Flexible

“Congratulations!” the surgeon concluded after summarizing the findings of the lab study:

• In the removed breast, the samples they examined contained less than 10% of the original massive amount of cancer cells.
• The cut edges turned out to be cancer free, which means enough was cut away by the surgeons.
• The excised axillary lymph nodes showed the same result.
• The cancer cells that were found were still of the same type, so fortunately no mutation of cancer cells had occurred.

It feels like I can continue on the winding path right along the ravine that may lead to healing, and that I’m actually a bit further from the rim by now. Brother who was with me reacts just like me with relief and joy. Let’s get ready for the next treatment!

Tonight these lab results will be discussed in the multidisciplinary medical team, but this will probably lead to the advice to start radiotherapy in a few weeks, then rest for a few weeks and then chemotherapy in the form of pills for six more months.

Since the day after the surgery I feel fit again. It is impressive to see how my body has apparently quickly and flexibly found new ways to drain the fluid now that two lymph nodes have been removed. Surprisingly, I have no pain. Very special because the surgeon had cut away a lot of skin and tissue just to be safe and had stitched the remaining skin together with force. Apparently my skin is also flexible enough to absorb that.

The true work of art that the surgeons have done, the good conversations I had with many including the social worker, the beautiful lingerie that I received as a gift from my dear friend and the beautiful prosthesis that I received from the hospital the day after the surgery, they help me tremendously. Missing my breast actually turns out not to be as hard as I expected. Maybe I am flexible enough for this process myself.