The first round: Marisa 1-Cancer 0

 

Friday, 30 August 2019: At 10:04 I stepped into the ring to begin my fight against grade 3 invasive lobular breast cancer with a bilateral skin-saving mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Let me tell you a little more about the first round.

We (my hubby Stéfan Louw and I) left home at 05:00 that morning so that we can be at the Rosebank Clinic at 07:00 for admission. The admission process was smooth and handled very professionally and efficiently by Thabiso (if I remember his name correctly). 

Upon arriving at the ward I was very surprised to learn that I have a private room. The nursing staff were very friendly and helpful, and started with the admission tests immediately. Once my patient file had been opened and all my vitals recorded, I was escorted down to the nuclear medical science department in the basement of the hospital. This is where an isotope scan and marking of the lymph nodes took place. It is important to mark the lymph nodes so that the surgeon can remove them for further testing to make sure that the cancer has not spread.

While waiting for the isotope injection to take effect before my breast can be scanned, the anesthetist came to see me. She reminded me a little of the library teacher I had in primary school - strict, stricter, strictest. She reiterated the various side effects of anesthesia and that made me even more nervous. What set me at ease is that she instructed me to take the medication that I will find in my room. 

How happy was I to see that it was Dormicum! At 10:04 I put on my theatre gown, popped the tablet, hopped into the bed, and recall being pushed into an elevator. The next thing I remember was waking up in my room with Stefan right there beside me - almost 3 hours later.

I came out of theatre at 13:16 and was not taken to a high-care unit as I expected. Because I had a private room I had all the high-care I needed right there. Due to a small complication of me developing tachycardia while in surgery, I was on strict bed rest with interesting gadgets that massaged my legs to improve circulation, additional oxygen, a bunch of different intravenous fluids, and my biggest fear - the hated catheter.

My recollection of most of the afternoon is a bit fuzzy, but I know hubby was by my side all afternoon. The doctor only came to see me at 20:30 and after which he authorised the removal of the catheter and that my bed rest is over. Thank goodness! I got out of bed and hubby helped me to rinse my body and get me out of the green theatre gown and into my pajamas, and together we took a walk outside for fresh air. He tucked me into bed and I drifted off into a deep drug-induced sleep.

Saturday, 31 August 2019: The first night in hospital  was not bad at all. I think the pain meds knocked me out because I fell asleep almost immediately after hubby left for the long drive back home, and I woke up at my usual hour - 04:00 - feeling refreshed albeit hit by a bus.

So, I switched on my computer to listen to music on iTunes and read a little until breakfast. Shortly after I have eaten, a porter from radiology arrived with a wheelchair so that I can have my chest x-ray and abdomen ultrasound done to see if the cancer has spread beyond my breasts. These are the two tests I am most fearful of... but my chest is clean and there are no tumors in my abdomen. There is however a small cluster of vessels in my liver that, in a healthy person would be of no concern, but may need additional investigation in a cancer patient.

As I get pushed back into my room my first visitor awaits. One of my clients came to visit and brought me a beautiful orchid and some Lindt chocolates as gifts. Not soon after my client left, my best friend and her partner came to visit me. I got a new book, biltong, and bacon flavoured corn chips. The excitement of the morning left me a little drained and I slept well after lunch. And how surprised to wake up and find another visitor that I haven’t seen in years at my bedside. To Tyler, Chantal, and Sue - thank you for making the effort to come and visit me. It really means a lot!

My second night in hospital was not that great. One of the nursing staff just seemed to go out of her way to make me uncomfortable. I waited 90 minutes after asking for assistance to take a bath. Then she told me there was no hot water in the bathroom (yet there was hot water in the basin in the room)... I just think she didn’t want to  help me rinse my body. So I told her to wash me in cold water and you had to see her face! She was not happy but it is my right to be cleaned before I go to bed. I had a good first few hour’s sleep but woke up at 01:00 and called the nurse to help me out of bed so that I can go to the bathroom. She walked, in switched the light on, folded down the side of my bed and walked out. I can’t get up on my own because it hurts to much. I had to call her back and her puffed face showed how much she hated me for waking her up from her sleep. After visiting the bathroom it took her another 40 minutes before she showed her face to help me get back into bed.

Sunday, 1 September 2019: When I woke up this morning I felt so much better than last night. Although my chest felt as if I’ve done 10 x 200 kg bench presses, I had more energy than the previous morning. I got out of bed and went for a stroll outside. As I came back inside my doctor arrived and he walked me back to my room. He peeped into the sports bra at my new breasts and seems happy with his work, although he expressed some concern about the right nipple. He confirmed that my chest x-ray came back clear and that he had discussed the ultrasound of my liver with my oncologist. Right now there is nothing to be concerned about because all clinical signs indicate that the cancer has not spread beyond my breast tissue. This prognosis will however be confirmed once the lymph nodes he removed during surgery have been tested. He discharged me there and then. I can go home! 

I immediately informed hubby and he was like Superman... at the hospital in a flash. I was back home in less than 48 hours after a bilateral skin-saving mastectomy and reconstructive breast surgery. 

In the first round in this fight against cancer the score looks as follows:

Marisa 1 - Cancer 0

I don’t know how many rounds this fight is going to have, but I have won the first round. That is all that matters to me right now.