Follow-up for this surgery was two weeks after so I had about a week at home after Mike’s hospital stay.

I was sure that the doctor would not be removing the drain since they had told me that I had to be down to less than 30 mls before it could come out.

Again, I saw the PA first then the surgeon. I had two more lymph nodes with cancer in them out of the 37 they had removed.

When I talked with the surgeon she explained that four positive nodes put me at stage 3. I could now have staging studies done. Having staging studies done would delay treatment even if they didn’t find anything else. If they did find anything they would have to investigate and if it was cancerous it would limit my options for treatment.

I had developed another seroma, so an ultrasound and aspiration had been set up with this follow-up. They took me across the hall and I had an ultrasound to verify the seroma and then the doctors came in and drained it. Then I was taken back across the hall, so the nurses could put an ace wrap around my chest to keep me from developing another one.

The surgeon also scolded me for doing too much after the second surgery so that they couldn’t remove the drain and continue with treatment. Don’t do anything that is repetitive. How does one do that?

OK, I’ll quit feeding the horses, only go out to see them. Who’s going to do laundry, dishes, and cooking?

These mares need me to at least come see them!

Then we went on to see the oncologist. Same story about the staging studies except she added that since I live in western Kansas they would certainly find something in my lungs and probably in my liver. She also said that if they found cancer anywhere else that I was then stage 4 and incurable so that would limit their treatment to prolonging my life not curing the cancer. No staging studies for me thank you. We’re going to kill this cancer!

After four weeks the drain would be taken out even though I hadn’t gotten down to under 30 MLS a day. The surgeon’s nurse had said any doctor could take out the drain. The oncologist in Hays didn’t want to, however, he said that a surgeon needed to do it.

I had an appointment with my primary doctor and mentioned this. She said she could take the drain out. So, we set up an appointment to take it out. When she removed it she said there will be a bit of a scar to which I replied did you see the two big ugly ones that are already there? I don’t think a small one from the drain is going to bother me. I also told her that the scar from the lumpectomy was barely noticeable. Not a bad trade. However, I will never look great in a sleeveless shirt, not that I ever did.

You Gotta Keep Your Head Up.

Onward. Starting Treatment.

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