Photo: Lyla and Zeb having a blast on the beach!Okay - if you wouldn't mind sending copious amounts of positive, healing energy in my direction on: THURSDAY 27TH DECEMBER AT 9AM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.
I leave the house to get to the hospital for 6am. I am then scheduled for a 7am procedure to help locate my sentinal lymph node. This is the lymph node in the armpit that is the first node that receives the lymphatic drainage from the breast. This is relatively new test that has been very effective in revealing if any cancer cells have spread or migrated from the original cancer site.
They inject a radioactive dye into the breast near the nipple. This dye then is taken by the lymphatic system to the first lymph node aka the sentinal lymph node. If there is more than one node that highlights from the dye then they will take out more than one.
The lymph node(s) that are removed are immediately microscopically examined by a pathologist. If any cancer cells are seen then the surgeon will go back in and remove more to asertain it there are any negative nodes. This gives them an information how far the cancer has spread- a level 1 or 2 axillary lymph node dissection.
They supplied a tube of cream that acts as a local analgesic (lidocaine) to apply (like frosting!) 2 hours before to the injection site. Obviously this can be a painful procedure :(
The actual operation to remove the breast is scheduled for 9am. The operation takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Breast tissue extends from just below the collar bone over to inside the armpit and then down around the ribcage and over to the sternum (breast bone) and up to the collarbone. Apparently I will have a horizontal incision after been closed up.
The actual incision to remove the breast is eye or almond shaped; extending from the one side of the nipple up over the top and down around and below the nipple. So, an area of skin and nipple is removed as well as all breast tissue. I will have a drain inserted to the wound site that will drain the area for 5-6 days.
Good links about mastectomy and lymph nodes:
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/mastectomy.jsp
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/sentinel_dissection/index.jsp
They seem pretty good on pain control (very good!!). I'll have a constant measured narcotic administered, morphine I believe, with a extra pump if I need more to control pain(!). I should only have a one night stay and be able to leave the hospital using only oral painkillers (Vicodine).
The anesthesiologist will apparently call me the night before. I actually have some fear about general anesthesia. Even though it is very safe today I still don't like the idea of losing consciousness! Plus I had a knee operation when I was 19 and was so nauseated afterwards - horrible. We shall see how good they have got! I'll let you know.
Ron will, of course, be there with me and plans to spend the night with me in my room. My parents and other wonderful people offered to fly in to be with me. But this feels better. Only one night in the hospital and then home!
So, thank you for all the love, prayers, Metta, positive energy, and good wishes coming my way.
Here goes! See ya!
(I'll post more tomorrow - I'm sure!)
