Follow-up Appointment

Grandma saw Dr. Yakimets this afternoon. To her disappointment, the drains cannot be removed yet. The doctor would like the total drainage per day to be less than 30 ml. Drain #1 was at a total of 35 ml. yesterday, and Drain #2 was at 55 ml. yesterday and 100 ml. the day before. The next follow-up appointment will be on November 18.

The drainage from Drain #2 increased after Grandma noticed the swelling in her right upper chest wall. The swelling is still present, so removal of the drains may lead to more swelling.

It is not the wound or the incision that is bothering Grandma. She experiences pain in her shoulder and upper arm. Dr. Yakimets explained that during surgery, the nerve under her arm could be injured causing pain, discomforts or altered sensations. The nerve can take up to 6 months to heal.

Dr. Yakimets stated that fourteen lymph nodes were removed and two of them have cancer cells. It is best if none of the lymph nodes are affected. Two is not good, but could have been worse because we knew from the biopsy that at least one node has cancer.

Grandma will have a bone scan done on November 13 and a CT scan of liver is being booked to rule out spread of cancer to these areas.