My Name is Not Cancer Girl

They’re gone!

Yesterday was surgery.  It started out as most surgery days go, early and hungry.  I had to be at the hospital by 6 so that we could check in, get my IV started.  And wait.  I was prepped for my first stop, mammography with a needle localization, by 6:45, and sat until 8:15 when it was my turn at radiology.

When a doctor does a biopsy, often times she places a tiny little clip in the tissue so that the she can easily identify the area in the future.  The clip is metal, I believe, and shows up on mammograms very well.  In my case, the secondary spot, internal to the breast, was all but gone from the chemo.  But Dr. S wanted to excise the clip and the surrounding tissue to make sure that there were no more cancer cells hanging out in the turmor’s margins.  So, I had a mammogram to find the clip.

At 8:15, Holly, the radiology technician, came to grab me for my needle localization.  It’s always interesting when I get to do a new procedure, because I’ve been around the block, and feel like I’ve done it all.  But, I had not done this.  At this point, I go into some rather graphic medical procedures, so if you want to skip ahead, go down a few paragraphs…I’ll bold the first few words when you can pick up reading again.

I was brought into a room set up with a mammogram machine.  However, Holly used a special plate that had a small rectangular opening in the top (about 2″x3″) and located the clip using a grid pattern that showed up within the rectangle and also the mammogram screen.  Once the clip was located on the grid, the doctor used the opening in the mammogram plate to inject some lidocaine into the breast before she inserted what is best described as a large pushpin with an open back into the spot where she believed the clip to be.  Another mammogram picture was taken, and a small adjustment was made to the pushpin.  After confirming that the pushpin was in the correct spot, the doctor took a needle, probably about 5″ long, and inserted it into the back of the pushpin, through the breast and stopping at the clip.  The pushpin was removed, and the tail-end of the needle that was sticking up through the skin was taped down so that it wouldn’t catch on anything.

A last mammogram picture was taken to make sure that it was in the correct spot, and then I was sent off to the ultrasound department.  For the original tumor in my armpit, we couldn’t use a mammogram.  The spot was too far under my arm to capture between the mammogram plates, so the doctor used an ultrasound to help place the second needle. The procedure was nearly identical: lidocaine, pushpin, needle and tape.

After my two needles were placed, I returned to my pre-op area where I was given some Versed.  I love Versed.  It completely takes the edge off for me…I wish that the anesthesiologist could have given it to me earlier (believe me, I asked).  Anyway, Versed given, I gave C a last kiss and hug before surgery and was wheeled down to the OR.  I don’t remember getting onto the table, but I do remember laying there with my arms splayed and looking at the huge lights overhead.  I also remember that the room was cold, and so were the heart monitor pads they placed on me.  Then the anesthesiologist said “Goodnight.”  And I remember nothing else until I woke up in PACU (what used to be known as Post-Op).

The 2 times I remember being in the PACU, I have hated it.  I don’t do well post-anesthesia.  I want to be awake, but I hate that drowsy, drugged, fighting to get back to consciousness.  C and my friend L came back to see me.  L had to leave and Mom came in.  I remember the nurse asking how my pain was, but I didn’t have pain, I had nausea.  I think she gave me some Zofran, and I spent another few minutes getting my bearings.  C pulled the car around and we went home.

I spent the better part of the day sleeping it off, and now it’s morning and I feel fine.  I’m a little sore, but I don’t do pain medication (it makes me manic/depressed) so I’ve taken a little Tylenol, and that has taken the edge off.  I do have 1 JP drain which Dr. S said I’ll have at least until my post-op appointment next Monday.  I’m sure that I’ll be laying low over the next few days,  just sleeping as my body demands it.  But, I’m so happy that these tumors are gone.

And now a quick debrief on what Dr. S told C: there was a lot of scar tissue from the TRAM reconstruction, which was no surprise.  What was surprising, was that the tumor under the arm had grown around the main blood vessel that Dr. B used to attach the TRAM.  After an emergency OR call to Dr. B, Dr. S was told that the body should have regenerated enough blood supply in the 2 years since reconstruction, and that the TRAM should be okay.  We have a few more hours to watch things, but so far, so good.  As for the other spot, it was pretty much a non-event.  It’s gone and I’m happy.

Good riddance, you tumors.  May you and your friends never come back.