Helpful chat with my GP yesterday. Family docs are the ones who see mitral valve patients for years post-op and can best gauge how they're doing. Mine was encouraging, said of the four patients she could name right off the bat who'd had open-heart repair, all were doing well and glad they had the surgery (even the 87 yo!).

We did discuss surgical complications, second opinions, and post op restrictions and rehab. So I feel a bit more confident that going ahead with the surgery will reduce shortness of breath and restore a bit more energy once the rehab is completed.

The ET, of course, needs to be considered, and doc supported my decision not to let surgeons start cutting until they've consulted with oncology.

So, on to the next round of tests next week.

Meantime, my routine CBC last week looked pretty good. So there's that.