I have now had two radiation treatments. Turns out, even radiation oncologists take Labor Day off, so I have three days off, then back to going every week day. Now that everything is in place, the treatments are very quick...I show up at 1:30 and go straight to the changing rooms, get my own gowns and change, and then sit down in the lounge; I barely have time to open a magazine before they call me in; I get into position on the table, and have to pretty much lie there limp while they scooch me into just the right spot by pushing and pulling on the sheet underneath me (it's hard to resist the urge to help, but they don't want you to, you have to let them do it); they put a warm wet cloth over my breast area, called a bolus I think, to increase the radiation near the skin; then I lie there not moving while the machine does it's thing, for about 5 minutes--it rotates around zapping me from different angles--I don't feel anything. Then I'm back to the changing rooms...about a 20 minute visit in total.
The girls and Nathan made a paper chain for me, with 33 links. They wrote little messages on each link, and I get to tear one off after each radiation treatment. A great way to count them down, and a nice boost to read the sweet and funny messages. I am also slathering on lots of stuff, to try to prevent radiation burns to my skin; my mom took me to Sandra Cope, a woman in Old Town that makes special lotions and has a reputation among breast cancer patients. She sold us two bottles of fresh cut aloe vera gel, as well as two kinds of creams. I soak a cloth in the aloe and apply it to my skin right after each treatment, then rub on the cream several times a day. I'm hoping it will do the trick. Thanks to Libby Garvey for telling us about Sandra!
The endoscopic ultrasound and biopsy last week was not a lot of fun. I'm not sure why it upset me so much, because I've been through worse...I think it was a combination of the fear that I've been keeping at the back of my mind all this time that it would turn out to be pancreatic cancer, and that having to be back in the hospital getting poked and prodded brought back unpleasant memories. Of course I didn't feel the procedure itself...they put me under. The worst thing to me was a plastic thing they stuck in my mouth, to open it and protect my teeth during the procedure...but they didn't warn me ahead of time, and suddenly stuck it in there...I couldn't swallow, and it felt like a gag was put on me. I like to know what's coming, and I wish they had explained it first, and told me that I would only be aware of it for mere seconds before going to sleep. Anyway, the good news is that the doctor told me right afterward that he didn't see any signs that the cyst is cancer, it still looks very benign to him; unfortunately, though, I have to wait 6 weeks for the pathology report to come back to be absolutely sure. I have heard 'it looks benign' before, so I won't fully relax until I get that report.
All is still good with the tamoxifen...the very slight nausea I was feeling is gone, and the hot flashes are minimal. I have added more supplements to my daily pile of pills...bee propolis and bee pollen (recommended by Sandra Cope), Quercetin (an anti-oxidant), Seratran (to 'repair, rebuild, and reactivate'), and most days I take probiotics. I am still juicing, and have a glass of fresh veggie juice first thing every morning. Physically, I feel pretty good in general--a normal energy level and a desire to get out and do things. Still experiencing a lot of rib pain on one side from the foob...but otherwise good.
It has been a very strange summer, all in all...I've been through a lot, but it has also been very nice being at home with the kids and just bumming around. I think we are all ready to get back into a normal routine, though...the routine of school for the girls, playgroup/music class/nap time for Griffin, and daily radiation for me. I hope there is a healthy, normal, uneventful fall in store for my family...and for all of you too.
Love you all,
Liz
No comments:
Post a Comment