The Last Supper

Oh, wait, that's a totally different story.... what I meant to say was The Last Treatment!

Wow. Nine months of breast cancer treatments and today was the last day. Well, it's not really THE last day, since I have five years of Tamoxifen. But, my regime of chemo/surgery/radiation are done!

It's exhilarating! Here I am with the techs after my last treatment. I'm a lame patient, too, because I've spent everyday for the last six weeks with these people and I couldn't tell you any of their names. (BOOO on me!)

Only ONE to go!

And, I'm feeling it. I'm whooped!

So excited to be almost done!!!

The Zapper

I have felt like a lab rat for the past nine months, but this Friday, 260 days after being diagnosed with breast cancer, I will become Susan again! Friday will be my last radiation treatment and I’m one step closer to being finished with my breast cancer regime!

[Read more on the Ready for Recovery website by clicking here]

Radiation: Only SEVEN left!

I'm starting to feel pretty whooped and my blood pressure is super low today. Think I may need to slow down a bit.... so hard to do when there's SO MUCH that needs to get done!

Please send me your positive thoughts and energy as I finish out this last bit of treatment. It's been a long eight months and I'm tired.

Radiation: Round 25

Raadiaaaate good times, come on! (Sorry, I just can't help myself)

I've gotten into a routine with the radiation. Once I get to the cancer center, I change into the ever-so-flimsy-and-lovely robe, and they call me back. I've begun counting during the five zap's; area one (right angle) count to 21, area two (left angle) count to 8 then count to 12, area three (overhead) count to 10 then count to 10, area four (body turned, but overhead) count to five. It takes all of 10 minutes.

Still only a few side-effects: there is a sunburn-type mark up near my clavicle (see photo above) and I'm more tired than usual. (Although, I'm not sure you can see the mark in this pic)

Otherwise, life is good - very, very busy.

Only EIGHT rounds left after today!!!

Radiation: Round 18

Radiate good times - come on!

Today will be day 18. I'm over halfway finished! YeHaw!

Side effects and symptoms have been minimal- I'm a little red in one spot and I'm only a little more tired than usual. The tingling comes and goes and is hardly noticeable. One thing I AM seeing, however, is tightness in my skin. It's making the boob all funky looking - as if it wasn't already funky looking after the surgery anyway. Apparently, it'll loosen back up over time.

In other news about my recovery- I have lost about 8 pounds! For many, many years I have been eating sweet treats 2 times a day- a cookie after lunch, a skinny cow (low fat ice cream sandwich) after dinner - as well as a nightly glass of wine. Well, since meeting with the Lymph-Node Whisperer, I realize I need to take some steps to become healthier. My strategy is working- when I get those afternoon or post dinner cravings, I simply make myself a cup of decaf green tea (mint flavored), not only is green tea an excellent antioxidant, it really works to stave those cravings! I'm brilliant!!

I'm also making an effort to replace two "meat based" meals per week with vegetarian based meals. I've been making things like kale, butternut squash, bean-based soups, etc. It's actually been fun to shake things up a bit. Hubby even commented that I had created "three gourmet meals in a row" a most unlikely occurrence for me.

So, onward and upward as I continue the fight and finish out this portion of breast cancer treatment!

Radiation: Day 3

Nothing much to report - I do have a slight tingling on my skin from the radiation- it's not much, I can barely feel it, but it's definitely there. I, finally, started using the recommended cream.

I am already tired of the trek across town.

Only 30 to go!

Radiation: Day 1

According to Breastcancer.org:  Radiation therapy — also called radiotherapy — is a highly targeted, highly effective way to destroy cancer cells in the breast that may stick around after surgery. Radiation can reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence by about 70%. Despite what many people fear, radiation therapy is relatively easy to tolerate and its side effects are limited to the treated area.

"Reduce the risk of recurrence by about 70%" Heck yeah!

So, silly me, my appointment wasn't supposed to be until 10 am (oops), BUT, they took me when I got there anyway. How do those girls already recognize me? I'm certain I've worn a different wig all two times I've been there... and today I don't have a wig on at all (aren't you proud of me?) just wearing a hat. Anyway...

