RADIOTHERAPY

My final radiotherapy treatment was on Thursday December 3rd. That was my red letter day. Not only did I finish all my treatment, but I also saw Peter, my surgeon. I am to have another mammogram before I see him on the 10th May, 2010. He tells me it will be painful. They will take a lot of images, and I will worry that they have found something....but, he says....they won't find anything. What a comfort he is.
The radiotherapy was a doddle. I had 25 treatments over the course of 6 weeks. My left breast is very sunburnt, but apart from that, I feel really well. The tiredness I expected, has not happened. In fact I feel so well, that I'm going to have a hit at badminton on Monday night. That's when I'll find out my energy levels!!!
There are two issues remaining from the chemotherapy; 1) My tingling and numb hands and feet are still bad after 9 weeks. One of my big toe nails dropped off last week and it looks as if I could lose more; 2)The thrush infection in my mouth, which developed during my third chemo treatment, is improving very slowly with medication.
The surgery has left me with lymphoedema of my left arm, and is unfortunately a lifetime issue. I am determined not to let it beat me. I have ordered a pressure sleeve which I will have to wear when I am travelling, especially when I'm flying. I am seeing Avril, who is fantastic at lymph drainage. She believes she can get my arm back to normal, and I believe she can, given time. It's a slow process but I believe I caught it just in time.
My hair is growing, albeit very slowly. I hate the grey, but Pete says I can colour it. I was under the impression that I wouldn't be able to colour my hair for at least 6 months because of the chemicals. He used the word 'bullshit' on that idea. He is a very conservative man, so I believe him. It's still too short to colour, but as soon as it's long enough, it'll be done. Perhaps, then, I'll get my identity back, which I felt I lost when I lost my hair. Until then, the wig stays on!! It's a good wig. People who don't know about my cancer, don't know it's a wig. It's so like my own hair.
As I look back on the last 6 months, I have had one hell of a tough journey. It was emotional, it was painful, and it made me very sick. I did believe, at the beginning of my treatment, that I was strong and fit, and that I would get through the treatment without too much bother. I couldn't have been more wrong!! It is the hardest thing I have ever tackled in my life. I am very happy it is over. The recovery, I am told,will take a year from the end of treatment. I want to do better than that. I am feeling stronger each day, so in another 12 to 16 weeks I hope to be back to my old self again.
It was not exactly the holiday Colin and I had planned. But there is always next year, and I hope many more years ....thank goodness!!