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.

C-Last Round-D7

Days 4 - 6 passed uneventfully.  Stomach is still a little rocky but nothing that keeps me from eating what I want to, though it does have a tendency to keep the portions smaller.  That is one tendency that wouldn't be bad to have around after the effects begin to really wear off.  I am walking about 3.6 miles every morning.  I start out jogging but don't make it very far before the walking takes over.  My jog is barely past a walk anyway so I figure I might as well let myself get a little stronger before any serious jogging.  It takes me about an hour whether I jog or not so there you go.  It's usually fairly cool with often a breeze and I have great audio books to listen to.  I'm not getting any online grading jobs right now but I have the Praxis tests grading confirmed for next week.  More folks looking for jobs as teachers...many need to reconsider.  I see my radiologist next week to map out a treatment plan for the radiation of my chest wall and under arm areas that could most likely be hit by any leftover microscopic cancer cells.  I can't imagine that any are still standing after the chemo, but these are all precautions to keep a cancer from sneaking back to these two areas later.  It's a great day here in KC with low temp and low humidity, not something you get often in summer time.  Hope you had time for a walk today.

C-R6-D3---Last Round of Chemo

Wednesday was my last chemo treatment and I had my magic shot yesterday.  Today, of course, is a yucky day while I wait for my stomach to right itself.....for the last time.  I see the doctor in three weeks to get what I hope are my final walking papers from his office, at least for a while.  I don't know how often I will see the oncologist, but I am sure he will give me an oral prescription of some kind.  I will be getting in touch with the radiologist soon to set up a planning session for my radiation treatments.  I am assuming I will be going to her office every day (except weekends) for at least 30 days which is pretty much standard treatment.  My next big milestone, other than getting through these next two or three days, is seeing my hair begin to grow.  Yeah!!!!!  It will be at least a  month I think.  I guess the hair follicles have to wake up from their 4 months sleep to realize that the coast is clear and the Pac-troops have  vacated the war zone.    Can't wait to see the new "do". 

C-R5-D14

Feeling good.  Had a good weekend.  Drove down to Springfield to see the family.  Good food, good stories, especially the ones about losing things. :)  My energy levels are good and my stamina on the jog/walks is improving.  I cut 5 minutes off my 3.6 mile jog/walk time this morning.  Good thing it was cool and a nice breeze blowing.  I am looking foward to my last chemo treatment tomorrow and having as good a recovery week as I had this last round.  I will see the doctor to get my send-off appointment and probably a 5-year prescription for an oral medication to continue to fight the development of cancer cell growth.  I will then make plans to begin my radiation therapy in the next few weeks. I look forward to continuing my physical improvements and getting back to my previous activities.  Try a walk in the morning and enjoy the start of a new day.