I strip and put on one of those lovely, flimsy, back-opening gowns and settle in to read an article about adding color to your living room (figured I'd have time, since I was a little early). Just as I was about to learn how to combine cool shades, they called me back. The table was set up under the machine which looks like this:

So, I lie on it, pull down the gown and they position me from my cool tattoos. They tell me to breathe in, breathe out, breathe in and hold. Then I hear a beeping/zapping sound. Let breath out. Reposition. Repeat. All-in-all, they did three zones, twice. Not too bad. I was out in 10 minutes.

I felt a little stinging as I walked to my car- but I'm not sure if that's because I was trying to feel something or not. We'll see.

I'll keep you posted as the days progress. Only 32 to go!

Ok.

Considering everything I've gone through over the past seven months, I shouldn't be nervous about a little radiation, right? Well I am. Probably because it cramps my already full schedule. Or maybe the word "radiation" sounds a little sci-fi and scary.

I'll update you later on the experience.

Send out your thoughts that I don't crash getting from one end of town (dropping off boys) back to the other end of town (to get zapped) in 10 minutes.

RAAADDDIIIAAATTTEEE good times, come on!

Day 1. Trial run. I can already feel the invisible tether I'm going to have to the RMCC over the next 6 weeks.

Good times. Come on.



Last leg of treatment, wohoo!

Radiation

Went in for my radiation "planning" CT Scan today and I must say, I am pretty much over gettin' topless in cold rooms.

Scan went as planned: strip, lie on cold,  hard surface, lift arms, let people draw on the girls, go in tunnel, breathe, don't breathe, done. Then, I was able to set up my schedule, which I'm crossing my fingers will go as planned. We'll do a test run on the 10th, then start my 33 rounds on the 13th. My last one will be January 28th... who's celebrating with me?

Off to work, mommy, cancer-manage, cancer-blog, and Get-Susan. A cancermommycareergirls job is never done.

Stay tuned for a post on menopause. I'm sure you Can. Not. Wait.

I got "tatted up" in the Caribbean

I close my eyes and I hear the waves crash onto the shore. I push my toes deeper into the soft sand and raise up my chin so I can feel the warmth of the sun on every inch of my face. As I shift, I remember that my breast are bare.... I've never been to a topless beach before. I recognize the anxiety of being exposed and let it go. I take a deep breath and relax farther into the sand. It's so warm and cozy here. I doze off to the sounds of seagulls swooping down for a midday snack.

I feel pricks on each side and on my sternum and it wakes me up. I look around and I'm not in the Caribbean at all! I'm on a cold, hard table, at the opening of a CT machine and there are two nurses with ink jars and needles. They're tattooing me....oh yeah, they're prepping me for radiation.

___________


Two nurses and one doctor hover over me with stickers, pens and measuring devices. I have my arms up over my head and I'm completely exposed from the waist up. (I can now add 3 more people who have seen/felt up the girls) The prep takes much longer than the actual scan. After marking me up, they take one scan with me breathing normal  and one scan with me holding my breath. Each scan takes 17 seconds.

After scanning, they give me the "tattoos" - these "tattoos" are actually little pin-size marks (no larger than a freckle) that are permanent. It's to ensure they hit the same spot every time. I'd rather have these marks and be sure I never have to go through this again, so I'm ok with my new tats.

After getting tatted up in the Caribbean, I scheduled my 33 rounds of radiation. Gonna be fun 6 weeks. Too bad I can't really go to the Caribbean.... soon maybe.

33

"33 rounds of radiation on deck, 33 times to radiate
we'll slowly count them down and radiate all around
32 rounds of radiation on deck."

Here are the risks:
1. my lung will be in the radiation field - I may not be able to breathe as well after.
2. my heart could be in the radiation field- does this mean I won't be able to love as well after?
3. fatigue.
4. skin issues (dry, sunburn-y)
5. loss of appetite (uh.. ok!)

CT "Planning" scan later this week, then we'll schedule the 33 rounds.

Onward! Upward!

PS I had a dream last night that I had very long hair... oh, it was nice. AND, I really did have to shave my legs this morning (boo!)