Hello Everyone:
It has been two weeks since my final radiation treatment. As promised, I am attaching a photo of the “blonde”. It was too hot to wear the skinny jeans so I opted for a linen dress – you can’t see them, but I’m wearing red stilettos. I had an appointment with my radiation oncologist and I had my head down reading when he came into the room – he had thought he went into the wrong treatment room – we had a good laugh. He said, the department was getting questions of “Who is the new hot doctor in radiation therapy?”. LOL!! The photo is a little blurry – but you get the idea.
They did warn me that sometimes things get a little worse before it gets better. Still takes time for the toxins and such to work its way through my system. I was lucky enough that my skin on my chest and back stayed intact during treatments. However, now I have rough and ugly patches and broken skin. Oh well – it’s bearable. I have purchased the strongest concentrated Vitamin E oil I could find – 28,000 I.U. I was going to buy the vitamin E capsules (which the most I found had 800 I.U.) and break them open – – until a girlfriend who I was shopping with said, “Why would you want to go through the hassle of breaking them?” So true. And glad she mentioned it. Not only do I have a much more concentrated dosage, it is much easier. WHAT was I thinking? I would have been entirely frustrated trying the first time around – and can you imagine how many of those little capsules I’d have to break open just to get good coverage?! Phew!!
What happens now? I live life and move forward as best I can. I was sitting on my balcony last Sunday, looking at the green foliage of the ravine and just thought, “Wow. What a year. I’m stil here and feeling all in all, not too bad.” I smiled to myself. How lucky I have been through all of this. From finding the lump last Labour Day, to getting tests done, seeing doctors, getting opinions, chemo & radiation treatments and having two surgeries – – it all seemed, looking back, to have gone quite smoothly. I really feel that it has been a ‘blip”. I have put all the bad feelings, the pain, the hurt, the sickness all behind me. I have erased those moments from my memory. Instead, I have chosen to focus on the positives – the support, the love, the laughs, & the wigs and hats.
Still, I have been hit with moments of fatigue and my body is feeling quite old again. I’m sure it will pass. It has to.
There are no scans or reports to say that all is ok. From what I gather, it is about how you feel and if there is anything abnormal, you’d report it to the doctors and have other tests done. My oncologist says that only 1% of reoccurences are found by check ups by the doctor. So continuous awareness of your body and health is very important. Although I don’t want to turn into a person that starts to worry about each and every little ache, pain, bump or lump – – but that said, I do have to pay attention.
My journey continues – – and I am so thrilled and happy to have these crazy treatments done and over with – – but, most of all, always grateful and blessed to know that you have all been with me every step of the way. Thank you!!
Live. Laugh. Love.
Your warrior,
Winnie xo
