ablomquist's Journey:

I always get my yearly mammogram. I have had multiple lumpectomies. Always negative. Until 8/24/12. I work in healthcare. I saw the images and knew. A few days later, the diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy. I have a great support system at the hospital. The people there take the time to comfort and encourage me.

Prior to the surgery, I had a needle localization. While it wasn't painful, I have a number of them, It wasn't a walk in the park. I then went for the sentinel node mapping, laid there for 2 hours. Then to the OR for the lumpectomy. My surgeon is amazing. She took the time to make sure that the nodes that were "screaming" were removed (3). She also made sure that the tumor was on the specimen. There was a question regarding that, so, she took a second scoop. Lots of bruising after surgery, even with the ice packs. Some kind of phantom pain... but not too bad. I have a sensitivity to the adhesive on the tapes so that was kind of uncomfortable.

The Nuclear Medicine mapping was excruciating!!!!! There was no time to numb the area before the procedure. Lucky for me, I worked in the department for a number of years so I had plenty of hand holders.

Everything seems to be changing.... I have nausea most of the day.... I feel like I am on fire....I can't seem to finish the day with out some sort of fatigue. After the steroids It will improve, I am told. I hope so!

What a blessing!!!!!!! Anyone with a Chronic Disease that requires multiple injections, please consider a port!

I can't sleep more than an hour at a time. I am getting so tired. I called the Dr today.. was told to try Benadryl.

I forgot to eat before the Chemo on Wednesday... big mistake.... nausea and light headed...I wll not forgot again.

I can't seem to remember things without writing them down. Also, I am very short tempered.... I hate that!