I'm Done

Today I finished my radiation treatment!  I made it all the way through with no breaks.  28 treatments done!  No more early morning trips to the hospital.  I can get back to the things I enjoy, especially swimming once the chemo is disconnected.

The staff at the radiation center were amazing, of course.  Everyone there knew it was my last day and wished me luck and was so excited.  I felt like I needed to be wearing a cap and gown!  I cannot put in words the elation I feel to be done.  I knew I was excited to be done, but never thought I would feel like I do now.  I know it will take a couple of weeks to recover but just knowing nothing will be contributing any longer to making me feel worse is an amazing feeling

I celebrated this morning with Dunkin' Donuts hot chocolate and a chocolate kreme filled doughnut.  Hopefully I won't pay for it later!  My big plans for the weekend are to relax and get some rest.  Even though I had my last treatment this morning, the effects will linger on for several days.  More celebration to come when I'm feeling more like myself!

Diagnosis: You're Great!

I am wrapping up my radiation treatments.  Tomorrow is the last day.  I can't believe it!  The 28 treatments actually went very quickly.  As I have mentioned before, the radiation staff has been outstanding.  Everyday they start my day with a smile.  No matter how tired I am or I don't feel well, I can't help but feel better just interacting with the staff.

I wanted to get the team something special for doing such a great job.  As a nurse myself, I knew homemade food was not the way to go.  Flowers are nice but they stay at the hospital and no one gets to enjoy them.  I'm sure they get lots of candy.  I wanted to do something different so I decided to go with a cookie bouquet.  It was so cute with a bunch of bears dressed in hospital clothing and one cookie that said, "Diagnosis: You're Great!" 

When I went for my treatment today, all but 2 cookies were gone.  They were saving one for my doctor and the other one was probably going to be split during their break today.  I'm really glad they enjoyed their surprise.  They definitely deserved it!  Radiation plays a major, but short role in many oncology treatment plans.  They often don't get to see the happy endings and patients feeling their best.  I wanted to make sure they were acknowledged for all their hard work and their great attitude.

GI Anxiety

I'm getting down to the final wire.  Not too much longer to go of being at the hospital at 7:45 in the morning Monday through Friday.  Only another week of carrying around the infusion pump and dealing with the quick showers.  Of course I am really looking forward to being done with this round of treatment, but there is even a bigger reason: getting rid of GI Anxiety.

Besides being tired all the time, the only other side effect I have been experiences in GI upset.  It's really not that bad when I am home.  No big deal to spend time in the bathroom and keep hydrated.  The problem is, that I am trying to continue with all my usual activities as much as I can.  Being away from my own bathroom during this time has caused lots of anxiety.  When I'm at work, I worry if I will need to run to the bathroom during a meeting.  Just the other night I went to see Wicked with two very good friends.  We had amazing seats.  The problem was that we were 5 rows from the front and the aisle closest to us was blocked by someone in a wheelchair.  As the show started, I really worried if my stomach would act up because there was no easy escape route.  Luckily, I didn't have any issues but I worried through the first 3 songs.

Seems like my stomach decides to wake up and make me worry just when I'm ready to head out to an event like a Pitt football game or when I'm getting ready to leave for work and have the potential to have to sit in traffic.  Nope, it doesn't bother me all day long until it knows I will have separation from a bathroom.  Funny how it works like that.  So, I am most excited about getting rid of this GI Anxiety and getting back to my regular routine!

Loving Friday Nights at Home, for Now

Lately, after a long week of work and treatment and all the activities I am still doing, there is nothing I want more for a Friday night than to just go home.  The last couple of Fridays I have come home, put on my PJ's took a little nap, had a little dinner and just vegged out on the couch.  I worked on a puzzle, had the TV on and just relaxed.  Actually, I probably slept more than anything.  Those relaxed Friday nights helped fill up my tank and got me ready for the next week ahead.

Everyone is asking me what I am going to do next Friday to celebrate being done with radiation.  Well, for me, the ideal next Friday night is to come home from work, put on my PJ's, have a little dinner and relax!  It is very hard for me to explain how tired I really am because most people still see me busy as usual.  Well, let me tell you, I am exhausted and the biggest treat right now is uninterrupted sleep and not setting the alarm clock.  There will be plenty of time for celebrations and having fun but right now, sleepy time is what I look forward to most.

