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@naturegirl5

@mdr3. On the one hand it’s good that your case was thoroughly discussed by the specialists and came back with a recommendation. On the other hand - another surgery is not so great for you, the patient. The pathology department will need the additional tissue from this second surgery to stage you again and as you wrote you may or may not need additional treatment. I’m just repeating what you basically wrote as I often do to make sure I’m understanding everything.

As I wrote before, even though you’ve been through something similar with breast cancer and you know what to expect emotionally, it doesn’t make this any easier for you. Are you like me? Wondering when and if cancer comes back somewhere else? Always in the back of your mind?

Are you in any pain today from the previous surgery? How is the healing going? And is the next surgery scheduled? What are you doing to take care of you during this wait? Exercise, mindfulness meditation, yoga, massage, acupuncture? I learned about these as well as other modalities from an integrative medicine/functional medicine physician that can support the patient while they await or are in the middle of treatment for cancer. As a cancer survivor I do some of these. What appeals to you?

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Replies to "@mdr3. On the one hand it’s good that your case was thoroughly discussed by the specialists..."

Thank you for your kind words. I forgot your questions about coping. Unfortunately I had to find out all this stuff on the patient portal. No one called me. But had a good meeting with surgeon Thursday (my daughter on speaker) and he thinks I should have the second surgery as soon as I can. I agree...I just want to get it over with. I am an organist/choir director (60 years at this) and own a fishing equipment business which keeps me VERY busy. What I miss most is the longer walks I'm accustomed to taking (had to be put on hold during the recovery) but no pain, so that's a good thing. I want to get back to my walking regimen prior to this surgery....not a lot of time. I admire your activities!! Stay well