Surgery

Enjoying My Flowers the Day Before My Surgery

Monday I had a lumpectomy.  I also had Inter-operative Radiation Treatment, IORT, while on the operating table.  I was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, DCIS, at stage zero.  It has been a long trek from my first mammogram which showed an abnormal reading until the lumpectomy was performed.

In October, 2013, I had my mammogram.  In November, 2013, I had a needle biopsy.  Several small calcium deposits were found and removed.  The reading from that was no suggestion of cancer.  I was referred to a breast specialist for further care.  At this time, I was uninsured.

My doctor insisted that I get insurance coverage.  We looked at several coverage plans but were unable to find an affordable package.  When the Affordable Care Act was in such turmoil in early 2014, we decided to try to use it to find coverage as all other companies had refused us coverage due to pre-exiting conditions.  Walter got on the phone and determined with their help that we could get Blue Cross Blue Shield E coverage.  We made the initial payment and our coverage began February 1, 2014.

Ironically this coverage did not include my breast specialist.  A very nice and professionally minded individual in her office offered me the name of another doctor in Nashville who was in that coverage.  The new doctor is wonderful.  Her name is Dr. Laura Dunbar.  She scheduled me for an Excision of the Mass and I went in for the Pre-Admin tests, etc. on a Thursday in preparation for a Monday surgery.  The following evening about 6:30 my doctor called to tell me that another pathologist had performed more tests on my biopsy tissue and that I had cancer.  She canceled the surgery and set up an appointment for me on Monday instead.  I had eight cancer cell areas with the largest being about 1/8 of an inch long.  They were all clustered within the duct and none had gone outside the duct.  So the cancer was not invasive.  My daughter, Walter and I were in her office for approximately one hour as we heard so much about the cancer that she called it our "Cancer College".  She also suggested that I do a genetic test to see if I have the genes that would make me a high risk for additional cancer.  The results for this were negative.

My surgery was changed to a lumpectomy with radiation to follow.  I met with the radiation doctor for counseling about the IORT.  He said I was an excellent candidate for this procedure.  If all went well, I would not have to have external radiation following the lumpectomy.  So I was excited that this possibility existed for me.  So many other women before me have gone through so much.  I can only be thankful for the time and money spent to make breast cancer treatments better and better for everyone.

Today I am a little sore in the upper arm and breast area. I am not taking nausea nor pain medicine.  I am looking forward to a nice warm shower this morning and maybe a trip to get my nails done. 

My prayer today is a simple Thank You for all the wonderful people who have come into my life now.  Everyone who has attended to me has been caring and thoughtful.  All have been professional and calming.  I have my follow-up consultation with my doctor next Tuesday.  I am expecting good news from her.

God is good!