Lots of good news and a little bad news, my friends.

Good news: Path report confirms lymph nodes all clear! The tumor at its largest point was 1 centimeter. Yay! Current diagnosis is stage 1b. Happiness now, and living happily ever after. Who would think that something the size of an almond is going to require so much accommodation this year.

Bad news: the margins, not clear. There is a 1 millimeter clear margin and apparently the standard of care is 5 mm. We are talking a difference of less than the length of my little fingernail here, but I'm going to have to have another surgery. Dr. Korey's office called Friday and offered me a surgery date of May 7, and I said "no". In a more eloquent fashion, I hope.

I'm in no rush. The big bad tumor is gone, right? And on Wed Dr. K had given me the green light to take a few days off from work and from being a Patient. I booked a getaway ASAP. In mid-May I get to get out of town and enjoy life for a few days. As long as I don't lift a suitcase.

I have an appointment with a plastic surgeon 4/30, the oncologist 5/3, Dr. K 5/4, and MD Anderson 5/6. In the meantime, I'm doing one of the things I do best: gather and analyze information. Then I can make a decision about the best course of action for me based on fact and expert opinion.

My sister left this AM amid much wailing, gnashing of teeth, rending of garments, and tearing of hair on my part. Ok, the wailing is exaggerated and I am certainly not giving up one precious hair out of this head until absolutely necessary. I cannot begin to enumerate the ways, large and small, in which she supported me this week. It is all about keeping things in perspective.

Overall, I think I'm doing great. Judy took my bandages off this AM as per Dr. K's orders. I have mostly passed on pain pills in favor of Tylenol for a few days now. The numbness seems to be getting a little better. I am able to lift a small glass of water off the table with my right hand, a superhuman feat which I demonstrated to the approbation of friends recently. Although I wouldn't bet on getting said glass as far as my lips.

Mega-thanx to the crew at Sarah's house last night. When I arrived there and found the front door wrapped in pink with the humongous breast cancer ribbon. I doubled over in laughter. I know that, and everything that followed was a team effort. My friends and family will always be a way bigger part of my life than this transient encounter with cancer.