Skip to main content

Week 25: Radiation Cycle#3 Complete

So here is what I know/have come to know so far:

  • I have successfully completed the first 3 of 33 radiation treatments scheduled.
  • I have 30 minutes added to my daily moisturizing routine to account for the creams I need to apply to my skin to reduce the radiation effects..
  • While my radiation oncologist has told me that their equipment does not really have much scatter (a maximum of 2 millimetres), all the technicians leave the room when the beams go on.
  • I have breast tissue in my back, and by "I" I really mean you too. So if you hug yourself, tissue extends to where your hands can reach around under your arms and over the top of your shoulder, so that area needs to be irradiated too.
  • The lead "mats" you see at the dentist, used to protect the rest of you when you have x-rays, won't stop these rays.
  • In addition to the actual radiation treatment I have to have, I also have additional x-rays each week in addition to the 33 radiation treatments. In addition to the 33. In case you didn't get that the first time.
  • I have taken a liking to soft clothes and small pillows. Is it any wonder?

This week will be one month since my surgery and I can feel improvements every day. I have however this past week developed axillary web syndrome. What the heck is that? Well, apparently it occurs when you mess with the lymph nodes, which you do in a mastectomy or lymph node biopsy/removal, or even radiation. The lymphatic system gets confused and you see a "cord" running from the armpit sometimes through to the elbow and fingers. (Much like a vein that is pulled.) It is quite painful to extend my arm. I have maybe 1 cord and I am working with a physical therapist to get some relief. This doesn't always go away in one go, but will go and come and go and come before it eventually resolves in a few months.

For now, that is all that is going on. I am enjoying my very relaxing Thanksgiving weekend.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is your 'bread & butter' conversation?

I am anxious to get back to the playgroups with my Moms group, and talk with some of the other moms because I want to know what they talk to their husbands about at the end of the day. If I were to truly tell my husband what goes on with my day? Well, the conversation would be inane and irrelevant. Gunnar: "How was your day honey?" Big smile. Me: "You know the usual. Lucas got up late this morning and was crabby because he didn't have enough time to play before breakfast and Liam pulled off my tiny earring, you know, the one I was so excited about getting because I thought he wouldn't notice it, and I could wear earrings again? Anyways, he pulled it off, and I grabbed it from him and set it down so I could deal with him appropriately, and I forgot about it, but when I went back to look for it I couldn't find it. It might have gotten wiped off the table when I was cleaning, so I spent part of the day sifting through the garbage looking for it, then I looked ...
3 comments
Read more

Week 4 - Part 1, Fredericksburg

And here are my pictures from Fredericksburg! A bit different than you may have expected. We walked around the National Museum of the Pacific, but hardly had the chance to look in much detail (antsy 3-year old took care of that).   My husband's conclusion was while there may be some things that are German (like on the menu), some are definitely not.  But perhaps they were when the Fredericksburg immigrants moved there?  Immigrants do cling to what they know and bring those with them, while their home country evolves. Anyways, we had fun walking around and relaxing.  My dad didn't get a chance to do too much (G and I took the time to run away and put my cousin in charge of the boys and my dad).  So we had a break.  We had plans to do more sight-seeing on our way back, but we (me and G) were too tired to try. Tuesday 28th June : Cycle 2.  After checking my blood counts, I was able to get cycle 2 - Yaay!  My appointment was 9:30 am, and I ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Summer vacation so far

2-yr old: "Waaah..!" wail, bawl. 7-yr old: "I'm sorry..I didn't mean to hurt you." 5 minutes later. 2-yr old: "Waaah..!" wail, bawl. 7-yr old: "I'm sorry..are you ok?" Loop again 10 more times today. The boys walking hand-in-hand up the stairs. 2-yr old: "My water." 7-yr old: "No, my water." 2-yr old: "No! Mine!" 7-yr old: "No! My water!" And so on for another 5 minutes. 7-yr old: "Get off me! Get off me!" Various noises, "....Ow, Ow, Ow!" 7-yr old: "Waaah..!" wail, bawl. Mama needs to sign up big brother for more full-time summer camps. Hosted Mom's club ice-cream bash at our house. In the backyard. 28 moms with at least 1 child each. You do the Math. Yikes! Papa getting a big squeeze hug from 2-year old. 7-yr old getting a big, smoochy kiss goodnight from baby brother. Splashing in the pool with the boys. Priceless.
Post a Comment
Read more