Coming down to the wire, friends ! Today will be my last 'main' radiation treatment; then 4 ''booster' treatments on a smaller area (same location). I'll be done radiation completely next Monday, March 2. There will be a follow-up appointment with my radiation doctor and then that will be it. This Thursday, I also go to a lymphodema clinic to learn about future care of the arm on the surgery side - left, in my case. Because of the number of lymph nodes that were removed, I can never use that arm for blood pressure readings or blood sampling again - nothing that will restrict fluid flow. Plus, there are some other restrictions and care, all to avoid swelling in that arm. Something new to learn every day !
I have come through the radiation treatments quite well - I have a burn area 8" x 6" on my chest wall - surgery site - but no blistering or cracking, as was mentioned in the initial warnings. I have hydrocortisone cream to apply twice daily and that keeps me comfortable. The burn is red, like a sunburn, but doesn't have that burning sensation, fortunately - just a tightness in certain spots. It will recover and heal, of course. And - I now have eyebrow 'stubble', where my eyebrows are starting to regrow! Eyelashes are showing up, too, and my 'halo' continues to show up in the light more and more. I've learned this winter that you really do lose a lot of body heat from your head!
My dear sister is still in hospital in Ottawa, recovering from her dreadful fall. She will move to a short-term rehabilitation centre at another hospital later this week, since she would not be able to manage at home yet. Most of her injuries are on the left side - broken wrist, dislocated shoulder, possible concussion, six broken ribs, a cut from left eyebrow to hairline, another cut below her left ear on her throat from the mug, needing 13 stitches, plus lots of bruising -and she will need time before she can do stairs and lots of other things. Please remember her in your prayers.
Thank you again for your prayers for me during this time of illness. There's a big light at the end of the tunnel ! I'll still be getting the trial drug, Avastin, every three weeks until the end of September, but after March 2, my life should be more or less back to normal.
May God's presence be known to you this week.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Update - Monday, February 16, 2009
I am happy to be able to report another good week. I continue to feel less tired and able to function more normally. I had all my scheduled radiation treatments and was able to have my Avastin treatment on Thursday as well. Blood pressure continues to be an issue with that but I just made it 'under the wire'. I am starting to have redness of skin in the chest area - you could practically put a ruler on it as the edges are quite clearly defined - but that is not only expected but desired, according to the radiation technicians. The tumour was quite close to my chest wall and they want to 'dose' the skin as well as the muscles in that area. I have been given hydrocortisone cream for the redness and it is helping.
David had to be in Toronto Thursday and Friday of the week, so my daughter came and drove me to Windsor for my appointments those days. It was great to have time with her and we got in a little 'shopping time' after I was finished at the Cancer Centre. I have been so thankful for the support and encouragement of my family during this time. David was back in time to treat us to a most enjoyable dinner out for Valentine's Day, also much appreciated, complete with flowers.
I would ask for your prayers this week for my sister, though. She mis-stepped on her way to her bedroom Saturday night in the dark and fell down the entire staircase at her home, hitting a bench at the bottom of it as well. She had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital and has suffered broken ribs on both sides, a broken left wrist, dislocated left shoulder and many bumps and bruises. She was carrying a mug of hot milk; the mug struck the wall and cut her throat as well as her forehead and she has stitches in both locations. I have spoken to her several times by phone (she lives in Ottawa) and she seems better today but I am not able to go to see her because of my treatmenr schedule and that is hard. This will be a lot for her from which to recover; we don't bounce back quite a quickly as we get older.
I have received Valentines and Valentine gifts this week ! Thank you for remembering me still and for your kindness. Thank you also, of course, for your prayers. I never know who all is praying for me and it is comforting and touching to be out somewhere, meet someone I haven't seen for a while and have the conversation close with - "Oh - and I pray for you daily." It's really very humbling but I appreciate it so much and feel that it is one of the main reasons why I have been able to deal with this illness as well as I have.
May God be with you this week and may you be conscious of His presence with you.
David had to be in Toronto Thursday and Friday of the week, so my daughter came and drove me to Windsor for my appointments those days. It was great to have time with her and we got in a little 'shopping time' after I was finished at the Cancer Centre. I have been so thankful for the support and encouragement of my family during this time. David was back in time to treat us to a most enjoyable dinner out for Valentine's Day, also much appreciated, complete with flowers.
I would ask for your prayers this week for my sister, though. She mis-stepped on her way to her bedroom Saturday night in the dark and fell down the entire staircase at her home, hitting a bench at the bottom of it as well. She had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital and has suffered broken ribs on both sides, a broken left wrist, dislocated left shoulder and many bumps and bruises. She was carrying a mug of hot milk; the mug struck the wall and cut her throat as well as her forehead and she has stitches in both locations. I have spoken to her several times by phone (she lives in Ottawa) and she seems better today but I am not able to go to see her because of my treatmenr schedule and that is hard. This will be a lot for her from which to recover; we don't bounce back quite a quickly as we get older.
I have received Valentines and Valentine gifts this week ! Thank you for remembering me still and for your kindness. Thank you also, of course, for your prayers. I never know who all is praying for me and it is comforting and touching to be out somewhere, meet someone I haven't seen for a while and have the conversation close with - "Oh - and I pray for you daily." It's really very humbling but I appreciate it so much and feel that it is one of the main reasons why I have been able to deal with this illness as well as I have.
