Cancer gets an F- (F minus)

I emailed a friend to voice my frustration or disbelief, I’m not sure what it was, about having cancer twice, making it through chemo, radiation and multiple surgeries relatively smoothly.  I mean, yes, I had pain, anxiety, swelling, a punctured lung and hated all of it but for the most part things went as planned.  So when I had surgery on July 17^thand was in the hospital for 2 nights, admitted for 3 nights for IV antibiotics due to an infection a week later and then readmitted for a surgery to completely cut out the infection I said, “Can you believe it?  After all this I can’t heal from a surgery?”  That’s when Cate told me “Cancer gets an F-.” And I had to laugh, boy is she right.

I ended up being in the hospital for 3 nights to get the IV antibiotics.  I went back for my post op visit and the infection hadn’t really improved.  My surgeon said he thought the best plan was to take me back to the operating room to cut out the infection.  On Thursday, July 31^st, I went back to surgery and Dr. Sullivan complete cut out the infected area.  I stayed one night and then came home, with another drain and more pain meds.  The drain was removed a week later.  As of today all of my stitches have been removed and I think I’m in the clear.    

Here’s a little recap:

July 17 – surgery to reconstruct my breasts and remove the scar from the lumpectomy I had in October 2013.
July 24 – admitted for 4 days/3 nights of IV antibiotics.
July 31 – back to the O.R. to remove the infection.
August 7 – drain removed
August 18 - some stitches removed
August 25 - remaining stitches removed

Because of the complications I will have at least one more surgery, if not two.  My left breast is now quite a bit smaller and shaped differently from my right breast due to the procedure that cut out the infection.  You might think, well Kristyn nobody has perfect breasts so why not stop?  I’ll tell you why.  First of all, I’ve been through a lot and I think I deserve this.  Second, you might call them million dollar boobs but I’m pretty sure million dollar boobs are perfect!  I know there are other reasons and I also know I don’t need to explain myself so I’ll stop with this - all of these surgeries I’m having are because I was told, in Sept 2012 and Sept 2013, that I have Breast Cancer.

Sept 2014 is right around the corner so please say a prayer or make a wish for me that the cancer really is gone.  I have an appointment with my Oncologist on Sept 4^th.  I’m hoping she is ready for me to get my port-a-cath out.  Not that I’m bothered by having it in, it’s just that it’d be pretty significant to take it out.  No port means no more chemo.

This is my arm at one point during my hospital stays.  When I was admitted for IV antibiotics they used my port to give me the antibiotics but they had to draw blood from my arm.  My blood is hard to find!