Surgery date has been set...

Let the games begin! Or...maybe not quite yet. :)

The date for the (so far) simple mastectomy has been set for 9:45am on Wednesday, August 17th. Mentally, I'm ready. Still, the butterflies in my stomach are making themselves known on more of a regular basis.

See, I'm the gal you want next to you in an emergency. I'm pretty cool and calm and am able to act with some clarity and precision when faced with an emergency. I've driven a friend to the hospital after she sewed over her finger (and had the needle's broken tip protruding). I've changed bandages for a friend who went through surgery and needed a caring hand. I've safely driven a child or three to the emergency room. And I've applied pressure to more than one bleeding part for which the child didn't want to go to the hospital. Yet, when it is me who has red stuff coming out of places, my "must take care of you" adrenaline doesn't kick in. Mind you, I can change my own bandaid, but it is likely that I will avoid looking at the cut, scrape, or wound and will concentrate on the application of the bandaid and not on the actual wound. This is why I am so, so thankful to have Jeff. He says he will help with all the parts I have trouble with...and I know he will take really great care of me.

I am amazed by the new methods they will use. I trust this surgeon very much. She makes sure to touch base and make sure everything is understood. She is pretty tactile, which serves me very well. And yet, she is more than willing to adapt her approach when asked...as Jeff isn't as welcoming as I am to the entering of personal space. I also am impressed with how prepared she has been for each visit. How she makes sure to list the concerns we had the last visit. How she makes sure that all of the questions are answered and how she appreciates the feedback, and information we bring with us.

I have complete faith that everything will go as easily as we can expect. So, even though I have the butterflies, it is for the red stuff, and not for the loss of body parts.

So, for the technical stuff (and yes, stuff is a technical term!)...

Dr. Ting will do a simple mastectomy, unless she find something unexpected. She will take 2-5 lymph nodes to test and make sure no cancer is present. The tissue will be sent for the oncotype testing, to find out the dna of the tumor itself. I will likely be in the hospital overnight. My drain tube will be monitored to make sure they have stopped bleeding. As well, they will confirm I have no adverse reaction to the pain meds and antibiotic.

Once home, Dr. Ting said I can expect to do all my normal activities. Even shower! That will be lovely. I will also come home with a camisole that will house the drain tube.

That's the technical portion of this whole post.

Logistics that I need to work on. Well, my next priority will be to get a few of the foods I want and need, into the freezer. I'm thankful for the help I am getting from my friends and community. I am blessed.

I am at peace with all that is about to happen. I am also thankful for the time to digest all the things to come, and for the time I get to spend with my peeps pre op.

It was an added bonus today to get to see my bro, Andy, and his sweet family. It was so good for my heart to get those few hours. Very good.