Today I had my 11th radiation treatment. Everyone keeps asking me how I feel and if the radiation makes me tired or if there are any bad side effects. In all honesty I really have to say that I don't know. The doctor said it might make me feel tired. Well I felt tired before I started radiation because I had just finished my chemo treatments and had a hysterectomy. He also said there might be some redness or blistering of the skin in the breast area or under my arm. That hasn't happened yet so hopefully that won't be a problem. So all in all I guess radiation is a 'piece of cake' compared to chemo, so whoever it was that told me that, they were right.
I have 22 more treatments to complete this phase of my recovery and then I'll see Dr. Harrington again. After that I should only have to see her about every 3 months for a year or so. I also will have another mammogram in September and see Dr. Hagans my breast surgeon and then I don't know how often I will have to see him for checkups and mammograms. It does at last feel like I can actually almost touch the light at the end of the tunnel. This is a great feeling and I am hoping and praying that things continue to go well and that the cancer stays gone!
Really I'm actually feeling pretty good even though I still have a low energy level. Last week I had a stomach bug and I was so sick. As I was sitting on the throne with a trash can in my arms, sweating like crazy, I thought how ironic that I went through chemo and was never sick. I was also reminded of how fortunate I was to have gone through all my chemo treatments without being sick because I know there are a lot of folks who have been very ill during theirs.
All in all life is good and I'm happy to be in it!
PS: The cyst did have a tumor which was a low grade stage one cancer and since all they do for stage one is to remove it, I don't need any further treatment for that. So I never have to see that Dr. again. Hallejuhah!
Spider surgery! It's over! Yippee!!
Hello all! Well surgery is over, I'm doing great just a bit sore but Dr. Stone used the Da Vinci Robotic system to do the surgery so I'm actually doing great! The anesthesiologist said he was using the Michael Jackson drug to put me to sleep but he knew what he was doing. LOL I found that reassuring. He was such a happy guy when he came into the room I asked him if he'd been on the gas himself. I did get to see the robot machine but it was up against the wall so of course I didn't get to see it in action. As soon as I saw my doctors face I was a gonner and woke up 4 hours later in recovery. It took 4 hours to do the surgery, but the nurse was telling us that when they first started using the system it took 13 hours. She told me this because she said they tilt you up with your head down and that I might have some swelling in my face so not to be alarmed. It's amazing what you can learn if you ask questions! LOL
The questionable cyst was sent off to pathology and I'll know the results when I go back for my follow up on July 20th, but everything else in the area there looked good and was clear of disease. I spent the nite in the hospital and the highlight of the evening was when my friend Debbie came to visit and pick up mom.
Her and my mother were discussing the way the room was setup. Since the hospital has now gone to all private rooms, in the old part of the hospital, which is where I was, the rooms now only have one bed. Well the bed was near the window and mom and Debbie discussed how it would be much better for me if the bed was on the other side of the room and it would also make it easier for any visitors. Debbie is one of those people who needs to be doing something and I could tell it was really bothering her, so I asked her if she wanted rearrange the room and she said yes she did. So I got up and her and mom rearranged the room. There was a buzzing that wouldn't stop after they got everything changed so I called the nurse, but we realized before she got there that it was the bed buzzing because it had not been locked.
When the nurse walked in she just cracked up but did say that it was much better that way. In fact every nurse or anyone who came in that worked there made comments about how much better the room was. I tried to catch the action on my camera on video but because I was so loopy on all the meds I didn't manage to get it done. It was really entertaining though watching them unplug this and that and I decided if you ever need a room rearranged or decorated, call Debbie, she can get it done!
Now as I wait to hear about the results of the biopsies, I'll go Monday the 13th to be molded, marked and ct scanned to start my radiation on Wednesday. I'll have 33 treatments so if I don't have to miss any, I should be finished by the end of August. One more step is complete in my road to recovery and I start the last Wednesday. I'm feeling good even with my sore belly and as always, thankful for your prayers and support.
The questionable cyst was sent off to pathology and I'll know the results when I go back for my follow up on July 20th, but everything else in the area there looked good and was clear of disease. I spent the nite in the hospital and the highlight of the evening was when my friend Debbie came to visit and pick up mom.
