Then the calendar tells me I need to go back to the surgical oncologist every 6 months for a while and have a 3D mammogram and exam by my beloved, Dr. Jennifer Manders (the best breast surgeon in Ohio!) That day was today.
I started my day with a 6 week follow up with Dr. Nitz, my orthopaedic surgeon and found out I am now cleared to drive again and continue strengthening my shoulder, but I am healing great! Yeah...
Then I drove down to Cincinnati and had my 6 month follow up mammogram and exam. I admit, I was anxious (a little) but not because I thought the results would reveal more cancer, but because since my shoulder surgery, my left breast is filled with lymphatic fluid and I couldn't do much about it (so I thought) because of my shoulder surgery restricting my arm. So over the past 6 weeks, I have a rather normal soft 50 year old right boob and a firm and perky 15 year old feeling left boob. Some may say they wish they had a little lymphedema in their boobs, but I assure you, it's not all that great! So my fear was that with the lymphedema and scar tissue, I would feel pain with the mammogram. Thankfully, I did not. The woman was great who took it and she was very considerate of my comfort.
The great news besides getting a clean bill of health from the mammogram was that my amazing Dr. Manders did do some lymphedema massage and got a lot of the lymph pushed out of my breast and it now feels more normal!
So that's the scoop on the follow up...all good and uneventful! I love those kinds of appointments!! Thank the Lord!
