Surgery Pathology Results\n
A. Left breast, mastectomy:\n
- Benign breast tissue with focal fibrocystic changes, periductal chronic inflammation, apocrine metaplasia, and stromal fibrosis\n
- Focal intraluminal calcifications\n
- Benign overlying skin with focal hemangioma and seborrheic keratosis\n
- Small portion of attached benign skeletal muscle\n
- Negative for atypia or malignancy\n \n
B. Right breast, mastectomy:\n
- Invasive ductal carcinoma, NOS; Nottingham grade 2/3\n
- Maximum size: 9 mm\n
- Background ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), estimated field diameter at least 20 mm\n
- All surgical resection margins negative for malignancy\n
- AJCC stage: pT1b-pN1a(sn)\n \n
C. Lymph node (right axilla sentinel node #1, reading 8740), biopsy:\n
- One of two lymph nodes positive for metastatic carcinoma (1/2)\n
- Maximum size: 4 mm\n
- Negative for extranodal extension\n \n
D. Lymph node (right axilla sentinel node #2, reading 980), biopsy:\n
- Two benign lymph node (0/2)\n
- Negative for malignancy
Monthly Mom Messages\n
My mom and I touch base by e-mail every morning. I decided to \"mine\" these e-mails for notes that can provide a record of happenings, and state of mind. Here's April 2024:\n\n- April 4: Yesterday was a really rough day for me, and I know it was for you too. Having to give you the news that I have breast cancer was almost as bad as getting the diagnosis. Thankfully I don’t have anything on the calendar to do today. Hopefully Brent and I will get out for a walk but it looks like the weather is going to be crappy again. \n
- April 5: As you saw on my Facebook yesterday, they’ve moved up my mastectomy from May 1 to April 17. Overall I know that’s a good thing but it freaked me out too. I thought I had a certain amount of time to get used to the idea and now that time is cut in half. One good thing is that it doesn’t interfere with our visits on the 11th and the 15th. \n
- April 6: We took the bus to the downtown library yesterday. It's really\ndisheartening to see how much Edmonton is changing - for the worse.\nThe people on the bus were sketchy and the people downtown, and in the\nlibrary were also sketchy. All of Alberta has a terrible homeless and\naddiction problem, but it's really in-your-face in Edmonton now. :(\n\nAnyway, we made it there and back safely and we got our 3D printed\nstuff started. Brent made some dice, and I made an ornamental sea\nturtle that I'm going to glue beads on like Mexican Huichol art. Our\nprinting was going to take over three hours, so we left once it had\nstarted and we'll pick up our items at our neighborhood library in the\nnext few days. They only have 3D printers at the downtown library,\nbut they can ship the output to any of the branches. Whew!\n
- April 8: We had a really great time having our \"Miracle Fruit\" party yesterday.\nOnly one of our friends had tried it before. The others were\ndelighted to discover how much sweeter lemons, limes and grapefruit\ntaste after taking the miracle fruit tablet. It was fun.\n\nToday we haven't got any plans, but it looks like the weather will be\nnice enough that we can go for a good walk today.\n
- April 9: We had a good day yesterday including a nice long walk. Today my friend Karen, from Calgary, is in town and she’s going to stop by. \n
- April 10: I have a long dental appointment today, yuck. And beyond that, the\nmain thing I'll be doing is getting ready to go to Calgary for a few\ndays. \n
- April 12: Today we’re going for a walk (in Calgary) with a group of friends, then going to dinner at some other friends’ house. \n
- April 13: We have another busy day today in Calgary. We have a COC walk, then coffee with Adena Bauer (Cam Bauer’s wife - Torrington), then dinner with our friend Janet. \n
- April 14: Today is our last full day in Calgary. I’m enjoying our time here so much. Lots of things to do and friends to see. We’re not getting to see everyone that we had planned though. Some of our friends are sick or they e been around people who are sick and I can’t risk catching something this close to my surgery. \n
- April 16: Today is my last day before the big surgery. I have to go in to the hospital for them to inject me with some radioactive stuff so they can find my ‘sentinel’ lymph nodes. I’ve heard it’s quite painful - a needle right by your nipple. Ugh. This afternoon we’re going to an animation thing with our friend Nancy. That will be more enjoyable. \n
- April 17: I am heading in now for my surgery. I may not be able to message you again until tomorrow. I’ll be in touch as soon as I can. Have a good day. \n
- April 18: So far I have pretty nominal pain. I’m taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen for it but I don’t need any prescription pain killers. I’m really happy about that. \n\nI plan to sleep on my recliner as long as I have the drains in. Most women do something like that when they have the drains because it’s uncomfortable to lay in bed with them. I should have them out in less than two weeks. Brent stayed downstairs with me last night to take care of me. \n
- April 19: It looks like my one drain isn’t as damaged as I feared. I thought I had dislodged it from my body, but Brent tried to push the tube back onto the bottle more tightly and that seems to have mostly corrected it so I’m not going to worry about it for now. \n
- April 20: I got a lot of deep sleep last night, which I really needed. Just going to spend another day healing. \n
- April 21: Well, now it looks like I have a UTI (bladder infection). I’m so susceptible to infection right now because of my recent surgery and the four drains so I’m hoping I can get a pharmacist to give me antibiotics rather than having to go in to a walk-in clinic where all the sick people are. Ugh. \n
- April 22: I’m doing ok but I’m really tired of my drains. I also have a really tight band across my chest that feels like a tight bra continuously riding up a little bit. One of my least favorite feelings. If the cancer didn’t spread to my lymph nodes this will all be worth it but I can’t wait for things to be back to more normal. Especially getting the drains out. \n
- April 23: I dont have much to report again today. I still have all the drains so I won’t be going far or doing much. \n
- April 24: I’m feeling a bit better today. A little less pain. And there’s much less fluid in my drains than I’ve had so far. Maybe I’ll be able to get them out soon - wish me luck!!\n
- April 25: I’m happy to get one drain out today but I sure wish it was all four. I don’t know what time it’ll be at yet but I’ll keep you posted. \n\nI was thinking that I’ll have all my drains and stitches out by early/mid-May, which is right on time for a Brent and I to come down and take you for Mother's Day Brunch.\n
- April 26: I’ve had a rough night. My remaining drains are in an uncomfortable position. I’ll try to fix them when I get up, which will be soon. \n
- April 27: I’m not doing anything today except cook authentic Mexican tacos. There are a few Mexican grocers here in town so we bought some good tortillas and I’m going to use them to make tacos today. Yum!\n
- April 28: I’m just going to be laying low again today, still healing from my surgery.\n
- April 29: Well, today is my 12th day with drains and I only have two days left before they come out. I can’t wait!!\n
- April 30: Today is my last full day with drains. I’ll get them taken out tomorrow! I’ll still have a lot of healing to do but it will be so nice to not have them. \n\n
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