Down to Single Digits

I remember as a child counting down to Christmas using an advent calendar.  OK, I'll admit it, I still use an advent calendar!  Anyway, counting down and just having a few days left until Christmas added to the excitement of the holiday.  Well, I have been counting down the days left of radiation.  I have reached the single digits.  This is a major milestone.  Just nine more to go.  The time seemed to go pretty quickly.  I started my treatments on August 23 so it's been about a month.  Where did all that time go!

So the nurses and the radiation technicians and even my doctor were all very excited for me to reach this day.  Yeah, the radiation is cumulative so I know I will continue to get more and more tired.  I'll probably have some more GI issues and skin irritation as well.  Still, knowing I can count the number of treatments left without having to take my shoes off tells me two things: I can get excited about being done and I'm going to make it!

Tired of Being Tired

So I have been plugging along with my chemo and radiation.  Just 11 more radiation treatments to go.  Most are surprised at the lack of side effects I have been having.  I am lucky I suppose.  Very few GI issues, no mouth sores, no skin issues on my hands or feet.  60% through this course of treatment and my biggest complaint is being tired.  For those who really know me, you know that I am on the go.  I basically have an apartment to sleep and shower in.  But not lately.  The treatments have slowed me down and have made me long for my apartment and my nice comfy couch to take a nice nap.

I think of all the side effects I could have, I could personally deal better with ones that I could treat with medicine.  My side effect, I have to treat with naps, getting enough sleep, and resting during the day.  It is the worst!  It's just not in me to nap when I get home from work or close my eyes for a few minutes during my lunch.  I am however, trying to embrace the life of napping.  I have learned to nap in my car if I arrive early to a destination.  I have learned to close my eyes at my desk and lean back in my chair.  I have even learned to conserve energy by sitting during some of my chores.  I am not happy about all of this but if it helps me get through the next couple of weeks with the smalled impact, I will concede.

Half Way There!

Today marks a major milestone: half way through the radiation treatments!  This was a big day at the radiation center.  Everyone congratulated me and made a big deal of being half way through.  Of course, the staff at the radiation center are awesome and I will miss starting my day with them, I am not going to miss the side effects of the radiation.  Actually the side effects haven't been too bad.  I have been trying to take good care of myself by allowing myself to nap, eating even when I don't really feel like it, and taking good care of my tushy.  I am still hoping to finish up with radiation on September 30 but the doctor and nurses reminded me that if my side effects get bad, I will have to take a break.  Still, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Good Reports from the Doctors

I saw both my medical oncologist and radiation oncologist this week and both are happy with how I am doing.  The medical oncologist feels that if I am 3 weeks into my treatment without side effects from the chemo, that I should get through the next 3 weeks without any issues from the chemo.  He also felt that as soon as I am disconnected from my pump, I should be able to resume my regular fitness activities very quickly.  The radiation oncologist says that the radiation will be responsible for any side effects moving forward including diarrhea, loss of appetite and a very sore bottom.  The nurses have been fantastic and have been able to help with any questions I have so I am confident that if anything comes up that is bothering me, they will be quick to help me out.

I am very much looking forward to the weekend starting off with a night of relaxing tonight.  Even though it was a short work week, it seemed like a long week.  I am really looking forward to getting home from work, putting on comfy clothes and just vegging for the evening.  Perhaps I will start a new jigsaw puzzle or try to improve my Super Mario Bros. skills on the Wii.  The rest of the weekend is football focused with a Pitt game tomorrow and the Steelers on Sunday.  There are so many reasons to love the fall!

The Honeymoon is Over

I had been plugging along with my treatment without any side effects.  The biggest issues I was having was to not forget my pump when I got up and dealing with scheduling all my appointments around my work schedule.  It was sort of a breeze and I was just marching through the treatment.

Well, that all changed on Saturday.  I was really looking forward to a relaxing weekend free of work and radiation.  Instead, my tummy decided that it was time to start acting up.  And of all times to act up, it was right before the Pitt game.  I am extremely grateful to Imodium.  It works like a charm and I would highly recommend it.  Beyond spending lots of time in the bathroom, my little tushy is sore.  But, I'm taking it with stride.  Still trying to do my thing and keeping active and not sitting at home.

The radiation nurses are fantastic.  I mentioned one little issue this morning and they were there for me with lots of helpful information and support.  A modified diet, some tricks learned from other patients and a little cream and I'm already feeling much better.  I'm back to being ready to march on!