I saw Dr. Sonfield yesterday for a FU on port-a-cath (it’s fine) and to ask questions about future surgery. His exam agreed with that of Dr. Bajaj, he also is no longer able to detect the tumor or swollen lymph nodes.
I asked if it might be possible to avoid a mastectomy and have surgery only to remove any vestiges of the tumor and the adjoining lymph nodes. He said yes. He will order an MRI with contrast following my last chemotherapy session to assess my status and we’ll go from there. That was good news indeed. My next appointment with him is July 27th to order the MRI, etc. Please agree with me in prayer that the tumor will have indeed shrunk, shriveled, died and disappeared, at least enough so that modified surgery is all I will need.
I also asked him if I could begin doing something now to treat the lymphedema in my left arm. It has been a bit worse since the last chemotherapy session. He said certainly and made me an appointment at the lymphedema clinic for June 28th to get started on that. I will be glad to get that underway. The arm is a bit tender and feels tight since it’s swollen, although it doesn’t interfere with any activity like typing.
I do have several new red spots on the left arm (no new ones on the right arm). Dr. Sonfield couldn’t diagnose them but said they are probably side effects of chemotherapy. The redness and peeling on my hands is nearly healed now. An occasional small peeling patch will break out on a palm if I forget and use hot water to wash my hands or dishes but that’s all. No redness or peeling on the soles of my feet now, although I still use the udder cream on both hands and feet. It feels very good and smells great too — it works much better than usual dry skin lotion.
The next blood work / appointment with Dr. Bajaj / chemotherapy session is next Tuesday (June 21st). It will be session #7, the next-to-last one.
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