Cancer Survivor, writing about Health and Fitness as you age

A sure sign that things are getting back to normal is the inevitable focus on things outside of myself - but perhaps not so far outside myself. I was thinking again how hard it is to live up to my own expectations of what it is to be a good parent. It would be a relief to take the easy path, but if there is something I don't think is a good thing for my kids, it is very hard to allow them to do it, eat it, have it etc. even though it would make life easy for me. It results in quite a bit of internal conflict I can tell you. But enough of that. I wanted to give a quick update on how I am feeling these days, and I have to say that while I am doing better I am shocked by how much my irradiated side is still a problem. The whole area feels very tight still and there are still sore spots. This is after 3 months since my last radiation treatment. I still have one spot that will get red if I am not careful (that is, can't touch , or move the skin around to stretch it or help with b...

There was a young lady with cancer, a diagnosis to give you an ulcer. It was an unplanned marathon, of chemo, surgery and radiation all in hopes it's the answer. Chemo is over and surgery is done, she's on the next step of radiation. She burns, swells and is going red "Inflammation" is what the doc said. Sore and pained, she's so ready for fun! Regardless of pain, she goes sun or rain. Treatment is every day to help the cancer go away. It's enough to drive one insane. 33 days the trip must be made, "Make it work" she prayed. 13 complete, 20 to go, the end is far you know. A hard path to walk unafraid. In the room with big machines She lays, imagining peaceful scenes. She takes the radiation, without hesitation to see her kids reach their teens.

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...