Healing

Just the essentials

Recovery Month – June

June has been my month of healing - and joy.

I’m home now, feeling good after surgery and filled with such a tremendous sense of relief. The day after my procedure, I received my pathology report, and the news was better than I could have hoped for:

No lymph node involvement. Clear margins. A successful surgery.

For all intents and purposes, I am considered cancer-free today.

The First Week: Relief and Rest (and That Drain…)

Recovery has gone well, but I did not like the drain. It was awkward and uncomfortable - but I was incredibly grateful to have a home health nurse visit me three times after surgery. She was kind, helpful, and taught me exactly how to care for the drain and strip the line. Her visits made a world of difference.

I also bought a few things that really helped:

• A wraparound pillow from Amazon that made sleeping (somewhat) easier. I’m not a natural back sleeper, so the first night was rough - I didn’t sleep at all. But the second night? The longest and most peaceful sleep I’ve had in years.

• A couple of front-zip recovery shirts with inside drain pockets - absolute lifesavers. They made it so much easier to move around without worrying about the drain tugging or catching on anything.

Little Comforts That Made a Big Difference

Before surgery, my nurse navigator gave me a soft post-surgical bra - and when I woke up from surgery, I was already wearing it. She also gave me the sweetest handmade care package from a group of volunteers. It included:

• A soft apron to hold my drain

• A ribbon to wear in the shower so the drain could hang comfortably

• The tiniest, most perfect pillow to tuck under my arm

That pillow turned out to be my hero. My underarm had been sore and tight ever since surgery, and that little cushion made the pain so much more manageable. I also started using cornstarch to lightly powder my underarm area, which helped my skin glide and reduced discomfort.

Drain-Free and Feeling Free

After six days, I got the best gift - the drain came out!
I was so nervous going into the surgeon’s office, half-braced for something dramatic or painful. I must have had that “pre-worried” look. But my surgeon just snipped the stitch holding it in, and before I even realized what happened, it was out. I didn’t feel a thing!

The freedom I felt afterward was incredible. That bulky, annoying drain was gone, and I felt even more like myself again.

What’s Next

At my follow-up appointment, my doctor gave me the all-clear and said, “See you in a year!” That moment felt monumental. Now, I just focus on healing and preparing for radiation - the next part of this journey