tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182807936647086813.post5415628940198955454..comments2023-05-02T00:35:14.620-07:00Comments on Jennifer Fights Cancer: My surgery storyJennifer Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05344200224073447245noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182807936647086813.post-32448183768291877212016-01-14T11:55:50.972-08:002016-01-14T11:55:50.972-08:00Thank you so much for sharing your wife's prog...Thank you so much for sharing your wife's progress! I'm glad she's doing well and sending her lots of healing thoughts. I hope her reconstruction and radiation go well. I'm so glad you find the blog useful!Jennifer Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05344200224073447245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182807936647086813.post-64412211668601339022016-01-13T10:18:16.261-08:002016-01-13T10:18:16.261-08:00Thank you for this "play by play" of the...Thank you for this "play by play" of the surgery experience. It's, no doubt, beneficial to many that are about to go through it and wondering what's involved. My wife had her bi-lateral mastectomy last Tuesday and the procedure is very similar to the one you described. (She was diagnosed in July with a large and aggressive triple-negative tumor in her right breast as well as cancer in adjacent lymph nodes.) She is doing well and was thrilled to have those darn drains removed on Monday. (She had three - two on her right and one on her left.) She concurs with many that they are the worst part! A day after her surgery, she said "It's still early, but this is nothing compared to chemo" - a sentiment I've heard others share as well. She's finding, as she predicted, that she feels better each day - very different from the vicious cycles of chemo. She's now focused on continuing to rest and recover and do her stretches. She had 11 "level 1" lymph nodes removed on the right side and will do what she can to prevent lymphedema. The good news in all of it, though, is her pathology results (like yours) showed no signs of cancer after chemotherapy. It had all melted away with the 4 A/C dose dense and 12 Taxol/Carboplatin cycles. The PCR makes all of the treatment worth it and we are so thankful to be working with the great care team through the Fairview/University of Minnesota health system. They are proving that the no holds barred approach to treating Triple Negative breast cancer is exactly what needs to be done. Like you, my wife will next undergo 7 weeks of daily radiation treatments to make damn sure it's all gone. That will likely start in mid-March as she is having immediate reconstruction and the plastic surgeon needs the expanders to be fully expanded prior to radiation. Thank you again for your inspiring and useful blog. Based on your blog, I get the sense you do your best to maintain a positive outlook as you go through this. My wife is similar and I have no doubt it's a huge part of a successful treatment plan. Given you are about a month ahead of her in your treatment, she also finds your running photos of hair progress useful in terms of what to expect. Our best to you for a smooth and easy (at least contextually) course of radiation treatment. J&S - MinnesotaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com