Julie can't eat cheese

I’m a week out after surgery and overall, I feel pretty good. I tire easily though, so lots of couch time. My left upper arm (underside and back of arm) are numb as is the side of my chest and my armpit. I randomly feel pins and needles throughout my arm or sharp pains – still hoping for continued numbness vs. nerve pain! This was about the time after my last surgery when I started to get itchy – so reeeeally hoping I skip the rash! I did wake up to feeling wetness from where my drain is coming out of my side and called the surgery team immediately. They weren’t too concerned as the drain is still compressed and pulling fluid. They said I may have stretched it or was moving more than usual and was advised to just wear an old shirt today.

I got a text alert to a new lab result last night (1/25). Of course I looked – I hate surprises! When I check lab results online now, I hope to not see the dreaded red exclamation point next to the results. Red exclamation point = bad news. This lab result did NOT have a red exclamation point! Pathology reports are hard to decipher, but I think this one says they took out 7 additional lymph nodes (that’s 13 total) and found evidence of a small amount of cancer in one. I meet with my oncologist and surgeon next week, so will get more information then.

I’ve been reading a lot this last week – going between serious Stay Healthy! books, which can send me down a rabbit hole and lighter, fluffy fiction. Anticancer, A New Way of Life is super interesting but maddening (eff capitalism). I highly recommend – let me know if you read it and want to discuss! Rest is Resistance (also, seriously eff capitalism) should be required reading and also, let’s discuss!

Upcoming appointments: (I think I will hit my deductible before Feb is out!)

• 2/1 with my oncologist
• 2/2 post op with my surgeon
• 2/6 echocardiogram
• 2/7 port surgery
• 2/17 chemo teach class
• 2/22 chemo starts (first round every 2 weeks for 4 cycles)

I am starting to think about what to pack in my chemo bag, as it’s an all day affair. I was given some awesome coloring books, colored pencils, books, and warm blankets. My Kindle is usually pretty full but I will always take book recommendations (healthy or fluffy!) – let me know!