First Mammogram After Surgery

I had my first mammogram since my surgery in July - almost exactly 6 months ago.  No evidence of malignancey.  I've had a lot of pain though, so they also did an ultrasound.  Nothing found there either except the scar tissue and some skin thickening from radiation.  While I had been worried about the pain, I did not think it was cancer so today's screenings only confirmed what I felt - that I'm cancer free as can be.  I say "as can be" only because there is potential for microscopic cancer cells to be somewhere in my body.  I'm not terribly worried about recurrence though.  I did everything the doctors told me to do, and I am still taking the hormone blocker that will starve any cancer cells left in my body.  What I'm worried more about right now is the damage the radiation did to me.  More on that in the next post.

Radiation Follow-up & Debrief

Almost 4 weeks out since my last radiation treatment, the skin is doing much better compared to few weeks ago.  Much of the pain is now gone, and there's just the occasional irritation that feels like a band-aid being peeled off in places, particularly in the back where the skin got exposed to the sun because I wasn't made aware the treatment area would extend so far back.  There's is still discoloration of the entire treatment area, with the worst of it being under the arms.  It could take years for the skin to return to normal, or may never return to how it was before treatment. In any case, the radiation area isn't bothering me as much now and I am having more good days mentally and physically.  I still had a follow-up scheduled though so I went.

Today's appointment was supposed to be a skin check after getting burns from radiation treatment.  My usual nurse was out sick though so I spoke to someone who didn't seem to specialize in breast radiation.  She didn't actually check my skin, and I didn't really feel like waiting around for a doctor since I felt like my skin is getting better.  The main take away from the debrief I also got was that I need to minimize sun exposure to treated area by using sunscreen SPF 50+ for life.  Good thing I am not a beach person, but I am going to have to be careful being outdoors in tank tops and such.  Yeah, it is a little thing, but there are many of these "little" things and also many big things as a result of going through cancer treatment.  

Aside from the sunscreen warning, I was told I can start using deodorant if it doesn't irritate my skin.  I can also swim and take hot baths eight weeks after last treatment if I'm healing ok.  

The usual process for most folks is to do a telehealth call with the provider a month after the last treatment.  The nurse suggested I go ahead and schedule that call even though I was here today, in case additional questions come up. The doctor still owes me some help in removing the radiation tattoos so I'll bring that up on the call next week.

3-Months Surgical Follow-up

It's been just over three months since my bilateral lumpectomies and there is still pain at the surgical sites on both breasts from scar tissue, or fat necrosis as the surgeon called it.  I am still not climbing or running due to surgical pain, and I'm not swimming due to radiation.  The pain is almost daily, though not all day long. It's worse when I do weight training but hurts even when I don't. The surgeon ordered an ultrasound prior to the follow-up and confirmed that there were no fluid build up that could be drained or other issues.  Although I do seem to be taking longer to heal than expected, she did not think the size of the scar tissue was bad.  She will refer me to a physical therapist at the cancer center to see if I can qualify for a vest that will massage my breasts, which will help break down the scar tissues faster.

My next follow-up with the surgeon is in January.  We will do a mammogram first and then discuss results in that appointment.  If my breasts still hurt in three months, I have the option to postpone the mammogram. I'll likely tough it out and just do it though since I could use more peace of mind.  

I had a few other questions for her, and she listened and answered everything patiently without any attempt to rush me like some of my other doctors do at times.  While I'm sad about the continued pain, I'm happy with how the appointment went.