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

Fitness Photo Shoot

Fitness after stage III breast cancer Plank on ball in silhouette Why a fitness shoot? I am not a fitness model, nor am I ripped like one, but I wanted to do a fitness shoot for a few different reasons: 1. As a reminder of how far I have come At the 5-year anniversary of my diagnosis of stage III breast cancer, it seemed a good time to remind myself how far I have come since I went through the trauma of diagnosis and treatment. That no matter how low I felt at the time, I came through it. Not all my sisters made it and many are still struggling today (shout out to my IV-leagers - those living with stage IV,  EVERY DAY). 2. As a reminder of how much the body can do It is a moment for me to acknowledge that while there are things I still cannot do, there are things I could not do when I first started lifting weights, that I can do now and THAT is amazing to me. When I first started weight lifting maybe I could do shoulder presses with 7.5 lbs, now I can do more t...
16 comments
Read more

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

Job Search2: Networking etiquette..

On which I have a few ideas.  As my husband keeps telling me, I won't get a job by spending hours in front of the computer submitting applications to online job postings.  The best use of any job-seeker's time is spent talking to friends and acquaintances and letting them know that you are looking for a job and what your skills and interests are. So here is what I found tricky about networking: How hard to push?  Working parents are busy, so if I asked a friend, who is a working parent, about a position I had seen at their company, do I ask a second time? How soon after? And what if there is another position - do I talk about that too?  If that friend is very enthusiastic about getting more information for me on a post then I hear nothing, what then?  Is it realistic to think they'll get back to me?  I find it difficult to broach the topic again.  I might ask a second time but for me there is no third time. What do I trade in return? In the net...
4 comments
Read more