One month check up

I had a follow up appointment with my radiation oncologist today and everything looks good! My skin is almost totally healed with only the slighest bit of pink. It healed much quicker than I thought it would. I'm very pleased with it!

Next week I see the medical oncologist to begin my regimen of Tamoxifen. I will have to continue to see someone every 6 months for the next few years, but other than that, cancer should be a memory and nothing more!

R&R

I have just spent the most relaxing, wonderful 7 days in recent memory.

Let me tell you, if you are unlucky enough to get cancer, you want to be married to a guy like Bart. Since my first mammography, he has been 100% supportive and generous. With tender, caring words and quiet actions, he has been my rock through and through. I don't think I would have handled the whole ordeal nearly as well without him by my side. He's been patient with my tiredness and constantly reminding me to take better care of myself.

Just when I thought he couldn't be any more wonderful, he sends me to Florida for 7 days of mandatory rest and relaxation. I didn't know that I needed to rest any more after taking it easy for 8 weeks, but I did! 7 days of only focusing on myself; of not thinking every minute about who needs what/needs to go where. Of not planning meals. Of not catering to the dogs. Of not tending the homestead. It's been heaven. Our last vacation with the kids was not relaxing: this was just the opposite. I didn't have to keep anyone entertained. I didn't have to keep track of their whereabouts. I didn't have to listen to "I'm bored" even once.

I have to say thanks also to my Dad & Carol, who have catered to my every whim and made this vacation possible. I am so grateful for the time you've given me to get back to me.

I am one lucky girl.

A week post radiation

It's been a busy few weeks around here. I've been meaning to post about life after radiation and just have been too tired to come up with words.

The first 2 days I didn't see any change. My skin was still scaly and red, tender and sensitive to the touch. When I woke up the third day, there was a big change. It looked like I had burned myself with a hot iron in the area where the boost was directed. Instantly everything made it hurt. I slathered lotions and ointments on it in an effort to stave off the irritation. Sleeping was difficult, as every time I flipped over, the skin under my arm pulled and stung.

By day 5 it was very scaly and hurt when I raised my arm. It just pulled the skin tight. I'd forget until I'd go to reach for something and feel the pull. But it passed within 2 days.

I started to peel, so I just keep moisturizing. The biggest spot of alligator skin has now turned into baby pink skin, tender and new.

I still have a lot of peeling to do, and fading of the brown pigment, but I think the worst of it has passed. All in all, it wasn't horrible...it was like a really bad sunburn. Uncomfortable and rough at first but tolerable.

And I got the best surprise from Bart. He booked me a flight to Florida for some mandatory R&R with my Dad & Stepmom at their condo on the beach. I leave Early Wednesday morning and I get to stay for a whole week. I am one lucky girl. Of course I'm going to have to keep my burned skin out of the sun, but there's plenty of me not burned that could use a little warm sunshine. It's going to be so awesome.