Surgery...Qtr end close and a 4 day weekend!

July 5
I feel like my life went through the eye of a needle this week!

First the good news - CT scan normal! The second test ( of 2) to rule out stage 4.
So, I am stage 3 ( T3,N2).

Surgery- Had the excisional lymph node biopsy Monday. It was kind of a bigger deal than I had been led to believe. After 3 days, I developed an extreme allergy to the tape adhesive so we removed that and replaced with dry bandages and paper tape- which means that I can't shower. And it really hurts... I've got a big pocket of lymph built up which will be aspirated tomorrow. It's the first surgery I've had where the pain increases over time ( due to the fluid buildup). Frustrating!

Pathology - well even if the news is bad, it's good to be conclusive and the pathology on my lymph nodes was just that. The nodes are completely " involved" so all nodes will be removed during surgery, there will be radiation to the node sites and it's good that we are starting with chemo. The only story right now is that we need to prevent the "animals that have escaped the cages" from creating homes in other locations. Surgery is incidental.

Work - Yup it's quarter close starting this week and I'm off galavanting around getting surgery and taking vicadin! Luckily, my work has been extremely supportive and my manager hired a contractor to help me out during this difficult time. She has been great - smart, learns fast and has already made process improvements. She even stuck around late on Wed so we could post all our journals. Hope she will stick around to cover me during surgery!

Chemo training: Yup it took an hour for me to get chemo training! There are other prescription meds to buy and to schedule, OTC meds to buy for side effects from the anti-nausea meds, instructions, a calendar, phone numbers, symptoms that must be reported immediately, symptoms that we just have to get through, what not to eat during chemo, etc. All this on my day off from work!

4 Day weekend. Even though I got chemo training on one of my days off, I sure needed that 4 day weekend! Tried to sleep in, visited with friends, went to parties, and just exhaled. It has been a whirlwind and I just needed the earth to stop spinning around me. At least I don't have any major med appts next week and can focus on work and quarter close and getting ready for chemo which now starts on July 15th.