Two doctor visits today: to Mrs. Random’s surgeon and oncologist. At the surgeon’s, big win—one drain removed! That decreases discomfort substantially. The other drain can probably come out in a week, depending on how drainage amounts trend. She still has to wear the chest binder for at least another couple weeks, possibly more (“the longer the better” said the nurse). Also got a more detailed pathology report on tissue removed during the mastectomy: the tumor had shrunk down to 9mm long (from 3-3.5 cm), to a thin shape, and only 5% of the mass was still active cancer. It was removed with good margins (2.5 mm). No suspicious activity was observed in any of the lymph nodes removed.
Over at the oncologist’s, we got another recitation of the pathology report, this time with hand drawings and scribbled keywords. He grumbled a little that the surgeon had “stolen his thunder” in revealing the good news of clean margins. A little inter-disciplinary rivalry going there, apparently. Mrs. R will continue with Keytruda infusions every three weeks through late July, and then she’ll be done with treatment. But she’ll get checkups regularly for five years going forward. So, it was a day of good news, basically!
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