May God be with you this week and may you be conscious of His presence with you.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Update - Sunday, February 8, 2009
Well, I have better news for you this week. Everything has gone according to schedule and I am also less tired than I have been for the last two weeks...actually feeling almost normal again. I saw my oncologist Monday and in the course of check-up questions realized that several things had improved without me noticing - my mouth lining is not bothering me any more, the tingling in my fingers only remains in my index fingers and thumbs and my big toes are not as sensitive - shoes don't hurt as much. So - gradual improvements and recovery from that last type of chemo. I still have to finish growing out my 'chemo nails' - we're about halfway on that. My blood pressure numbers weren't too good, though, so I was sent back to my family doctor, who is trying me on another medication which seems to be working already. Another improvement ! So, all in all, the news this week has been positive.
I am about the halfway point in my radiation treatments - Friday was #14 out of 29. No skin problems so far either. David will have to go out of town again this week so my daughter will come to drive me Thursday and Friday; it will be very good to see her again and will give her a chance to see where I have been going all these months.
The weather is changing again; temperatures have risen above freezing since Friday and there has been a lot of snow melt. Where we had drifts and snow piles higher than the cars in some areas we now have green patches showing through; we may lose all the snow if it continues and may have another danger of flooding, depending on how quickly it goes. It's been great to have the sunny days, though!
Thank you again for your cards and prayers - I'm so thankful for my good week.
I am about the halfway point in my radiation treatments - Friday was #14 out of 29. No skin problems so far either. David will have to go out of town again this week so my daughter will come to drive me Thursday and Friday; it will be very good to see her again and will give her a chance to see where I have been going all these months.
The weather is changing again; temperatures have risen above freezing since Friday and there has been a lot of snow melt. Where we had drifts and snow piles higher than the cars in some areas we now have green patches showing through; we may lose all the snow if it continues and may have another danger of flooding, depending on how quickly it goes. It's been great to have the sunny days, though!
Thank you again for your cards and prayers - I'm so thankful for my good week.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Update - February 1, 2009
This is the longest I have gone without updating the blog - 2 weeks today! That will perhaps give you some idea of my fatigue level. However, I'll bring you up to date today.
First of all, I was able to have my Avastin treatment Jan. 22, so I am now on track to have this every 3 weeks until September...unless my blood pressure numbers get too high again, I guess. Everything went as it was supposed to and there was no problem with my port, as I have had before. Takes about 45 min. to 1 hr.
Secondly, I have now had 9 radiation treatments in the last 2 weeks (the first day was a check film to make sure all alignments were correct.) There doesn't seem to be a lot to them - I just lie there on the guerney while the machine moves around me; I get 4 'shots' - front and back for lymph glands above my collar bone and also for my chest wall. The only way I know that anything is happening is the noise from the machine when it's radiating me - sounds like a little bagpipe drone. No pain, no heat - no sensation at all. It takes about 15 min. for the whole treatment but there's only about 1 min. 30 seconds combined of radiation. The rest is positioning, aligning and so on. Add to that 70 min. driving each way, plus a stop usually for lunch. Doesn't sound too bad but as the week goes along, I find myself getting more and more tired. I usually have to lie down for a while when we get home and am heading for bed around 9:00 p.m. most nights. My skin is fine so far - no sign of reddening anywhere from the radiation. I use lotion on the area most nights and so far, so good. Compared to the chemo treatments, there doesn't seem to be much actually happening to my body but the fatigue I am experiencing tells me otherwise.
So - 2 weeks done, 4 weeks plus a day to go. David drives me faithfully almost every day. He had to be in Toronto this past week and my sister was able to drive me Thursday and Friday. It was good to have some time with her. The weather has been co-operative for the most part; this past Wed. was not good but David has lots of experience in bad weather and we were fine. It continues to snow and we have had the laneway ploughed out another 3 times - brings us up to a total of 8.
Thank you again for your ongoing prayers as well as your cards. I appreciate them so much.
Here's the verse that was in my little devotional book last Wed. - "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction." Mark 5:34. I found it very comforting.
First of all, I was able to have my Avastin treatment Jan. 22, so I am now on track to have this every 3 weeks until September...unless my blood pressure numbers get too high again, I guess. Everything went as it was supposed to and there was no problem with my port, as I have had before. Takes about 45 min. to 1 hr.
Secondly, I have now had 9 radiation treatments in the last 2 weeks (the first day was a check film to make sure all alignments were correct.) There doesn't seem to be a lot to them - I just lie there on the guerney while the machine moves around me; I get 4 'shots' - front and back for lymph glands above my collar bone and also for my chest wall. The only way I know that anything is happening is the noise from the machine when it's radiating me - sounds like a little bagpipe drone. No pain, no heat - no sensation at all. It takes about 15 min. for the whole treatment but there's only about 1 min. 30 seconds combined of radiation. The rest is positioning, aligning and so on. Add to that 70 min. driving each way, plus a stop usually for lunch. Doesn't sound too bad but as the week goes along, I find myself getting more and more tired. I usually have to lie down for a while when we get home and am heading for bed around 9:00 p.m. most nights. My skin is fine so far - no sign of reddening anywhere from the radiation. I use lotion on the area most nights and so far, so good. Compared to the chemo treatments, there doesn't seem to be much actually happening to my body but the fatigue I am experiencing tells me otherwise.
So - 2 weeks done, 4 weeks plus a day to go. David drives me faithfully almost every day. He had to be in Toronto this past week and my sister was able to drive me Thursday and Friday. It was good to have some time with her. The weather has been co-operative for the most part; this past Wed. was not good but David has lots of experience in bad weather and we were fine. It continues to snow and we have had the laneway ploughed out another 3 times - brings us up to a total of 8.
Thank you again for your ongoing prayers as well as your cards. I appreciate them so much.
Here's the verse that was in my little devotional book last Wed. - "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction." Mark 5:34. I found it very comforting.
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