind me.
I ran for the first time since last June today, with the dog pulling me along (huge staffie) but I was running, probably just jogging, for a few metres.
We go home, I feed him and then calmly sit down to read a Histopathology Report - mine.
I've never read one before but I can clearly see that Levels I thru to III are Metastatic Carcinoma.
The numbers look even worse. 11 of 13 nodes in Level I and II, 3 of 3 nodes in Level III.
Even my scar tissue from the mastectomy has invasive carcinoma.
I will go to my GP tomorrow morning to find out what it all means.
Que sera sera...
So on Jan 31 I went back into hospital for an axillary node dissection.
After the mastectomy I had 2 drains and a pump and didn't really lose that much fluid. The drains came out in less than a week.
So going home with only the one drain and no pump after the node operation seemed easy.
But the bag was filling up every day. I didn't know where all that stuff was coming from.
By day 7 it's leaking at the point of entry as well as thru the tube into the bag.
I had no more bags and it's the weekend. I wasn't game to leave the house for a second.
The community nurse arrived in the nick of time on the Monday, thank God.
I used face washers taped to my side. I went thru about 5 every day on top of what was going into the bag.
My clothes line looked like the old days when women washed their menstrual pads, lol.
I lost litres of fluids and only yesterday, after 13 days, did I lose that horrible leaking drain.
Today I saw my breast surgeon for the post op visit.
What could she possibly have to say this time round?
I've had the 5 months of chemo, 2 operations, I've always known I'd be hit with the heaviest dose of radiation (6 weeks) and will see the radiologist this Friday.
Everyone seemed cheery. Her assistant was there (nurse), my assistant was there (sister) and she said her job was over.
I should see her again in 6 months.
I was given an appointment to see the radiologist in 2 days (Friday). I know I have 6 weeks of radiology ahead of me.
Just as we were about to leave I asked for a copy of my report.
She said I'm printing it out as we speak.
It's a good thing she didn't print it out before we spoke otherwise I might have kept her there somewhat longer.
When I get home I remember I should look at the report but the dog was begging for a walk.
I'd been feeling pretty good knowing that I was moving into Stage III of my treatment with the chemo and operations behind me.
I ran for the first time since last June today, with the dog pulling me along (huge staffie) but I was running, probably just jogging, for a few metres.
We go home, I feed him and then calmly sit down to read a Histopathology Report - mine.
I've never read one before but I can clearly see that Levels I thru to III are Metastatic Carcinoma.
The numbers look even worse. 11 of 13 nodes in Level I and II, 3 of 3 nodes in Level III.
Even my scar tissue from the mastectomy has invasive carcinoma.
I will go to my GP tomorrow morning to find out what it all means.
Que sera sera...
