Pathology report

These are some of my "people." Jesse & baby Avery McClintic, and my dad with Gary & Janna toasting me. I have some on my phone, a few more on email (Lisa wasn't proud of her picture and wouldn't want it shared), and my cousin Amy sent one in the frame already printed. She's an overachiever. :) I love them!! Believe it or not, we're out of shirts. They went fast.

Dr. Faddis is the general surgeon who we went to see yesterday. He said it was a far more aggressive tumor than we originally thought, "nasty" were his words. Parts of it were high grade, meaning it was growing faster, I already told you it was bigger, and the node thing. Apparently its still up in the air as to whether or not I'll need radiation in addition to chemo. He said he's not totally convinced I need to, and if I do then there's a 25% chance that the implant on that side won't work. I don't really care about being a uniboob, so whatever. He has organized a panel of people (about 20)to talk about whether or not it needs to happen. He's taking good care of me. MARGINS WERE CLEAR around it, it had also spread to the nipple (sorry if you didn't want to know that). So basically he said it was all information that meant I was in good shape, I made the right decision with the mastectomy, lumpectomy wouldn't have been an option, and the only thing that really changes is the possible radiation. Totally do-able, not painful.

When I saw the doctor yesterday, he was really surprised at how well I'm healing and the most exciting part of all is THE DRAINS ARE GONE. I had these sweet plastic grenade shaped bottles hanging off of me that come along with long drain tubes. Very flattering. Brent wasn't impressed with the dance I invented to go along with it, but whatever. I was on an adrenaline rush yesterday. I saw the incisions, and the skin, etc, and it was TONS better than I thought it was going to be. It wasn't exactly pretty, but way better. When I asked the doctor if it would hurt when the drain came out his reply was "doesn't hurt me." Funny doctor man. So anyway, he also told me I could pick up my kids if it wasn't painful (Max still is), and start doing some stretches and things. I went a little crazy last night as far as moving my arms and such, expecting to be sore today. I'm not sore! I picked up Cannon yesterday and it felt soooo good to be able to pick up the little(?) guy. Good for my heart.

So basically, I'm going to work Monday, and very excited to be able to. One of the hardest parts is behind me. There's still some soreness, stretches to do, mobility and healing, but the big pain and operation is done! Yippee!! Chemo will be the next huge one, obviously. I'm still terrified of that, but the only reason we do that is in case there is some "microscopic cancer cell that is floating around somewhere." Big scary nasty tumor is gone! I can take showers, I have a few wraps now so the stinky one can be washed, I have been able to actually scratch some of the itches, I may even attempt to shave my legs today. Don't worry I won't get cocky.