And they’re off! Well, they’re not actually off, just smaller.

Two weeks post-op and all is well! Preparing for surgery was easy: don’t eat after midnight and shower with some antiseptic body wash, which was no big deal. Checked into the hospital at 8 a.m., as requested, but it was closer to 2:30 p.m. before I actually left the room to head to the operating room. My friend, Kathy, bless her heart, hung with me all day and was there when they brought me back so she could report to Mom and others that all went well.

Surgery was “textbook” according to my brilliant surgeon, Dr. Ley. They removed the lump itself, which was a little larger than we thought going in, and took six nodes to test. I opted to go with Intraoperative Radiation Therapy, so they zapped my boobie while I was in there, too. That zapping of the boobie was possible because I fit the appropriate criteria, and it saves me four to six weeks of daily radiation therapy down the line. I was THRILLED to have that option! Once the zapping was complete, they stitched me up, made the “adjustment” to the right boobie so it would match the left, then put in the port for chemotherapy. Lots of cutting and stitching and stuff, but it’s done now and on to recovery!

First checkup was great, nodes were all NEGATIVE, which was the best news, and I was cleared to drive. Came home and frankly, I overdid a little that first couple of days, so I laid around over the weekend. Went back to Jackson for a second checkup earlier this week, and got another thumbs up and don’t have to return to him for another four moths. Yay! A HUGE thank you to Kathy, who let me stay and provided food and sustenance for the first week after surgery and the subsequent checkup, and was such an enormous help. I could not have done this without you!

Next stop was an information and education session with the Cancer Center here on the Coast, where my oncologist, Dr. Washington, and her team will handle the treatment. Everyone so far — both in Jackson and here on the Coast — has been professional, helpful, and a pleasure to deal with. That’s certainly made what is a disconcerting experience (to say the least) much easier to navigate.

Next up is chemotherapy, of course. I have another appointment next week, and we’ll set a start date then and move forward with treatment. Ready to get this going and get it done!

I realize that I’ve been extremely lucky and blessed throughout this process. So many people — family, friends, and others — have been so helpful and thoughtful. It’s humbling when you’ve lived alone your entire adult life to realize that people really do think of you and worry about you. I’ve gotten a personalized cancer care package from Pam, lovely flowers from my cousin and her husband, a bundle of books from another cousin, and so many visits, cards and messages and calls. You’ve all touched my heart!

Of course, the biggest adjustment has been the change to the boobies. I was one of those girls who was visited early by the Boob Fairy. I think had a training bra for about a month or so between third and fourth grade, then was in a full C or D cup by the sixth grade. They came in so fast, I had pre-teen stretch marks and they’ve always been a big part of me, pardon the pun.

My first inclination was to just have the lumpectomy. In my mind, with the lump being so small they would just take a little more than they did in the biopsy and all would be well. When it was made clear to me that what they had to take was much more, I went ahead and took the the “matching set” option, and I’m so glad that I did. The mismatch of what I had before and what I have now would have been, well, pretty ridiculous!

So, I had a moment with my old boobies the morning before the surgery. I thanked them for their service, and told the parts that were leaving that I would miss them. The part that has remained has been reshaped, lifted, and put into a smaller package. I’m still getting used to them, of course; the stitches need to heal and all that good stuff. I’m surprised at how they continue to hurt; didn’t expect the pain to last this long. Oh, it’s not rolling around on the floor praying for relief pain, just a constant ache and a need to sit laid back, at an angle, to keep gravity from doing it’s thing on the stitches. One of the few times I really wish I had a recliner! HA!

The worst part is I have to sleep on my back, and that is not my preferred sleeping position. Lifelong solid side sleeper, here, and I miss it! But that will return, in time. And let’s face it: if the worst side effect from cancer surgery is temporary sleeping discomfort, I am indeed blessed.

Heading back to work Tuesday, and we’ll see how that goes. Once chemo starts I plan to take off on Friday each week and have treatment that day with the weekend to recover before I head back to work. I know chemotherapy affects every person differently, and I’m hopeful my body handles the treatment well. While I fully expect to lose my hair, I’d rather not lose my lunch a lot. Yuk!

Prayers and continued good wishes are much appreciated. I really am at peace with all of this. Within the first couple of days after the diagnosis, I was saying my prayers and was granted peace. This is all going to be okay, and I really am not fretting or worrying about it. Oh, the summer will not be what I had hoped or planned as we came out of the pandemic, but there’s always next year.

Thanks to the surgery and the treatments and most importantly the prayers of so many for God’s grace, I have another year to look forward to, and that is pretty awesome.