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Radiation is a mental struggle
Read more: Radiation is a mental struggleRadiation treatment, in theory, is easier than chemo. It is easier on your body – in that the physical side effects are skin issues and fatigue. You don’t need to deal with all the other side effects of chemotherapy. However, for chemo I only had to convince myself to go four times. I had four…
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Radiation and Losing Friends
Read more: Radiation and Losing FriendsRadiation started this week. So far it has only been two treatments. They go pretty fast. Immediately afterwards I find myself wondering if I’m feeling anything. Can I tell that the invisible beam is attacking part of my body? We did have a bit of a misunderstanding, for which the radiation oncologist felt bad. I…
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Radiation, Recall, and Lymphedema
Read more: Radiation, Recall, and LymphedemaToday I start radiation treatment. It is a 15-session spread over 4 weeks. The first two sessions are this week, then for the next week and the week after, I go for 5 days. For this week, they are putting us up in a hotel that is a short walking distance to the treatment center.…
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Going maskless
Read more: Going masklessOn Friday I went to a meeting – in person – without a mask. I realized that it has been the first time in at least 4 months that I have been in a room with people without both them and me wearing a mask. When I went through cancer the first time, I didn’t…
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All marked up
Read more: All marked upOn Thursday we made our way into Halifax for my radiation marking appointment. When I arrived at check in, there was a distinct lack of information. The person at reception showed me where to change and told me where to wait after I was finished changing – however, she didn’t tell me how I needed…
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Some better news
Read more: Some better newsAfter much waiting during the day, my oncologist finally called. He said that next time I should go about my day normally, and if I miss his call he will call back – he makes sure he gets everyone who is scheduled for a phone consult. That is good to know. We talked about next…
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That dreaded 50%
Read more: That dreaded 50%Fifty percent was a number thrown out there, related to recurrence after a regional recurrence. This was the first time someone threw a number out there and it had me unsettled. When I meet with my oncologist next week, I will talk to him more about prognosis. I’ve done some research, and 50% is on…
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Radiation Therapy
Read more: Radiation TherapyThe main purpose of our trip to Halifax last week was to consult with the radiation oncologist about radiation therapy. While we were waiting, I picked up a copy of all the various handouts they give when you are having radiation therapy. They provided some really useful information specific to having radiation therapy at the…
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Scanxiety
Read more: ScanxietyIn my post from Tuesday, I mentioned that the radiation oncologist had ordered a head CT. This is to check to ensure there is no cancer in my brain – which is one of the places breast cancer likes to metastasize to. I’m amused that I can write that so nonchalantly without any emotion. I…
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Lymphedema
Read more: LymphedemaYesterday, I summarized the key points from our trip to Halifax to see the radiation oncologist. There were many different things discussed in that consultation and in my blog post that require further explanation. The first topic I want to address is lymphedema. Since I already have lymphedema on my right side, the oncologist informed…