Her and my mother were discussing the way the room was setup. Since the hospital has now gone to all private rooms, in the old part of the hospital, which is where I was, the rooms now only have one bed. Well the bed was near the window and mom and Debbie discussed how it would be much better for me if the bed was on the other side of the room and it would also make it easier for any visitors. Debbie is one of those people who needs to be doing something and I could tell it was really bothering her, so I asked her if she wanted rearrange the room and she said yes she did. So I got up and her and mom rearranged the room. There was a buzzing that wouldn't stop after they got everything changed so I called the nurse, but we realized before she got there that it was the bed buzzing because it had not been locked.
When the nurse walked in she just cracked up but did say that it was much better that way. In fact every nurse or anyone who came in that worked there made comments about how much better the room was. I tried to catch the action on my camera on video but because I was so loopy on all the meds I didn't manage to get it done. It was really entertaining though watching them unplug this and that and I decided if you ever need a room rearranged or decorated, call Debbie, she can get it done!
Now as I wait to hear about the results of the biopsies, I'll go Monday the 13th to be molded, marked and ct scanned to start my radiation on Wednesday. I'll have 33 treatments so if I don't have to miss any, I should be finished by the end of August. One more step is complete in my road to recovery and I start the last Wednesday. I'm feeling good even with my sore belly and as always, thankful for your prayers and support.
Clear Scans and blue skies!
Wednesday I went to see Dr. Harrington my oncologist for the results of my scans on Monday June 29th. The last ones had been clear so I was hoping that these would too and they were. I didn't sleep much the night before. I didn't have to go there for another chemo treatment and that was great, but even though I had a positive feeling about the scans, hearing the all clear from the doctor was what I was waiting for.
It's been 3 and half weeks since my last chemo and I'm beginning to get some strength back. I don't feel as tired and I'm not as short of breath. I can actually walk out to my mailbox and back without feeling exhausted! At the end of my work day I don't feel as tired and I even drove a van full of clients to Little Rock last week which I haven't been able to do since about the middle of my chemo. I have stubbles on my head so my hair is beginning to grow back but it will be awhile before you can actually see any.
Tomorrow I go to Little Rock to UAMS for my pre operation work and test for my hysterectomy on Thursday. Even though the doctors think the cyst on my ovary is most likely just a cyst, there is a small chance that it could be cancer. The waiting is agonizing and so I'll be so glad to get this over with and of course to hear the ALL CLEAR on that end too, literally! LOL
There going to do robotic surgery hopefully which is less invasive, shorter hospital stay, only over night, and less recovery time. The doctor said it looks like a big ol spider, but assured me they wouldn't just program the robot and leave and go to lunch. I told her it was good thing because I didn't want it looking for a prostate!
So so far I've got clear scans and blue skies and I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel!
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND!
I'm thankful for the men and women through the years who fought to make our country free!
It's been 3 and half weeks since my last chemo and I'm beginning to get some strength back. I don't feel as tired and I'm not as short of breath. I can actually walk out to my mailbox and back without feeling exhausted! At the end of my work day I don't feel as tired and I even drove a van full of clients to Little Rock last week which I haven't been able to do since about the middle of my chemo. I have stubbles on my head so my hair is beginning to grow back but it will be awhile before you can actually see any.
Tomorrow I go to Little Rock to UAMS for my pre operation work and test for my hysterectomy on Thursday. Even though the doctors think the cyst on my ovary is most likely just a cyst, there is a small chance that it could be cancer. The waiting is agonizing and so I'll be so glad to get this over with and of course to hear the ALL CLEAR on that end too, literally! LOL
There going to do robotic surgery hopefully which is less invasive, shorter hospital stay, only over night, and less recovery time. The doctor said it looks like a big ol spider, but assured me they wouldn't just program the robot and leave and go to lunch. I told her it was good thing because I didn't want it looking for a prostate!
So so far I've got clear scans and blue skies and I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel!
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND!
I'm thankful for the men and women through the years who fought to make our country free!
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