I think I have found myself at a place called "information overload." I have been reading the various studies regarding the sentinel lymph node biopsy vs. the traditional dissection. I'm comfortable with the sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure and the statistics for successfully determining if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. With this procedure the surgeon injects a blue die or radioactive fluid into the area where the cancerous mass was located. According to some of the resources, he then massages the breast for a few minutes to encourage the fluid's movement through the breast (um, do I get to be awake for that part?). Other sources state that I would have to wait awhile for the die/radioactive fluid to naturally move through the breast. The surgeon will then follow the trail and remove the first, or sentinel, lymph node(s) where the fluid first drains from the breast.

I have spent the last year or so learning how to accessorize (and I'm getting the hang of it!). Hmmm...let's see...what is the perfect accessory for chemo? Ah yes, the groshong catheter on my chest. I get that tomorrow too. If I could have chosen I would have opted for this whole process to take place during the winter when I wouldn't mind wearing a jacket and a wig wouldn't be so darn hot. Oh wait, if I could have chosen . . . well, you can figure out how that sentence ends.

Talk to you in a couple of days . . . all good thoughts.