1st Full Day Home

Susan is settling into a home recovery phase, take meds, sleep, wakeup for a bathroom break and then repeat the cycle. Occassionally during the awake phase Suze will read the countless number of cards and well wishing notes she has received over the last few days. Easy to see that she is deeply touched by the outpouring of affection from so many friends and family members. The house is also filled with beautiful flower arrangements. Susan can turn in any direction and be comforted by Roses, Daisey's, Sunflowers, Carnations and Snapdragons.

We 've learned to care for Susan by following prescription instructions to the tee. When scripts say 2 pain pills every 4 hours no sense in Susan trying to be tough girl and get by with just one pill. Comfort and rest is the key and percocet is the answer!

We also have introduced a little canine therapy. Molly, (Shauna's dog) is in the house. Molly will play an important role in keeping a smile albeit faint on Suze's face.

I'll turn it over to Shauna for the Pathology report... Steve

Last night Susan's breast surgeon called at 8pm! Major props to her for calling at 8p and on a Friday night no less. She reported that while there were no cancerous tumors in the left breast, the pathologist did find atypical cells there. This was validating to hear since Susan did have the choice of just having a right breast mastectomy but opted for the double due to the risk of recurrence in the left.

Great news is that of the lymph nodes dissected NONE were found to have cancerous cells. This means that it is highly unlikely that the cancer spread beyond the breast region. However, that doesn't rule chemo out as a possibility. One, her largest tumor was actually almost 2cm (which would bump her up to Stage II). Two, the next step for the pathologist is to perform an oncotype of the cancerous tumors. This info will help determine if she would benefit from chemo (in a preventative type way). http://www.oncotypedx.com/

Here is a photo of Molly and Susan. (Molly - the aforementioned therapy dog - looks like a demon ....but she's not.) Susan promises not to post another picture until she washes her hair. :-)