Next Stage-RADIATION

My 1st radiation treatment was on Thursday 29th October, exactly 4 weeks after my final Chemotherapy treatment. It’s a doddle after the chemo. I drive to Monash Medical Centre on Centre Road, Bentleigh, and register my name at the radiology department desk, and within a couple of minutes, I’m called through. I undress to my waist and put on a gown. Another wait in another waiting room, but only for a minute, and I’m into the radiology room. Before every treatment I must state my name, address, date of birth and what part of the body they are treating. I then lie down on the bed. The girls check the measurements and make sure they are absolutely accurate, and then leave the room. They turn on the radiology beams for 24 seconds from two different angles, 12seconds from each angle. There is no pain. It’s easy. Today I completed my ninth of 25 treatments. Generally I have to go five days a week until the treatment is completed although this week I only have 4 treatments. I don't know the reason why. There will be side effects to the treatment. In a few days, my skin will start to redden and it will look sun burnt. It will become tender, but I have cream to rub on, which I do twice a day. I am hoping that's all that happens, as the stage after is much worse. The skin starts to peel and becomes an open wound. This can be very painful. I will wait and see. It is early days.
As easy as the radiation treatment is, the Chemo treatment continues to cause me pain and distress. My hands and feet are still tingling and yet feel numb at the same time. They are surprisingly painful. I cannot bear to touch them, and in bed, the sheets rub against my toes, causing me much pain. I still have numbness around my lips and down my back. My leg muscles still feel fatigued when I go for a walk, and I often have to stop and catch my breath. That has eased slightly in the last week. Another development is Lymphoedema of the left arm. It frightened me at first, but Nicole, my daughter in law, is an Occupational Therapist, and has done a bit on Lymph Drainage. Graham, Nicole and the kids were staying with us for the Spring Carnival, and she helped enormously by doing some Lymph drainage on my arm. On Thursday (12th) this week, I am going to see a specialist in Lymph drainage, who I hope will help me rid myself of all the fluid, and give me advice on how to treat it if it appears again. I am also getting booked into the Lymphoedema Clinic at Monash Medical Centre. They will take over the management of my problem, and also measure me for a sleeve to wear when I am travelling. It definitely doesn’t rain, but it pours. What else can happen????
On the bright side, I can taste food again, and have been able to for a couple of weeks now, though I believe I still have an infection of thrush in my mouth. I will have to check with my oncologist if he can prescribe something stronger than the lozenges he prescribed before, as I believe my body must be immune to them.
I have seen two of my Chemo friends since my final treatment. Last Friday I met Stella, another breast cancer patient, for lunch. She is my mentor, a wonderful person. We just hit it off. I am so pleased I met her. She calls a spade a spade, and she would tell me what I was in for when I went in for my Chemo. She was one Chemo treatment ahead of me. Since I saw her last, she has had a mastectomy. Her tumour had reduced enough to do the operation. She will now go on and do her radiation treatment, and her prognosis has changed from being not so good to very good.
Last Sunday, Colin and I went out with Sally and her husband Kevin. Sally had ovarian cancer. She is in remission now and is very happy with how well the treatment worked. We went for Yum Cha to a restaurant in Bentleigh that Colin and I had never been to before. The food was lovely, and it was great to catch up with her again. We will do it again soon.
And so life goes on. I have been told that side effects can last for anything up to one or two years, though it seems generally that they disappear within 3 to 6 months. Even a few months are too long. It’s a very long hard and emotional journey. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.
My hair is 3 millimetres long. It is grey on top and snow white down the sides. YUK!!