Archive | July 2011

Winnie’s Warriors #14 | The last Leg Begins …

Hello Everyone:
 
I received word on Tuesday that my radiation treatments will begin tomorrow, Thursday, July 28th. I actually had put out into the universe the thought of my radiation oncologist changing his mind/opinion on radiation therapy for me……but alas, it was not to be….*le sigh
 
No matter – the sooner this starts, the sooner it ends. 25 treatments. Generally on weekdays except for statutory holidays. So, I am figuring that I should be done by the time Labour Day weekend starts (unless there are problems with machine breakdowns and the such – which I am told happens from time to time). Should that be the case, it would be just about 1 year to the day that I found the lump (it was the Labour Day weekend 2010). Amazing isn’t it?!
 
Not sure what to expect.  The last 2 weeks have taken its toll on me. The wondering, the uncertainty, the ‘just want to get a date to get things started’, the restless nights and feeling anxious…..it’s exhausting! I don’t know what to expect – but will give you an update after a few treatments. I’m not worried. Just a little apprehensive because it is another unknown that I am venturing into. However, I am hopeful that in my next update, I’ll write the usual, “it’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be!”  *big grin & smile
 
Good news: (there is always the good news) THIS IS IT. No more other treatment. The last of any cancer cells will be gone (fingers crossed) and the focus will turn to full recovery and getting back my stride and ‘mo-jo’. (LOL). I am looking forward to it. I can’t begin to say how tired I am of this!! I was just beginning to feel and look like the old me since my return from Paris. I’ve actually gotten rid of the extra “chemo-weight/fat”. To think, I went to Paris for 2 weeks, indulged in butter, cream and wine and still managed to lose a little weight – – – how’s that instead of going to Weight Watchers!! LOL.
 
Another small piece of good news: I actually golfed 18 holes last Sunday. I figured I should try before the radiation starts. Shot a 94. (42 on the front 9 and 52 on the back – yes – blow up). However, I was happy about the round. Not bad since I haven’t golfed 18 holes since last Labour Day weekend. There is hope yet my friends!!
 
Take care. Big hugs to all of you. Incredibly lucky to have all your positive energy with me during this journey.
Winnie xo
This entry was posted on July 27, 2011.

Winnie’s Warriors #13

Hello Everyone:
Fitting to write my 13th update on the 13th!
 
I have returned from Paris. What a wonderful place to recoup and gather my strength and senses. It was a fantastic trip and even though I was on my own for most of the time, it was absolutely the best decision to go. I shopped, had fabulous french food, walked, biked, laughed, smiled,  talked to strangers (my french has improved a lot!) and saw a caberet show.  I was a true “flaneur”:
The term flâneur  comes from the french masculine noun flâneur—which has the basic meanings of “stroller”, “lounger”, “saunterer”, “loafer”—which itself comes from the French verb flâner, which means “to stroll”. Charles Baudelaire developed a derived meaning of flâneur—that of “a person who walks the city in order to experience it”. Because of the term’s usage and theorization by Baudelaire and numerous thinkers in economic, cultural, literary and historical fields, the idea of the flâneur has accumulated significant meaning as a referent for understanding urban phenomena and modernity.
Flâneur is not limited to someone committing the physical act of peripatetic stroll in the Baudelairian sense, but can also include a “complete philosophical way of living and thinking“.
Now – on to the business at hand – – I saw Dr. Maclean, my radiation oncologist on Monday (11th). We agreed that doing some radiation therapy is prudent. I’m not thrilled about it, but I accept it. In a way, it is a little bit of risk management and deep down I know it is the right thing for me to do. I have thought long and hard about it and ready to start. Later today, I will be heading back to the hospital to do a planning session (simulation) that has to do done before treatment can begin. It is a CT simulator that will take images or scans, which provides a picture of the area to be treated. The pictures will help them decipher how to direct the radiation to my body. It is a map and I will be marked up so that the radiation is targeted to the same area each time. What I will be going through is “external beam radiation therapy”. Good news is that is doesn’t make you radioactive, so that means it is safe for me to be with other people right after my treatment! (Phew – no solitary confinement! – haha). Although, it could have been cool if I did get some superpowers…….
 
The actual treatments (25 in total – 5 days/week for 5 weeks) will start in the next week or so. I’ll keep you posted once I have more information and give you an update on how I feel and how things are going. Don’t know what to expect – – all I know is that it’s not supposed to hurt! Mainly fatigue.
 
We’re in the last legs of this beast of a disease – and I believe that things will only get better! Thank you all again for your prayers and well wishes. I couldn’t have come this far, so well without you.
 
Big hugs,
Winnie xo
This entry was posted on July 13, 2011.