Hello out there —
I’m just bouncing into your email briefly to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has reached out recently with support and good wishes. Surgery on Tuesday went well, and recovery has been much less painful than anticipated. It hurts, yes, but it’s easily manageable with Tylenol and Advil. Three days later everything seems to be healing nicely, though it’s all still somewhat swollen and tender. Honestly, I’m a little embarrassed. Was I being a baby about getting my chest cut up? I was pretty scared. But I have had friends who've had excruciating pain post-surgery, and others who’ve bounced right back the next day. I had no idea which would be me.
The most exciting think that happened on the whole long day was when a pre-surgical urine test came back saying I was pregnant. Readers, I am not pregnant. I am 54 and in chemo-induced menopause. But wooo, did that cause a flurry of activity. “So I hear you’re keeping things interesting,” said the surgeon when she came to check on me before they rolled me into the OR. And then we all giggled, and then I was out like a light.
The best news came two days later, when she called to let me know that the post-op pathology report showed no signs of residual cancer anywhere. My body has achieved the Grail: the hoped-for pathological complete response. It took a few hours for this to settle into my body; it wasn’t until we were eating dinner last night that it really hit. The chemo worked. I still have to have radiation and a host of other followup treatments, but it worked — and I am thismuch closer to being able to reclaim my body from the ferocious storm that swept through it this summer.
I don’t have much else to add right now other than to say, again, thank you to everyone who’s been following along and to every expression of care. It has meant the world.
More soon!
Such FABULOUS news, Martha, so good to read and, of course, delivered in your trademark, down-to-earth style.
Oh Martha! What fabulous news!!!