On Course

I had the verification scan on Monday. It was pretty easy. They just lined me up like I was getting the radiation and took pictures instead of zapping me.

I have had 4 radiation treatments now. I lay down face up on a table and they call out a few numbers to make sure I am in the correct position, then the radiation machine moves around me to get lined up and I get zapped. The do this in two different positions. Every other day they lay a wet towel on me at the radiation site. They told me this "tricks" the machine into targeting my skin. When they don't use the wet towel they radiate my chest wall. That way they are able to radiate the area above and below the cancer site to make sure it all gets zapped.

The whole appointment only takes 15 minutes. After the appointment I come home and put aloe on the area because sometimes it feels like it is sunburnt even though there is no redness yet.

My head keeps getting fuzzier and it looks blonde or maybe strawberry blonde.

Radiation........again

Plans are for the verification scan tomorrow and the radiation to start Tuesday. Hopefully nothing happens to postpone it again.

Murphy's Law

Well, I was getting kind of excited that March 5th would be my last day of radiation but then I received a call yesterday (Monday)morning from the radiologist. The computers are down and they don't expect them to be up again until at least Tuesday. Just as I was going to call today (Tuesday) to see if the computers were up and when my verification scan might be, they called to tell me that they weren't going to be able to do it today and maybe not tomorrow. They will call me in the morning to let me know. They are still trying to catch up with those that are already in the middle of there treatments. I certainly understand, if I was one of those already in the middle of my treatments I would hope they would do the same thing.
So I may have to push my last treatment out a couple of days to a week, oh well, that's the way the ball bounces or cookie crumbles or whatever.....

Radiation Time

At my doctor appt on January 5th I scheduled a Simulatiom Planning Scan for Jan 8th. At that appt they scanned my chest to put a plan together for radiation. I will have a verification scan on Monday Jan 16th to make sure that the plan they put together will work, then radiation will start on Tuesday. I am told that the side effects are minimal and are mostly skin related, kind of a sunburn in the area they radiate and dry skin. However, there is always risk with a laser being pointed at the side of your chest were your heart is. The plan is to have radiation for 35 days (7 weeks). Barring any snow storms or the machine breaking down I should be done with radiation March 5th! Hooray!

I think my hair is getting longer! At least, my head is getting fuzzier!!

Lately I have had people come up to me and ask what type of cancer I am being treated for. I guess the scarf is a dead giveaway! I have heard many stories of treatment, hair loss and survival of many different types of cancer and each one of those stories are inspirational!

A New Year

Here we are... A brand new year! I am really looking forward to the newness of a new year. A new start if you will. My family (my Mom and brothers and sisters, as well as my husband and children) have had a very emotionally difficult year.
It is time for new beginnings and looking forward to a brand new year!

I had my first Herceptin only infusion appointment on December 28th. That was a piece of cake compared to my fulll regimen that ended on December 7th. It only took an hour and no side effects with the Herceptin! YEA!! Getting back to feeling and eating well and starting to exercise. It feels so good! My hair is staring to grow again, my head is getting fuzzy, fuzzy wuzzy was a bear.......

I have an appointment with my Radiology Oncologist on January 5th to find out when I will be starting radiation. I am told they usually start right away. I know I will be having the radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks but the sooner I start the sooner I am done!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and Hannuka and I hope you all have a great 2012!