Biopsy report

I met with my surgeon today. All the lymph node biopsies were negative for cancer cells. This is excellent news! I also found out that they were very careful to mislead me about how lymph node biopsy is done. I thought they would do needle biopsy, like they do for a suspicious mass. No, they remove the nodes. I thought I was very clear that I didn't want any nodes removed unless it was shown to be necessary. I was told they would biopsy the sentinel nodes, closest to the tumor. They were very careful to not explain that in order to biopsy them they had to remove them. I found out today that they had removed 9 nodes from my arm pit. The surgeon was very surprised that they were all negative. She said she expected some of them to be positive, due to the size of my tumor, and the size of the lymph nodes themselves, because some of them were larger than normal. I'm not pleased! I didn't want nodes removed because I'd already had problems with lymphadema in my left arm following a port clot. I didn't want to chance having it occur in my right arm.

I also was told by my surgeon that I most likely should still be on blood thinners. She said most of the time they are prescribed for 6-12 months, and I'd been on them for only 5. I'm waiting to hear from my oncologist. I emailed his nurse right after surgery, and received no answer, which I took to mean I didn't need them. Now I find out she is on vacation. I don't want to give myself shots every day. I want them to do an ultrasound, and check the clot, not just put me back on a medication that I may not need anymore. The surgeon wouldn't order the test. I don't know if my oncologist will or not. I'm going to push for it, before he puts me back on the damn shots. They hut like hell. The needle itself hurts, and the medication burns for 5 min. after, and leaves bruises.

I know I should be elated with the news about the biopsies, and I am, but it is overshadowed by the other things I've found out, and takes away from my enjoyment of feeling cancer free.