Yesterday was my melanoma surgery day. I arrived at seven and I spent the morning in nuclear medicine. The goal was to find the prime  lymph node that connected the cancer to the lymph glands. If there were cancer cells in this node, metastasis would be a possibility. Cancer cells can metastasize through the blood but the cells are not as strong as cells passing through the lymph glands.

The process took all morning probably because the node was found on the left underarm. The cancer was on the right upper back. My right underarm lymph nodes were affected by surgery for my right breast cancer. They figured it out and were finally done.

My son and I went to the third floor next. Surgery. Once settled in bed a variety of medical people lined up. An IV was started. A brief interview with the anesthesiologist. Introductions by the residents. The OR nurse. I enjoy meeting the future doctors. My doc stopped by and led the way to the OR suite.

A room full of equipment and people in masks. They put a mask on my face but the sedative going through it didn’t work. Probably a lower dose because I am older. Normal dose has always worked in the past. The anesthesiologist  injected me with something and I was gone. Once asleep they move me to the operating table. The anesthesiologist  inserts a breathing tube and starts anesthesia.

Next was the surgery . Four plus hours of it. I was placed on my back to remove the lymph node. Then turned face down for surgery on my back. The incision was four inches by two inches.

I woke up in the recovery room with a giant bandage on my back. They had given me 800 mg of Tylenol IV so I was comfortable as I could be. They rolled me to another room. Where I had juice and then dressed in my loose old clothes sans bra, minimal. Instructed. Packed in our car. We left the hospital at seven. Twelve hour day.

So good to be home. Francis. My bed. I slept well. So here we are, day after surgery. I added Tylenol to my normal dose of Tramadol. I’m sore, a little congested and happy to stay near my bed. I can’t sleep during the day although I long for nightfall.

In two weeks stitches come out and I hear the rest of the story. It is good to be a plodder when you have cancer. Don’t think too much. One foot in front of the other.