Barely Awake, but Getting There

[wickedwords]

No food or drink after mindnight the night before, only a small sip for my regular pills after waking. I went to work for a couple of hours as a distraction, then Lar took me to the hospital. I arrived and registered on time, but they were about a half hour late getting to me in pre-surgery. Once the IV site was ready, then we rushed down to Diagnostic Imaging for the sentinel node biopsy injection or fun with radioactive materials. After signing the paperwork and getting the Lidocaine and the radioactive material injection, Lar, of course, was using his IPhone to read up on the material while I was doing aerobics to get the stuff to move into the lymph nodes, and thought about Jim and Blair.

(What? It was a Sentinel node biopsy. Where else would my mind have gone?)

Two baseline scans, then down to mammography at the Evergreen Breast Center, where, yes, I had to register yet again and sign yet more forms, so they could put the guides in to pinpoint the tumor. More Lidocaine, a few xrays, a couple of incisions, and the hook was set so they could go in and cut the tumor out.

Back in surgery again, this time filling out more forms for the port implant for my chemo therapy. (We'd hoped it wouldn't be necessary, as the tumor is small, but because it was an aggressive triple negative, that was a no-go. )

Sidenote: While in the mammogram room (which I love, BTW. The Evergreen Breast Center is an awesome place), I learned a couple of things: 1) Seattle has had the highest number of breast cancer cases in the united states for several years, and 2) Evergreen has a 2% re-occurrence rate, compared with a 17% nationally. I found it reassuring to know they treat a lot of breast cancer, and it doesn't come back. Even though that does mean that I have to go through chemo.

The surgery itself went well, and I woke up okay but with the shivers. (I love the blow-dryer pillow-blanket thing that you get covered with, but pre-warmed blankets are still the best.) Juice, graham crackers, more drugs and more juice, and then I was on my way home. I managed some soup and ginger ale, then I basically crashed; Lar woke me up to take some more pills, and then I was out for the rest of the night.

Today my arms ache, as does my chest, so I'm not typing for long. I have slept, ate, and watched bad tv for most of the day. As things go, I feel pretty good: they only took the one lymph node, and that looked clean, but we'll get the full pathology report later. Chemo will suck, I know, but I will be doing 4 rounds of TC (Taxotere/cyclophosphamide) with a 3 week cycle, so it will be a matter of small, deeply sucky steps.

Comments

[helens78]

*gentle hugs* I'm glad you're feeling pretty decent! You've been in my thoughts.

Also, on a more selfish level, thanks for the good review of the Evergreen Breast Center. :) I'm going there on Friday for my first mammogram. (I'm 30. It's likely nothing. I am still pretty scared.)

[kass]

I am so glad to hear your voice here. The Sentinel node biopsy thing cracks me up.

I'm really glad to know that Evergreen has such a low re-occurrence rate.

Thinking of you with much love, sweetie.

[telesilla]

*hugs carefully* That's are certainly an impressive and encouraging re-occurrence rate.

[cereta]

{{hugs you}}

[copracat]

Who else would you think of? Not only for the node but surely hospital is the third most likely place you'd find Blair and Jim, after The Loft and Major Crimes. Yay for surgery that goes well!

(Edit: It cannot be mere coincidence that my Jim icon matches your layout so perfectly. \o/)

[blueraccoon]

*hugs* I was thinking of you yesterday. Hope all's well. Let me know when you're up for visiting or something along those lines.

[carolyn_claire]

I'm so glad your surgery went so well and that you're as comfortable as you are, now--thank goodness they didn't have to take very much. I'm praying for speedy healing and lots of comfort for you.

[gblvr]

::hugs:: I'm glad to hear things went okay, even if you do have to do the chemo. A 2% re-occurrence rate is really low, so it sounds like you're in good hands....

[dragonfly]

You sound so good. Sorry to hear about the chemo, though, but I'm sure all this WILL pass. ::virtual hugs::

[rheanna]

I'm glad to hear you got through it and are doing well.

[lian]

{{hugs}} all the best from this random stranger. It does sound like you're in good hands, which is a relief.

[writerlibrarian]

Sending good vibes and hugs. Do take it easy on yourself and rest.

[the_shoshanna]

I'm so glad surgery went well. (And that Evergreen is such a good place.) Thinking of you!

[tesserae]

I will keep a good thought for you (it's been one of those years, and I have a list). I'm glad it went smoothly yesterday!

[elynross]

{{{you}}} I'm thinking of you, and so glad you have the support you do.

[geeklite.livejournal.com]

*sends you <3*

[nestra.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[sanj.livejournal.com]

*love*

Thinking of you -- get better soon!!

[minnow1212.livejournal.com]

>2) Evergreen has a 2% re-occurrence rate<

That is a very comforting and good statistic to hear! Hope the pathology report is only full of good news, and best of luck during the chemo.

[marthawells.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Glad it wasn't TOO bad to go through! I didn't know that about Evergreen's % - good info. Hopefully the chemo won't be too bad, and you'll be all better very soon.

It was a Sentinel node biopsy.

I literally LOL'd. XD XD XD

[transtempts.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[batdina.livejournal.com]

holding you in my thoughts.

[kimberlite.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting -- I'd been thinking about you and hoping everything went well so it's great to hear that it did. Hope you feel better quickly. *hugs*

[misspamela.livejournal.com]

Baby steps, Bob!

I am thinking of you.