Post-Surgery Results Are In! (Click here)

It has been a busy three weeks!  Chris and I ran around to a number of medical appointments when he first arrived, including a consultation with the renowned breast surgeon Dr. Armando Giuliano at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. We did this in order to get a second opinion on if in fact a lumpectomy was a reasonable option for me.  He confirmed that yes, absolutely it was, but that he would recommend doing a level 1 and 2 lymph node dissection for me since it was determined that I had initially had cancer in my lymph node! We thought that I only needed a sentinel node biopsy, so we were a bit taken aback.  But after consulting with our Santa Barbara surgeon, we decided to go ahead and have my right axilla lymph nodes removed even though the chances of my getting lymphedema would be greater than if I just has a sentinel node biopsy.  But this seemed the best bet to prevent cancer recurring in my lymph nodes. So we decided upon our plan - a lumpectomy with a level 1 and 2 lymph node dissection.

My surgery took place on Wednesday in Santa Barbara and all went well - or according to my surgeon after the surgery - even better than she expected.  All of the doctors and nurses at the surgery center were great.  The procedure took about two hours and I was in recovery.  Chris was by my side as soon as I woke up - and before we knew it we were on our way home. 

Post-surgery recovery. Perhaps the last time that you will see Chris with more hair than me!

OK, sort of gross, but this is my drain - my newest fashion accessory!

There hasn't been too much pain, more discomfort than anything.  I do have a handy little drain in my armpit at the moment and will have it for about another 4 days (what a brilliant fashion statement - no?).   However, everything seems to be healing up well.  I do have some numbness in the back of my armpit and upper arm, but this is fairly common and the hope is that it will fade and disappear in the coming days.  Hopefully, my drain will be removed in about 4 days.

I also have to say that my husband has been wonderful.  I am so thankful for his love and support (and his being able to help me with all of the interesting things one needs help with during cancer treatment!). 

Chris cooking, cleaning and taking care of me.

SAVING THE BEST NEWS FOR LAST...The Pathology Report!

Just this evening we received a phone call from my surgeon saying that the pathologist's report was in and they found NO cancer in my tissue!  Hooray!  We couldn't be happier right now!  This was the news we were hoping for.  Our 6th anniversary is on August 29th - and we celebrated last week by spending one night at the beautiful Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. But now we are ready for more celebrating - so we are on our way to Paradise Cafe for dinner.  Chris and I will celebrate being cancer-free, our 6th anniversary, and feeling grateful that we might just have beat this cancer thing!

View from our room in Ojai.

Early Anniversary Celebration in Ojai!

We still have radiation to get through, but for now we are heading out to enjoy this beautiful evening in Santa Barbara!  Thank you all for your kind and healing wishes. I felt, and continue to feel, overwhelmed by the love and support everyone has shown me.

With love and graditude,

Jodi