Radiation and other updates
Radiation Therapy has not been half as bad as the chemotherapy. The only hassle is the time it takes to drive down there and back. The skin that is being radiated is getting brown like a tan. They say at the end, I may have something like a sunburn. It's like going to the tanning salon. You go in, disrobe in a dressing room, put on a gown, wait in a waiting room, get taken to the treatment room, take off your gown, lie on the cold table and get lined up. The radiology techs line you up according to their diagnostic plan for you. They right on me with a sharpie pen to tell them where to place the beam. I have about 8 marks all over my chest and I have to wear clothes that cover it. Most of my clothes show the middle marks, so Rick and I went out and bought some higher tops for me to wear to work. Luckily, it is getting into the cooler seasons and I can break out the turtlenecks. By the time you read this paragraph, I would be done with one of my radiation treatment session (that's how long it takes).
I have 4 more weeks and a couple days to go, so hopefully, by Christmas I'll be done. They are not sure. They do radiation on Thanksgiving and Christmas, too, so there is no stopping it.
Hey, it could be worse. They have some of the saddest cases in there. Some women are just trying to survive. They have tumors that need to be shrunk first before they can operate and some have to be brought by ambulance. I know some of their diagnoses are not good and I fear I won't see them here before I am done.
When I am in the waiting room, I wear this poncho I made out of a fleece blanket . It makes it so easy to take off the thing and get on the table. I have been given compliments on it and I decided I am going to donate 10 of these to the center.
Wondering about the gene testing? Well, I just got the results back yesterday. It turns out I do not have either of the breast cancer genes and they think it was a mulitude of factors that caused my cancer. I still have a 20% chance of getting breast cancer recurring or it coming in the other breast. That seems really high to me. The genetic counselor said that she sees many women who decided not to get the second mastectomy who really wish they did because they worry so much. Also, they go back for their mammograms and will find lumps and then the lumpectomy starts again and possibly the chemotherapy and radiation again. Oh man, I just don't want to do that.
So, I am going to go for a consultation with my breast surgeon, Alice Police MD, and see if she agrees with me. So far, I have had so many people try to tell me it is up to me, but I can tell by the way they talk that I would have much less stress. So, as much as I HATE surgery, I am highly considering it. Especially since, as I said before, they are going to have to do surgery on the other one to make it match the new one. They look ridiculous right now. Like I'm winking or something.
I went through a depressive phase about this about two weeks ago and now I'm more in the acceptance part of it. I just keep trying to look at the big picture and the most important thing is surviving and getting back to life.
FYI: Exercise can lower your overall risk of cancer
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=43005
Exercise is good for more than just your waistline. A recent study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's Seventh Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research suggests that regular physical activity can lower a woman's overall risk of cancer - but only if she gets a good night's sleep. Otherwise, lack of sleep can undermine exercise's cancer prevention benefits.
Hi Julie
I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the radiation was less challenging than the chemo. Excellent!
Good news and bad news with the gene testing and recurrence potential. Fabulous that you do not have the unwanted gene but the rate of reoccurrence is troubling even though it is only 20%. I actually know some women who decided they did not wish to live with the anxiety of the recurrence deciding to proceed with a second mastectomy and reconstruction preferring to take no chances. Years later they feel they made the correct decision. I can see why you would be considering this approach ~ it is a personal decision however partly based on risk tolerence.
Tough to choose more surgery and hard to chooose the anxiety of not knowing. Difficult decision huh. What do most woman choose??
Love Brian
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Do the surgery. It's preventative medicine and it could save your life. (And you'll have a matching pair as a perk.)
P.S. You're amazing...........
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