David and I had a meeting with my surgeon, and she went over the pathology report in detail. To make a long story short, microscopic cancer cells were found at the margin of the tumor that was removed. This means that some got left behind and are lurking in the wings.
Although (to put it mildly) I am not happy about it, I will go back to the hospital next Monday to have more tissue removed. With any luck, the next pathology report will not indicate the need for even more surgery.
I asked the doctor why cancer cells get missed and she explained that there is no visual evidence of microscopic cells, so the surgeon has to rely on imaging technology and some guesswork. It also isn't currently possible to freeze and dissect breast tissue during surgery for microscopic pathology. Hence the wait for a report that takes about a week. (I hope some researchers are working on a way to get accurate pathology during surgery! It would save so much anxiety as well as the cost of follow-up surgeries.)
So, just as I was thinking I had the goal post in sight, it got moved. I will need more time for healing and radiation treatment will no doubt be delayed by a week or more.
My main problem at this point is that I am at a low point emotionally. I steeled myself for the surgery last week and the accompanying procedures and once all that was over, I was focused on healing and rebuilding my strength before the radiation treatments. To be thrown back a step just hit me very hard.
Once again I have been reminded that trying to make plans around a treatment schedule is just about impossible because of all the unexpected setbacks and surprises. I'm canceling out of next week's activities, renegotiating some commitments, and filling my waking hours with as much distracting activity as possible.
On the plus side, I have received many messages of support and encouragement, and I am grateful for all the positive energy that is being sent in my direction.
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