Tomorrow is the LAST ONE

The last radiation treatment is tomorrow!!!! Whoo hoo!!! I think I'll celebrate by rushing back to school to administer a TAKS test.... tomorrow is science.

Saturday

Woke up early this morning. Funny how used to getting up at 5:30 you can become. I made coffee and biscuits, petted some bunnies, watched some news, and played around on Facebook. It is probably for the best that I didn't start messing around on Facebook until recently, except that it would have kept me more in contact while I was in Florida for my Chemo... I love how I can quickly check in with people I haven't seen for years, but still think of fondly.

Today I'm feeling pretty good! Had to take off the binding (yes, I'm still binding my chest) last night because it hurt. I think it slides around when I sleep... I have yet to put it back on. I'm doing exercises that my Occupational Therapist gave me AND she recommends that I massage my surgical site. So I'll leave it off for a while and do some of that. Story is: if you don't massage the radiation/surgical site, it can harden. Since the radiation already weakens the bones (ribs) if your scar gets hard, it increases risk of broken ribs from a slight bump! This is my new " cancer fact of the week." Funny how every step brings something new...

I ordered a new "stunt boob." It is weighted so it doesn't ride up to my neck like the old one, which likes to "crawl around." However, it is a little too firm for the sports bra that I am able to wear right now. When I put it on it made me look like I lost the other boob... the real thing is just squishier... I have to look into the return policy. I do have a prescription to get professionally fitted for a prosthetic, but it was suggested that I wait until 6 weeks after radiation so that any swelling will have resolved. I still haven't decided whether to continue life in my "amazonian lopsidedness" or go for reconstruction. I guess it depends on how life with a prosthetic goes. I was always jealous of flat-chested women... ironic?

I have a summer 'gig' doing a summer theatre camp for the school district. I'm really excited about this for a couple of reasons: 1. cash 2. it's about putting a show together with kids about IKE. I'll have about 8 weeks with a group of 5th and 6th graders. I anticipate this being a really fun, cathartic, creative project! Now that the "I've Been IKEd" project is lined up, I have to find a job for next school year...

I've also made the decision to attend the Houston Co-op Auditions this year. I weaseled/chickened out for the last few years. I'm going to make myself do it this year. I have to remember that the audition is not a commitment!!! I wonder if I can get away with using my old head shots... Recently, a director I respect disagreed with me when I said that I didn't think I looked like my headshots anymore. This was before the cancer though, so maybe I'll slap on a wig and some makup and just go with the old shots.

Today was...

I have 4 more Radiation treatments left!!! The "site" is red and angry, but not blistered, yet. I have a matching square of "sunburn" on my back...

Today was all about the doctors. 7:30 - Radiation. 9:20 - Saw the Physician Assistant at my regular doctor to get a allergy medicine refill. 10:30 - CT scan to rule out cancer in my lungs.

The CT scan was the best and worst part of the day. First, the elevator was broken in the parking garage and I had to park on the 3rd floor. My fatigue is, and continues to get, pretty awful. By the time I got to the office, I was dizzy and tired. Second, they pumped "contrast" into me and that made me queasy, on top of the dizzy and tired. I had to sit for a few minutes before I could walk. Then, on the way back to the car (elevator was now working!!!) two strangers expressed concern for me "Are you okay?" "you look tired" in separate incidents. That was kind of them, but it really made me feel worse. I was trying to convince myself that I felt well enough to go in to work and they added points to the "no, go home and rest" side of the argument. Had to sit in the car for a few minutes until I felt ready to drive! That decided it. Interestingly enough I had forgotten my cell at work and I don't have the new Central number memorized. How to call in and tell them I wouldn't be there? My husband to the rescue. I called Chris and he took care of it. He's my knight- no armor, just a slightly wrinkled shirt. I took some drugs: anti nausea, Narco, saltine crackers (not a drug?) and went to bed. Today, I just couldn't pretend to not be sick. I HATE that.

When Chris got home from school - he's doing a rotation in Internal Medicine - he woke me with the good news. The radiologist report said that there is no sign of cancer in my lungs!!! Time for the "happy dance! " Let me repeat, just because of the way it sounds. There is no sign of cancer in my lungs!!! They found some calcifications (due to the bronchitis etc...) and some scarring (due to the radiation) but no evidence or suspicion of cancer!!!!! I just hope that when the pulmanologist reads the films he comes to the same conclusion... I see the pulmanologist next week.

Thanks again for the prayers, good vibes and positive energy sent my way. I am getting closer...the end is in sight...

