Doctors, Doctors and more Doctors

I had several doctors appointments this week.  Tuesday, I had my post-op appt with the Breast Surgeon.  He went over the pathology report and said everything looked good.  I won't need to see him again for 6 mos.  The pathology report showed that the only cancer was the tumor that we already knew about in my right breast and it was apprx. the same size we thought it was (very slightly smaller).  Also, they found a benign fibroadinoma in my left breast.  He also said that it showed no cancer behind my nipples, which is good news because that means I get to keep them!  So overall, very good pathology report!  He said that he doesn't think I will need radiation, but wants me to see the Radiation Oncologist for him to give me the final word on that.

Then, on Wednesday, I had another appt. at the Plastic Surgeon's.  I had the final two drains removed (YEAH!!), and more fluid injected.  He said I will probably get filled a couple more times.  The tape was also removed over the incisions so the steri-strips can fall off.  What I have to realize is that getting implants due to breast cancer is completely different than getting breast implants for augmentation purposes. With breast cancer, all of your breast tissue is removed (and with some women the nipples are removed also), so the implants are there to replace that missing tissue.  With augmentation, all the breast tissue remains which helps plump up and enhance the breast.  So breast cancer patients don't get the "vavoom" effect that augmentation patients do :(

Then, on Thursday, I had an appt. with the Dermatologist for a skin cancer follow-up. As you may recall, I was diagnosed with melanoma in January of this year.  During my B.C. surgery, I had my mom swipe a surgery marker (what they use to mark/draw on your body with).  I later used that to circle all the moles and freckles on my body that were new or had changed in the last year.  With chemotherapy, you're a lot more sensitive to the sun and you're suppose to limit your sun exposure.  Therefore, I had developed quite a few new moles in the last 4 months.  So, I went into the office with probably 20 purple circles all over my body.  Funny enough, my Dr. was super happy and impressed with this idea!  I ended up getting 2 moles biopsied, but the Dr. said he feels that they will both come back benign.