Feeling positive on Jan. 14, just before my surgery.

Hello, everyone. It has been a little more than three weeks since my surgery and almost two months since my last chemotherapy so I am overdue for posting an update.

As you may remember, I had a mastectomy on Jan. 14. The surgery and reconstruction was smooth sailing. The drugs after surgery were really good and I did not have any problems.

A few hours after my surgery on Jan. 14.

Belynda stayed with me in the hospital the night after surgery. We were able to leave around 2 p.m. the following day. I fussed at her on the way home to be careful with hitting potholes and making sudden movements in the car.

I was feeling a little nauseous. However, I made it home fine and the recovery went very well.

I had two drains. My friends Pat and Laura had given me 2 camisoles with drain holders so that when I walked around in the days following surgery the drains had a place in a pouch.  Very clever and what a help!

Up and about in my hospital room, getting ready for the ride home.

I am feeling very good but still cannot do too much like working out or jogging. I can walk and have been doing this with some walks in the woods.

This past week I had a meeting with the radiologist about radiation therapy. The discussion centered on whether I needed it or not. She explained that I fall into a gray area. She said she would be OK if I had radiation and if I decided not to have it, she would be OK with that decision as well.

What a dilemma! There are side effects to radiation, as you know. Add to that the fact that  there was not much improvement to be had in lessening my chance of recurrence, I decided not to have radiation.

Another factor that impacted my personal decision: My pathology report following surgery.
I had a “pathological complete response,” which means that the chemo drugs did their  job. My path report from surgery showed zero cancer cells and my four lymph nodes they removed were clear.

Currently I am waiting on additional healing and further reconstruction.

But I am not totally off the hook. Due to the type of cancer I had — HER2-positive — I will get an infusion of a drug called Herceptin every three weeks. I will continue this until August. This infusion is not chemo and is said to have very little side effects! Yeah for this!

Here are some links with further details, if you are interested. The Mayo Clinic has some information here, and WebMD explains my particular type cancer here.

I wish for you a happy Valentine’s Day and thank you, as always, for your prayers and support.