Good News!

Mom's surgery yesterday went better than expected! Earlier in the week when she saw the surgeon he had said it looked like a stage 2 cancer. Then on Wednesday, the oncologist had told her it was likely a stage 3. Stage 1 or 2 would only recquire radiation directed right at the cancer site. Stage 3 however would need chemotherapy to treat.

Yesterday, Mom went in for surgery around 11:30. The surgeon removed the lump along with several surrounding lymph nodes. The lymph nodes were then sent to the lab to be checked for cancer. If cancer would have been found in the nodes they would continue removing nodes until they found one without cancer. Anyway, the preliminary lab tests showed no cancer in any of the nodes. According to the surgeon her cancer was actually only a stage 1 cancer. This will require much less invasive treatment and we are all thrilled about this.

Mom's surgery was completed by early afternoon. By supper time she was planning to be headed home again after her doctor checked in with her. She has a follow-up appointment with him on Monday where she will get the final lab results on the lymph node testing. Thank you for your prayers and support. Please continue to keep those final lab results in your prayers through the weekend.

Oh, and an interesting sidenote---the surgeon has a unique feature. As a young child, he crushed the ring and pinky fingers of his right hand. At the time, doctors removed both of the fingers as well as a large portion of the outside of his right hand. He says it is amazingly handy during surgery as he can fit his condensed hand into tight places. He even ties the knots of stitches with it with no problems.