In and Out Breast Cancer Surgery Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the big day to GET THE LUMP OUT. Many of you have asked what the process will be tomorrow. So here are the details.

In the morning, I have to shower with a special germicidal soap. Then, 30 minutes before I leave the house, I will apply EMLA cream to my breast and will cover the area with plastic wrap. This will numb the skin in preparation for several needle pokes I will have with the radiologist.

I have to be at the hospital at 7:30 in the morning. The radiologist will place a guide wire into my breast to direct the surgeon to the exact spot where the cancer is. Then the radiologist will inject dye into the "sentinel lymph nodes" directly connected to the duct where the cancer is.

At 11 am, the surgeon will biopsy these "sentinel lymph nodes" to make sure there is no cancer in the lymph nodes. She will also remove a lump of breast tissue that includes both the cancerous area and some healthy tissue around the cancerous area. The goal is to have "clean margins" around the cancerous area (no cancer cells left behind).

When she finishes removing things, the surgeon will insert drainage tubes and a spacer for a radiation balloon. Everything should be done by around noon. I will spend about an hour in recovery and then will get to go home. In and out breast cancer surgery. Amazing.

All my tissue will go to pathology, where they will test to make sure the cancer is indeed just in the milk duct. We should receive that report on Monday.

Assuming the report is what we expect, I will meet with a radiation oncologist later in the week next week to discuss the radiation plan.

There you have it--the details of my lumpectomy surgery. It is so much easier than a mastectomy, so I continue to be grateful for my journey.

Thanks for your ongoing prayers and support!

Love,
Janet