Breast Implants for Valentines Day!

I got a novel Valentine's Day gift today -- a breast implant to be inserted tomorrow. Don't get excited, it's not what you think. I am having a "central line" put in my chest so that the nurses have an easier time accessing my veins for chemo and bloodwork. Getting a central line (mediport) is pretty standard procedure for cancer patients facing a long treatment regimen. I think sixteen weeks qualifies.

Actually, my sister Jane (who is an RN) was asking about it. Janie asked if I was getting a central line and was somewhat surprised when I told her that we had not discussed this with Dr. Lunin since I was first diagnosed in October. She said that Vinorelbine is nasty stuff that it should be administered through a port. So, this morning I spoke with Scott about it and he agreed. He called and we arranged immediately to have it done by my good friend (from Rotary) Dr. John Rioux. John is chief of surgery at Fawcett Hospital here. (By the way, you will not be surprised to know that Scott has been calling me twice a day (morning and evening) to see if the medication for shingles/neuropathy is working. I am happy to report that it is. I am 80% better than I was on Monday.)

Scott called Dr. John while I was waiting on the phone. I could only hear what Scott was saying but the conversation made me chuckle and went something like this: "This is Dr. Lunin calling for Dr. Rioux....Oh, he's in surgery? Can you put me through to him in there? (Long Pause) Hey John, this is Scott. What kind of surgery are you doing this morning....Oh really? (Pause) No... I could never be a surgeon. I'm too short and I'm affraid I might sneeze on the patient... Hey listen, Tom Cappiello a friend of your's, needs a port. Can you squeeze him in today or tomorrow?"

After Scott made the arrangements I went to John's office this morning to do the paperwork; I go under the knife tomorrow morning at 8 AM. This is an outpatient procedure that should only take about 30 minutes. I get a local that will put me out. John tells me I won't feel or remember anything. I told John that my main concern was that the device not interfere with my golf swing, at which point we began to examine my swing to discover the optimum point of insertion! With any luck, this little procedure may actually IMPROVE my game.

I will go to chemo directly from surgery. To be honest, I am glad to be restarting chemo. I like the quite time it gives me and the solarium at Florida Cancer Center is very comfortable. So tomorrow, after getting the port, I am headed to Scott Lunin's shop for my first consolidation treatment. The timing of this all worked out very well. Everything gets done on a Friday, giving me one day to recover. With any luck, I can be out on Sunday morning testing out my new swing. If not, I have off on President's Day, which is Monday. Thankfully, I don't expect to get gifts on President's Day.

My love to you all! Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day!