More Tests

After being blamed for breaking the Radiation Machine, I guess I should be proud of myself since it was down for 5 days! Unfortunately that meant everyone had to go to the hospital for treatment. I didn't mind but I was the only one who felt that way.

So....off to the UW Hospital for treatment in their new Radiotherapy facility. WOW! It is really cool. The ceilings above the treatment table are painted with clouds (I thought that was sort of lame) but then you see the light show! The colors morph from yellow to orange to red to violet to blue to green over this painted sky! It is really awesome!

On Friday the 14th, I endured Radiation treatment once again at the hospital and another chemo treatment. By the time I got home, it was time to pick up Aruna from day camp and set out as a family to Brookfield for a cookout with our friends visiting from North Carolina (Susan at Cancer Fight) and some friends from Gurnee, Ill. It was a long day that ended about 11 pm. Way pass my bedtime. I paid for it all weekend as I slept for most of it. But I am sure the chemo treatment had something to do with my fatigue as well. I know the hot flashes got brutal again and that definitely is a result of the chemo.

Friday the 21st I finally had the CAT Scan on my chest. As you may recall, an "undiagnosed active disease" was found on my lung way back in January. Dr. W. wasn't all that concerned (obviously). I figured as long as insurance was paying, might as well find out what going on. My CAT Scan was changed to include my abdomen and pelvic area as I am experiencing sometimes really bad back and hip pain as well as and in my lower spine. This past Saturday it was so bad I had to break out the heavy duty meds again. No word yet as to the results.

This week is a follow-up Echo Gram on my heart. It is on Thursday at the hospital. Of course, it conflicts with High School Registration for Andrei so Scott is going to handle it for me. Thanks Honey!!! It will be interesting to see what, if any, change there is in my heart function as I am now taking high blood pressure pills (if you recall, I don't have high blood pressure - I just take the pills for it :) )

The fatigue caused by the radiation has caught up with me. I tire easily and need to rest in the afternoon. I don't have much desire to do anything. Other than get Andrei to football practice by 7:30am, Scott helps me get him there too, I mull around the house not getting much of anything accomplished and not really caring. This totally goes against my grain. You could say I am enjoying the 'lazy days of summer' by being lazy.

That's all for now. I think I'll get some sleep!

It's not my fault!

10 minutes before I was to leave for Radiation treatment this morning, Lori, one of my Techs calls and tells me the machine is broken. She said it must have known I was coming !! Ha Ha. Today, my schedule was filled so unless the machine got fixed within an hour or so, radiation wasn't happening. Not long after, another girl calls and tells me the machine is down for the whole day and i should just come in tomorrow at my scheduled time. Ok, no problem. I proceed to get ready to drive to Milwaukee to visit with my friend Susan (Cancer Fight) who is here visiting with her family. Half way into my drive (I feel so independent now that I can drive long distances again!) Lori calls me and tells me the machine is going to be down for two days! I really broke it this time! Ha Ha. So Lori wants me to drive to the UW Hospital tomorrow morning for treatment (I guess they don't want to miss two days in a row) and asks me if this would be a problem - yep. I'm busy in the morning so it has to be in the afternoon. Ok. Got the new appointment set up and life is good. I can once again concentrate on driving and singing with the radio :)

I spent a wonderful afternoon with Susan. We talked the whole time and conversation was never lacking. I wish they didn't live so far away. She looks wonderful and her outlook is amazing. I need to take lessons from her!

Halfway into our visit, my iphone rings. (Have I told you lately how cool an iphone is and that you should get one?) I thought for sure it was one of the kids. Nope. It was Lori again. This time the Radiotherapy people at the hospital can't take me at whatever machine I got scheduled on for whatever reason! Now my appointment is pushed out to 5 pm on a different machine. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Lots of changes can be made before 5 pm!! Afterall, this is the hospital and I know how messed up things can get there!

I'll keep you posted!!

11 down, 22 to go, 33% done

That's what the Radiation treatment numbers look like - 11 treatments completed, 22 more treatments left to go, a third of the way done. (News Flash, there are also 22 days left before school starts. What a coincidence.) So far, it hasn't been too bad, though the Nurses and Radiation Techs have warned me of what will happen to my skin . I'll worry about that when the time comes. But I must admit that I am slathering on the Aquaphor twice a day to hopefully ward off some of the upcoming burns/blisters and all around icky stuff that I am being warned about.

The decision to have the treatment done at the clinic by our house instead going to the University Hospital was a smart one. Everybody is very low key at the clinic, very friendly and the appointments are always on time!!! I am getting spoiled! I wish it was like that in the Cancer Clinic.

Of the 11 treatments, the Radiation machine has only crashed twice on me. I am told this only happens to me and I am jinxing the equipment. I say it is my electric personality that is affecting the machine :) If it happens a third time, I told them we will have to re-think the treatment. This is based on the "three strikes and you're out" theory.

This past weekend Scott's parents from Alabama were here to visit for their 50th Wedding Anniversary! WOW! The visit was too short but it was great to see them again! We celebrated by going out for a wonderful dinner with no kids! A grown-up meal is such a rarity for Scott and I!

My friend Susan (Cancer Fight), her husband Karl and kids are in Brookfield this week visiting her husband's family. Tomorrow, I am driving the hour and change to visit with her. I am sooooo excited to see her.

This Friday is a busy day, I start with an 8:15 Radiation treatment, then I go to the hospital for chemo at 9:45. Hopefully, it won't take all day but I am always prepared to sit there. Then, myself and the rest of my family are headed to Brookfield to visit with Susan and everybody else and enjoy a cook out. It'll be nice to have someone else cook for a change! I really am getting spoiled! :)