I had another follow up with Dr. West on Tuesday, April 10th. This was my 2 week post op, and this time they removed the glue from my incisions (and then wiped with alcohol wipes- ouch!) I showed Dr. West that my right breast has some rippling if I move a certain way. He said my left breast will be perky and firm until I'm 90 (thanks to radiation) but my right one will always ripple and sag naturally. He said that in a few months I can get the fat taken from my belly and put into the areas that need it. He also said that at that time I can get nipple reconstruction, but I probably shouldn't do it on my left side because it usually doesn't take when done on radiated skin. I am not sure why he thinks I would want a nipple on one breast and not the other... so I told him I'm probably going to elect to have no nipples. In this case, none is better than one...
On Wednesday 4/11, I had a brain scan out in Orange. I was supposed to get this scan done at the same time as my PET CT when I finished radiation, but I couldn't because I had tissue expanders in. Now they are finally out, so I was able to get it done. It was really easy and painless. They said if my tattoo on my back started to burn while I was getting it done, to hit the emergency button. I thought that was weird. He said sometimes it happens with prison tattoos. Luckily mine wasn't done in prison ;) Anyway, I just had to put in ear plugs, lay on my back, close my eyes and try to relax for about 30 minutes while I was stuck in a large tube like machine. The machine was super loud and made some crazy, unexpected noises so they put ear plugs in me. After the first 15 minute session they pulled me out, told me not to move, and injected me in my right arm with I don't even know what (some sort of contrast) and then had me go back in for another 8 minutes. I honestly can't even say what it looked like because my head was still in a vice and my eyes were closed. It was actually all over a lot faster than I had expected.
They called me Thursday at 5:30 pm and left me a voice mail saying that my brain scan results came back normal. I guess I can finally breathe a sigh of relief, because my PET CT, and brain MRI all agree- I am cancer free!
Now the only challenge I have is paying all of my medical bills. I finally finished paying off all of the bills from 2011 (thanks to Don't Worry Be Happy and my dad). But now they are piling up again because it's a new year and I haven't met my deductibles. I think, for now, I'll just keep putting them in a pile and pretending they don't exist. :)