Donna in Hollywoodland

Breast Surgeon Followup

Today, was the day for Doctors Appointments.
First the Breast Surgeon follow-up, followed by an appointment with the physical therapist.
They are in the same building - actually on the same floor. So at least that makes it easy.

My Breast Surgeon examined me, and said my skin was healing well after the Radiation Treatments.
I told her that the Radiation Doctor said it would take me a few weeks to get my energy back.
She said, No.
Figure if you had 7 weeks of Radiation - expect that it is going to take you 7 weeks recovery time to get back up to your normal level of energy.

She gave me a breast examine on the right breast. Thats the side that had the questionable material that turned out to be just fibrous tissue was removed - and then the stupid incision got infected.
I asked her about the tissue around the incision - if there was scar tissue. And said the tissue felt really soft, she didn't feel any scar tissue.

She told me in a few months, if I want, she can re-open the scar from the infection and sew it back up again. So there is less of a scar.
I was like "Um, re-cut it open? And sew it back up ?"
She said Yes.
I said "No, thats okay. I don't mind the scar. If it bothers me, I'll just get a tattoo to cover it up. A flower or something."
She said she has alot of patients who get tattoos over their scars. Wait another 6 months though.

She didn't do an examine on the left breast, the one that had the cancer. Because the skin is still healing, and alittle red, and the skin is very dry and thick.

Then she said "Now that you are through with the Radiation, I know we had talked about chemo..."
I finished her sentence :
"....And I still feel the same way. No chemo." I said.
She said "Okay" and dropped the subject.

I said "I have the names of two holistic oncologists that someone from BreastCancerChoices.org AmazonL mailing list, gave to me. I want to go to someone holistic to get my supplement doses and talk to them about what supplements I am taking."

The surgeon said she knew someone ... a holistic Chinese Medicine/Alternative Practicioner in West Hollywood. She called it "Integrated Medicine". I told her I definitely wanted the persons information so I could go talk to them.

Then it was time for the Biggie .... My 6 month follow-ups are due the Middle of February.
Already ?!?!
Its been 6 months ?!?!

Yeah... they go by the last time they actually looked at the breast tissue. And my MRI was done the Middle of August.
So the middle of February it is time again.

We discussed something about did we want to do both breasts, or only the left one that had the cancer ...
I said "I want them both done. I want everything scheduled like clock-work."

So her receptionist scheduled my February Mammogram, and Ultrasound. With an Appointment with the Breast Surgeon following one week afterwards.

This is freaking me out. We are going to start looking for cancer. To catch it before it catches me.
It very depressing. I am trying not to be worried, or weirded out. I kept thinking "What if they find something else?"
I can't think like that. I have to let it go. Think positive. Think positive. Think positive.