To Surgery and beyond!

I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction with axillary lymph node dissection on Wednesday, June 23. I was neeeervous and scared leading up to surgery, but the day of the procedure I felt at peace. I was actually making jokes and didn't even cry before they took me back to the OR. I said tata to my tata's; there was no love lost. It was scheduled to be a four hour procedure but ended up taking six due to specifics of my case. There were no complications and I woke up feeling terrible as I was being wheeled into my hospital room. The first thing I remember is seeing Michael, my father in law Scott and the cutest little cutie ice cream cone balloon. It was the best thing I'd ever seen. Needless to say, I was on DRUGS. lol. Apparently, the nurses first asked me to number my pain level 1-10 and I would only say "drugs, now". 

It was determined that I would stay the night for various reasons and Michael was not allowed to stay with me because of nonsensical covid protocols. I was in a lot of pain that night and as happens in the hospital you get constantly interrupted/monitored so not much sleep happened. My labs were not great going into surgery but the doctors went ahead anyways because the cancer had to come out regardless. That first night, I had lab draws every few hours. At about three am, a bunch of nurses came into the room turned on all the lights and let me know I needed a blood transfusion. My hemoglobin was critically low and I needed to be transfused ASAP. I was pretty freaked out and alone in my hospital room hopped up on drugs and being told that was scary. I got the transfusion.......it was pretty wild to think someone else's blood was being infused into my body....but THANK GOD for you whoever you are! Because the transfusion took hours of the following day, I had to stay another night. Thankfully that night I got some rest. I got up a few times and walked the hall (with a nurse babysitter) but didn't make it too far. 

I was discharged after those two nights and went home with Michael. The boys were at my parents house so I could rest. The incisions on my chest were HUGE and they had to cut through muscles so it was quite painful. I had a concave chest which was puzzling to look down and see. They also removed 6 lymph nodes from under my armpit so that was also quite painful. For the reconstruction portion of the surgery, they inserted what they call "spacers" which are basically temporary implants with a port that they can fill over time to slowly stretch the muscle. I will have another surgery six-ish months after radiation to place the permanent implants. 

The pathology during surgery showed there was NO RESIDUAL CANCER left in my breast tissue after chemotherapy. Complete pathological response in the breast. 

They removed 6 lymph nodes, 3 nodes still had tumors. But they're gone now! See ya!

I've had a ton of post op visits with all my doctors and occupational therapy. I'm healing well and my energy has started to come back. My biggest question through all this is probably what you're all thinking too....sooooooo, do I have cancer or do I not have cancer..?? !! Kind of important. 

I DO NOT HAVE CANCER!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, Jesus. I'm honestly still processing this amazing news. It was a complete shock to be told that I have cancer and it's somehow equally as shocking to be told you don't anymore. I've spent every day for the last six months trying to process that I'm living with cancer and then by the grace of God, He took it away. 

Real talk, this blog has been hard for me to write because I've met so many people along this journey that haven't been given the same news as me. I'm overjoyed but also devastated because I've personally witnessed others going through so much more.  

Because I still had cancer in my lymph nodes at the time of surgery, I have to do another treatment of chemotherapy/immunotherapy to kill any floater cells in my body that can potentially grow cancer. That is another 14 treatments every 3 weeks. Sooooo I'll be doing this for awhile. I'm also entering a trial for another drug to be given in conjunction with the main treatment. It is a double blind study so I could get a placebo, but I'll still be getting the standard of care drug regardless. #labrat I'll do those treatments while also getting radiation. The radiation duration of 3 weeks vs. 5 weeks is still being determined. I'll be doing immunotherapy for the next five-ish years and labs and scans for the rest of my life but it's a small price to pay for having air in my lungs. 

Thank you all for your incredible support and prayers for our family. They are felt!! All the notes, prayers, meals, gifts, and financial support makes me cry. You will never know how appreciative I am. 

I was also blessed to receive a grant from a local nonprofit named "Polite Tumor". They aim to give out no strings attached financial support to young adults ages 18-39 diagnosed with breast cancer. To celebrate my news, would you do me a favor? Would you help me pay it forward by donating to women like me that find themselves in this devastating diagnoses?  It would truly mean the world to me. Link here https://www.politetumor.com/donate-index-impact If that isn't an option for you, just be kind to someone. You never know what someone is going through. It could be a woman like me wandering around Target in the middle of chemotherapy, just trying to feel a little normal. 

I'll continue to keep you posted as treatment forges on. 

 

Sincerely, New Tata's Tara