Warning! mildly graphic content below...

...but it's really not that bad, so don't be such a sissy. But first...

 Major accomplishments of the day!

1. Upgrading from yoga pants and tennis shoes to jeans and ballet flats.

2. Getting 2 of my 4 surgical drains removed. 

3. Having the steri-strips removed from my incisions. 

4. Getting a clear pathology report!

Today was 10 days post-op (and 7 weeks since last chemo - but who's counting), which meant ALL the docs wanted to see me. Dr. B was first up and went over the pathology of everything she removed during surgery. Long story short, chemo kicked some major cancer ass! 

Dr. B (surgical oncologist) removed 21 left axillary lymph nodes and their biopsy came back cancer-free. The invasive ductal carcinoma - which was a 3x3x2 cm tumor just a mere six months ago - gone. The only thing the chemo hadn't sent running and screaming was the ductal carcinoma in situ. There was still a 2.2 cm tumor hanging out in the evil twin. But not anymore, thanks to surgery. And the good twin? All pathology was clear there, too. Mad props to Dr. B!

Now, to radiate or not to radiate? That is the question. Which will be answered by Dr. G, the radiation oncologist. Stay tuned. 

Next stop was Dr. F (medical oncologist), who remains super psyched about how well the chemo kicked major cancer ass. Her recommendation? Stay the course with Herceptin (8 infusions down, only 9 more to go) and hold off on Tamoxifen until the jury has decided on radiation, or not. Also, go for another echo at the beginning of year.Three snaps in a Z formation for Dr. F!

Last stop was Dr. M (reconstructive surgeon), who was super impressed with how well/quickly my incisions are healing. I attribute that to the fact that I am now part vampire... or Wolverine... or something.

This is the right side (good twin) where two of my drains were removed today. Looking suspiciously like vampire bites.

And this is the "before" photo. As in before the drains came out. See? Not that bad.

Hopefully the two left side (evil twin) drains will be ready to come out by Monday or Tuesday. Then I'll be back in Dr. M's office next Thursday for my first tissue expander fill. He left both 450 cc expanders about half full at the time of surgery. Starting next week, I'll go in once or twice a week for the expanders to gradually be injected with saline. Kinda like getting your braces adjusted... but different. Anyway, slowly filling the expanders gets my muscles ready for the implants that will eventually replace them. The expanders, that is, not my muscles. They're staying just where they are, if only a lot more limber. So tissue expanders are kinda like really intense yoga for your pec muscles. 

I have no idea what's going on here, but tissue expanders look way less painful than this.