An update is
due – it’s been two (crazy) weeks since surgery!
Surgery
seemed like ages ago! The surgery went
as expected. The grapefruit-sized tumour
(as we guesstimated from the doctor’s hand motions) was removed along with the
smaller, grape-sized ones. About
one-third of the gluteus maximus was removed along with it.
We spent 4.5
days in the hospital, and then Mark was sent home with a drain in, since that’s
what was holding us up. A nurse came to
the house to change his dressings and took the drain out 2 days after we were
home.
Recovery has
been tough – harder than expected – says Mark.
Pain has been an issue – and no wonder, since the incision is just shy
of 12 inches long with 52 staples! I was
shocked at the size of it, but I guess the muscle is that large. Pain meds have been somewhat effective, but
have also had other unpleasant side effects including keeping him awake in
spite of exhaustion and making his stomach upset. He has
greatly reduced the pain meds he’s taking to relieve these symptoms.
Mark has
been spending two weeks trying to find a comfortable position on the couch in
our basement, watching movies. He’s been
able to get up to go to the washroom, but even now, 2 weeks later, being up for
even 5 min is painful enough to send him back to the couch.
We see the
doctor on Friday this week (Dec.12) for our first follow-up. We hope the drive to London isn’t too
painful! We may hear final pathology results
at this appointment, but we don’t believe there was any concern about whether
or not the cancer was fully removed.
We trust
that we’ve been through the worst part of recovery. We look forward to spending some time as a
family when I’m on Christmas break (I'm teaching part-time). We
need it.
Thank-you
for the many prayers and kind gestures. We're in good hands/Hands.
