What to expect?

My tumor was ER+ PR+ HER2-, so I didn't get chemo. Here was my experience:

Night before, NPO after midnight—so I had a great steak dinner before going to Kol Nidre service for Yom Kippur.

Morning of, arrive at hospital 7am, change into gown, get radioactive seed implanted (some patients get a wire), then tracer injected and wait for it to "take." Back to pre-op roomette with family. 11 am, meet with anesthesiologist, who takes another set of vitals, notes that I asked for a pediatric airway (I am a singer, so want to protect vocal cords when intubated). Noon, ENT comes in to give me a Zantac (checked my chart to see I have reflux). 12:30, find out surgeon is running behind and can take me at 1:30. At 1:30 I am wheeled into the OR. Next thing I know I am back in my roomette and the surgeon comes in and says "no surprises, it all went well, tumor size was 1.3 cm, and 4 nodes taken—2 sentinels, 2 "hangers-on" that couldn't be separated."

(I'd been warned by the nurse-navigator that due to my breast size I might be sent home in a large ACE wrap because they might not have had a large enough surgical bra. But they were able to squeeze me into a size XL high-back post-surgical "posture" bra).

It was 3pm. Nurse comes in with juice, bagel & schmear—it's still Yom Kippur but I figured there were extenuating circumstances to break my fast before sunset. 4:30 I am walked (!) to my car and driven home, where we ordered out for pizza. I slept downstairs in the living room, wearing a button-up PJ top & shorts. Took one Norco. (Was prescribed 3 days worth).

Day 2, discovered I could dress myself and brush my hair just fine, Couldn't shower yet, so sponge-bathed. Sister (flew in from VA to take care of me) was shocked to see me fully dressed and waiting outside on the porch. We went to a local Southern restaurant (she drove), where I had an Arnold Palmer because no alcohol while on pain meds—but I stopped them, with plain Tylenol taking care of mild pain. As I was drifting off to sleep, noticed upper body stiffness and soreness setting in. Googled, and came up with "scoline syndrome:" just after general anesthesia, they inject succinylcholine (powerful muscle relaxant) to ensure the patient lies perfectly still—but just before the upper body relaxes it has an extremely powerful muscle contraction.

Day 3, I portal-messaged the nurse-navigator who confirmed the scoline syndrome, and assured me the soreness would wear off in a couple of days. My BFF came over for another pizza—and an Edible Arrangement was delivered. Had some sparkling rosé.

Day 4, sis & I walked to the grocery (she carried the bags) and supplemented the leftover pizza with a good salad. Soreness mostly worn off. Path report came in—clean margins, all nodes negative.

Day 5, we walked to brunch, then to the beach (we live 4 blocks away). Then sis had to drive back to the airport for the flight home. That night, I drove to dinner.

Day 6 got my hair trimmed, washed & blow-dried. Held off on getting roots done and straightening treatment till I knew whether I'd need chemo (and thus all those chemical services would be wasted). Took a shower (protecting the incision sites with cling wrap).

Day 10, my son loaded the car with my guitar & dulcimer, and I drove 90 miles to Rockford for a gig—where my singing partner (who drove down from Madison, WI) & the venue owner unloaded the car and set up. For 2 glorious hours I forgot I had cancer. Had late dinner and drove back home—husband & son unloaded the car. Was able to wear soft-cup front close bras.

Day 14, met with surgeon and medical onc., found out the tumor would be tested via OncotypeDX to determine whether I'd get chemo. Med. onc. said the only reason for the test was that the size (>1 cm) put me in a "gray area." Also got genetic testing for BRCA mutations, as I'm Ashkenazi. So next day got my roots & straightening done.

Day 21, Oncotype DX came back—16, so no chemo. And no mutations. Met with radiation onc. for mapping. He removed the last of the stubborn Steri-Strips on the sentinel node biopsy incision site. Could finally shower. "unwrapped." Began wearing underwire bras,

Day 22, that incision popped open—surgeon's partner sutured it closed, saying the weight of my breast (still large despite lumpectomy) had pulled it open. Back to wearing front-close "leisure bras."

Day 29, sutures removed and I drove to Iowa City for a folk music conference. By then I was back in my regular underwire bras.

One week later, began the first of my 16 sessions of high-dose radiation targeted to the tumor bed (as opposed to the usual 35 sessions of whole-breast), because my age (almost 65) made me eligible for the new protocol (my rad onc was part of the study). Had some mild redness but no real skin disturbances. Nowadays that protocol is fairly common for postmenopausal patients with my type of tumor (known as "Luminal A").

2 weeks after last session, took a Mediterranean cruise, started Letrozole upon my return. Stayed on Letrozole 6-1/3 years.

I did have some mild cording & lymphedema (specialist classified it as "subclinical") for which I got PT and learned how to do manual lymphatic drainage massage. For the first 3 years post-op, I wore compression sleeve & gauntlet whenever I flew, drove to high altitudes (>2000 ft), took fast skyscraper elevators, did housework, gardened or played guitar outdoors in warm weather. My lymphedema specialist discharged me and said I could ditch the compression wear.

(Your mileage may vary).

My radiation oncologist gave me a bag of Aquaphor samples. After each session I applied one in the changing cubicle before getting dressed. At bedtime, I used aloe vera gel (forgot the brand) which I bought from the cancer center's pharmacy—but it had no dyes, fragrance or alcohol; then calendula cream (Boiron) and finally Aquaphor. In the morning, I'd shower it all off, since the sessions were in the early afternoon. (Lather, rinse, repeat—16 times).