At my six month check-up with my breast surgeon this week, I got two surprises and a new milestone.
I was expecting a good exam and the usual, "See you again in six months!" that I’ve heard for the last ~3 years.
Instead, I was told two things I wasn’t expecting:
I have cording (tight tissue) in my left armpit and need physical therapy. 😕
I'm officially graduating to the survivorship program! 🥳
The first was a surprise, but not necessarily bad news. I had been feeling very tight in my arm and along my side, but didn’t know why. I've been through physical therapy before, both to help prevent lymphedema after surgery and to address neck stiffness during recovery. It made a huge difference, so I'm happy that I’ll have the support again.
The second announcement brought an entirely different, immediate emotion: excitement!
Time to Take the Next Step
Three years out from surgery, my surgeon said I was ready to move into a dedicated survivorship clinic with specialists focused on my overall health and well-being, not just my breast cancer. I felt like my survivor status had just leveled up!
But then came a bittersweet realization: I'd be transitioning to a new care team member instead of seeing my breast surgeon at my next visit, a year from now.
My breast surgeon has made me feel hopeful and reassured from day one. She understood what it was like to be a young mom, with our kids being similar ages. And she was the one who called after my double mastectomy to tell me the pathology results showed I was officially cancer-free.
She assured me she wasn’t going anywhere, but knowing I wouldn’t see her at future appointments was a little hard to accept.
For now, I'm choosing to celebrate what this appointment represents: another milestone, another step forward, and another reminder of how far I've come. 💖
Here's to new chapters, continued care, and finding more ways to feel our best along the way!
#whatworkedformeweds
