This is another post from the draft vault. Written May 2014 a few weeks after my mastectomy and never posted. Though I have written more on the theme of this piece since 2014, I post this now, at the two year anniversary of my surgery, in service to all those who are wrestling with their own feelings either in the…
Tag: surgery
Breast, Singular
I wrote this in early 2015 for submission to The Sun Magazine’s Readers Write section. Topic, Breasts. Though it was not chosen for publication there, I think it is a pretty good piece. (Look here to read the pieces that were chosen.) So in celebration of the second anniversary of my mastectomy today I give it to all of…
Amazing Grace.
Today we traveled into Portland to have my post surgery follow up appointment with Dr. de LaMelena, and to have my drains removed. I got some news that makes my heart sing. The pathology report shows a Pathologically Complete Response. – which means they could find NO cancer-ing cells – in neither my removed breast tissue nor the…
Released from the hospital.
I am recovering nicely from the surgery, we had excellent care while there. The benefits of the paravertabral block include less pain post surgery- which means I have been comfortable. I was released today to go home with my family. Dr. De la Melena suggested we stay in Portland tonight so we are at my…
All is well!
Kathleen and I just talked with Dr. DelaMelena: surgery is complete, and Iris flew through smoothly. We’ll go meet her in an hour or so, after they’ve eased her back out of anesthesia. There’s a man sharing the waiting room with us who looks remarkably like Iris’s father, fedora, mustache, and all. A reassuring proxy…
Surgery day
Surgery day is in progress. We’re off to a positive start, with smiling, friendly helpers at every turn. I’ll post an update as soon as I know more. – Joe
“When I grow up I want to be an Old Woman”
This last treatment seems to be a doozy. My blood counts, for red, white and platelets, were predictably at there lowest point when I went in for my last chemo treatment on the 1st. Because I am due for surgery on April 28th, Dr. Anderson scheduled a nuelesta shot for me- adding a whole new…
Riding the Pooka 