TGIF

Finally got to see Dr. Hatch on Wednesday. See the previous post to get the details on that saga... She was concerned about my having gone to the pulmanologist and was concerned about my fatigue. It looks like I'm one of those people on the wrong end of the bell curve for fatigue with radiation. In fact, I couldn't make it to treatment on Tuesday because I was so tired and didn't feel safe to drive. Luckily I have only 8 more left, because it is starting to compound. Dr. Hatch said that it is cumulative, so I'll probably get even more tired and my skin will get more raw before it's over.

Disappointing news of the week: The pulmanologist's report, which Chris has access to as a med student, indicates that the reason they want to follow me up is that they suspect (I prefer to think of it as "rule out") cancer in my lungs. Turns out that when a pulmanologist reads the CT scan I had a few months ago, they see something that nobody else saw. I'm trying not to get freaked. My cough HAS RESOLVED so that would indicate good things... I have another CT scan on Thursday, so we'll see. The pulmanologist said that because the previous CT was done while I had the cough, that it could "very well turn out to be focal pneumonia, which has since resolved." Send good vibes and prayers my way, please.

Went to a Job fair especially for teachers from Galveston who were impacted by the "reduction in force" and it was odd that everyone I talked to asked me to apply on-line. I did get asked for a few resumes, but still. What exactly was the point of the fair? I guess this weekend is all about rest and on-line applications.

Today was...OK

Went for radiation this morning and was supposed to see Dr. Hatch afterwards. In walks the "other doctor" from last week!!! Background: I am supposed to see Dr. Hatch every Monday and was supposed to see her the day I started as well - a Wednesday. Four (4) times in all so far! Each time it was a new doctor. Weeelll, last time I let the new doctor know how frustrated I was about this. It went something like this: "I'm sure you are a good doctor and a nice person, BUT I chose to drive 3 hours each day so I could be treated by doctor Hatch NOT a rotating cast of doctors." The short of it- today, in walks last week's new doctor (the one who got the venting) sees the look on my face and says "Guess who will be back on Wednesday?" And wants to know if I would rather wait until Wednesday to see her? My answer was not "DUH", but that was the subtext...

This afternoon went for Occupational Therapy. I didn't get lost on the way, so I had a half hour to sit in the car and listen to my book. I'm finally "reading" New Moon. Anyway, can't say that therapy was fun, exactly, but it seems to be doing some good. My range of motion is better from using the stretching exercises she taught me last time and she gave my arm/shoulder a good workout and massage. The idea is to stretch my skin and muscles so I don't lose mobility. Not the usual "feel good" massage but I know it's good for me. I see her again next Monday.

Another week down...

I've made it through another week of Radiation Therapy! I have started to see the side-effects on my skin. There is a square area of "sunburn" around where my right breast used to be. Surprisingly, there is a lighter, matching square on my back! And who doesn't enjoy a good sunburn? I have 12 more treatments... counting down. This treatment makes me tired. Very tired.

Had to go yesterday and have my seroma (build-up of fluid) drained again. 38 cc's this time. The doctor says that it probably will continue to build up again because the healing of the surgical site is slowed by the radiation.

The abdominal wound from the hysterectomy is almost healed and I don't even have to put a bandaid on it anymore. Dr. Arristea did a pelvic exam and said that I'm healing up really well and "can resume relations." I took that to mean that I am dismissed from her care. She gave me a big hug. I LOVE her!!!

I was referred to a pumanologist (breathing doctor) during my last bout of bronchitis. If you will recall it lasted about 3 months... Anyway, finally saw her. She wants to do some testing on me and follow me -turns out my history in this area is not normal.

This weekend is all about resting, laundry, and putting my resume together to find a job for next year. I'm also trying to figure out a way to get to Wichita for the May 30th anniversary of the Horners. Southwest doesn't go there!! It is their 50th! Mavis and Jerry are family, even though we are not actually related. I was raised with their kids.

Qua'nisha at radiation therapy

Qua'nisha came with us to see what all the fuss was about with the radiation treatment. She met some very nice people like Selena's radiation machine operator Kwame. He is from Africa nad is very nice. (She also wanted to go shopping in downtown Houston, unfortunately there was no time....)

Selena and the Inquisition

This is the position that place Selena in every morning when they are 'torturing her.' Actually it doesn't hurt at all. The only bad part is the expense of gas and the time to drive all the way to Houston. Also. the nurse that sets up the room has a penchant for country music. The green line you see across her side is one of the the three argon LASER scanners that project a cross-hair onto her to line the xray beams up properly.