Done, Done, and Done

No more treatments, no more doctors (for at least a month) and no more cancer.  Friday was my last radiation treatment and other than this blog, I didn't really have to think about cancer much at all.  My radiation-burned skin is healing nicely and some areas areas area actually fading away.  My arm movements are back to normal.  What a glorious day in the neighborhood.  I also had a job interview last Friday with Johnson County Community College for a part-time worker in their assessment office.  I think it went well.  They have a few more interviews to do this week and then will give the lucky two or three a call-back for a second interview later this week.  I am also completing paperwork to be a substitute teacher in the Shawnee Mission School District where I live (the daily pay rate is very good!).  The JCCC job is only three days/nights a week so other days at my discretion could be spent subbing with unsuspecting rugrats who don't know me from Adam.   If you're going to be a sub that would seem to be a good situation to walk into and out of at the end of the day.  So here's to a good week and a possible job that would be a great fit for me.  

Radiation Therapy--Round 1--Last Day

I had my 25th and last radiation treatment of the chest wall and underarm area today.  My chest wall is healing nicely due to the week off and my underarm area is easily irritated by clothing and stretching.  It feels like my underarm skin area is a couple of sizes too small.  :)  But, this too shall pass.  My radiologist drew an interesting diagram on my masectomy scar area for five extra treatments next week to once again try to destroy any microscopic cancer cells that still might have a microscopic brain cell to think with.  This only chemotherapy/radiation therapy regimen has fought to serve this same purpose and I have to believe that they were successful.  So one more week and I can take some time off from cancer doctors and treatments and attempt to put cancer in the back of my mind for awhile.  My new focus will be on trying to find some part time work and continuing to monitor my hair growth.  It appears that gray will be my predominant color for the time being anyway.  :)  I had a nice cool jog this morning though still sweating when I got done.  I'm getting a little stronger and a little faster.  I have yet to jog the whole four-mile loop but I am walking the uphills only a couple of time now.  Mind over matter at this point.  Get out there and take advantage of this nice "cool" weekend coming up....at least around KC anyway. 

Radiation Therapy--Holding at 20

The lift-off for completing breast cancer therapy has been put on hold at 20.  The doctor wanted to give my skin a rest before completing the last five radiation treatments.  The skin looked a lot worse than it felt, but the doctor did not want it to get any worse.  I have never had any pain from the chest area, but the irritation under my arm has bee aggravating.  So I am just hanging out this week letting my skin breathe.  It looks a lot better today, if I do say so myself.  I will go back next Monday and hopefully they will let me finish the cycle.  I may have a few extra treatments under my arm the following week.  I'm still hanging in there with my 6 a.m. jog/walks.  I look forward to getting into cooler weather so I can turn that alarm off.   

Radiation--Day 15

Two-thirds done and I am building up quite a radiation skin burn.  A neat little 6 by 6 inch square that is being zapped every day.  No real pain, but it really itches especially at night.  I have a sulfa cream to help the healing process so that I can keep going for another 10 treatments.  I can use aloe vera gel and hydrocortisone cream for itching and a couple other things if I choose to.  I don't want to have to stop for a break so I hope the sulfa cream does it's job well.  Having Saturday and Sunday off should help, but it could get to the peeling, blistering stage with another 10 treatments.  Hope not.....but probably will according to the nurse and doctor.  My scalp is beginning to darken with some hair growth but it is a really painfully slow process.    I saw the oncologist this week and all my blood work is still getting better as my body recovers from the chemo.  I'll start taking tamoxifen once I get through with radiation.  I feel good and am looking forward to having cancer activities take a back burner this fall.  I'll still see the doctors every few months but I'm going to look for a part-time job of some sort to get me out of the house and busy with other things.
It's been a long 6 months looking back but it has gone by very fast.  I don't want a repeat performance.
It would be nice if the hot weather would take a break but that doesn't look like it's happening any time soon so I will continue my jog/walk at 6:00 a.m. for now.  That's not a bad time of the day to get going.

Radiation--Day 10

Nine treatments down, sixteen to go.  No ill effects so far and only faint skin reactions.  Actually I'm not sure my skin is reacting at all, but it probably should be according to what they tell me. :)  I go back to my oncologist next Wednesday for another blood analysis and a quick check-in.  I will probabaly get a prescription to tamoxifin for the next five years.  My head looks like a budding chia pet  with just some darkening fuzz on the top.  Slow but sure.  I have heard that there is some research out there into using those commericial hair products to speed up growth but I don't think I'm there yet.  I'm doing my 4-mile jog-walk every morning.  It used to take me an hour and now I'm down to 54 minutes.  That's probably where it will stay until the weather gets a little cooler.  It's basically just one of those "get 'er done" kind of tasks that I am glad to check off early in the morning.  I am also trying to do some toning exercises in the afternoon, a little abs work, and some upper body conditioning.  I'm not very consistent with those, but it can only get better.  Heat is building this week so you have to get out early to enjoy some morning movement. 

Radiation Day 1

I saw my oncologist yesterday to get a final checkup and all of the blood count numbers are good.  He said that they should continue to increase as my body continues to outgrow the effects of chemo.  He said that I could notice some beginning hair growth as early as next week.  Then it would probably take about three months to grow to about an inch in length.  So that means possibly my own hair length back by Christmas.
He gave me the go ahead for radiation treatments and wants to see me again in three weeks to see how that is going.  He will then probably prescirbe Tamoxifin for me to take orally over the next five years.  I'm already scheduled for my first radiation treatment this afternoon.  We will then set up a daily M-F schedule for the next five weeks. It's about a 20 minute drive to the clinic and about 15 minutes or so for a treatment once we get going.  So looks like about an hour a day will be on my schedule for July.   It's good to see gas prices going down.  :)    I'm still taking my daily walk/jog each morning and have been adding in some afternoon upper body and toning exercises.  It must be working since I have been sore from the new demands on my muscles.  Looks like we are going to have a few sweltering days of heat in good old KC
so stay cool and Happy 4th of July.

Radiation Go

I have deemed chemotherapy officially over as of yesterday since it would have been the first day of a new cycle.  I will have a relaxing celebration of its end overy dinner with friends tomorrow night.  Now all I have to do is keep my new and improved cells reproducing at faster rate and enjoy the increased energy, losing the runny nose, healing up residual mouth issues and watching for fuzz to begin growing on my head (and elsewhere that hair should be).  I saw my radiologist today, we took some pictures, and set up my radiology therapy schedule.  I will begin next Thursday and continue M-F for about 5 weeks.  If all has gone well, she wants to do some extra "bonus" treatments under my arm since that is where the cancer was trying to set up shop with its nasty tendrils of alien cancer cells.  That could produce some extra sore spots under my arm, but her positive remark was....skin will reproduce itself in a while and we don't want any microscopic cancer cells taking up residence in their old homestead.  My walking/jogging stamina is beginning to build back up and my jogging time is starting to overtake my walking time.  I'm down from a 60-minute walk to a 46-49 minute jog/walk.  I need to get my weight band routine going again along with those wonderful sit-ups and push-ups for some increased upper body workouts.  I'm having some company this weekend and going to a Royals game.  A good time will be had by all----I wish you the same.