|
| Home |
| Stories |
| Who We Are |
| Resources |
| News & Events |
| How You Can Help |
| In Honor/Memory Of |
| Partners/Sponsors |
| Merchandise |
| 11/13/07 - Raaaaadiation |
|
Mom, Todd and I met at the house this morning for the jaunt to Nashua to see Dr Sheldon in radiaology. We've visited him a couple of times before - before the mastectomies and during lumpectomies.... third time's the charm I guess. I woke up good, slept good, ate good and took my meds good... today will be a good day. It helped that I took my pulmacort that I had been slacking on lately. we took it before bed (after my yelling that I didn't want to take it b/c my coughing was so bad). Then took it again in the car today- and doing well. I can walk around good. My o2 machine is on 1 right now - where yesterday we were at 2 or more. So... good...doing good... lets not ruin this here! So we drove to Nashua- met with all the familiar faces. Got warm hugs and tons of comments on my curly curly hair - which I did learn should fall out within 2 weeks or so - like the original chemo. I'm prepared- I've got my wigs and tons of hats- it IS getting colder after all- good timing! We also discussed painting my head like a topographical map. I'm not worried about being bald. I'm worried about these tons of bumps on my head- some are pretty big! We're going to paint them with glow in the dark paint- and paint them like the mountain ranges of NH. This way- they'll glow in the dark b/c of the radiation - HA- just kidding, that doesn't happen! The biggest one will be Mt Washington- next to the presidential range (I have a couple close together). The next biggest will be Mt Monadnock and some of my other fave mtns. Might not be totally accurate- but its MY HEAD - so whatever Mts I WANT - ha ha! So a good meeting with Nora and with Dr Sheldon. There showed no tumors in the brain stem- so that is good! I will get some redness in my scalp and forehead and lose the hair on my head (not eyebrows or eyelashes.... or the legs- darn it! Too bad we can't pick and choose where it falls out of!) There will be 14 treatments over the course of the next 3-4 weeks. M-F at 9:30 most days. I will go in this sunday at 9:30 for a treatment b/c they are closed thursday for thanksgiving- and then friday b/c none of their patients show up! So I'll have a 4 day weekend next weekend from radiation. Then- 3-4 weeks after that we will have another brain mri to find out where we're at. Radiation is successful in getting rid of fast growing cells as an adults brain isn't fast growing any longer... I forgot what he said- but it made me laugh! so they have good success rate. Will it come back... maybe... monitor monitor monitor. I had no idea anything was in there- so it was good that the neurologist talked himself into an MRI for me! If I start to get heavier headaches- then I need to call them- and be put on more steroids. Right now I'm on decadron again (had it after ac chemo). They'll increase that if they have to- but we should be good. Mike and I forgot her name :( - were so very nice to help me into the radiation room. On the way was a big hallway covered in porthos on the ceiling. 4 of them covered the entire ceiling like an arbor- it was so pretty! I had to stop to take a peak at it! Then we went into the room. I can't say I looked around much really- but hopped up on the table with the o2 cannister by my side and my o2 at 2 so I wouldn't run out. They lied me back carefully and let me elevate my head a bit so I wouldn't have trouble breathing. I was nervous- they made me so very comfortable. They gave me a blue spongey ring to hold onto so I wouldn't move my hands around and covered me with a blanket. It took maybe 15 minutes tops b/c they had to take pics and then do the radiation which is only a few minutes. They put a piece of tape (sticky side up) across my head so I wouldn't move- and positioned my head so delicately. I didn't talk, I didn't open my eyes, I breathed and swallowed as I needed- I didn't want to move a muscle! They said I did excellent. I didn't feel a thing - it was quite comfortable. I'll be going back tomorrow at 8am for my next one b/c I have my ultrasound and xray at the Elliot at 10 or 10:30 - so had to push up the radiation. So.... yes... this is exciting....it sucks...but I'm going to be okay....We'll address the lung situation and liquid situation later in the week. Chemo will have to wait for now. Thats it for now. I wanted to get this in here to let you all know how it went and what we're doing. And that I'm feeling much better than last night when I wrote! Love you all deeply! XOXO |
Shannon, NH
BRCA1 Mutation,Infiltrating (or invasive) Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)
BRCA1 Mutation,Infiltrating (or invasive) Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)
Chapters
|
“What an incredible way for breast cancer patients to channel their energy.” |
 | © 2005-2009 by BreastCancerStories.com • Privacy Policy Web Design and SEO by IDC, Portsmouth, Greenland, NH |