7 days since....

It's been a week since I had my final Radiation treatment. It took 7 weeks to accomplish with machine breakdowns and the Labor Day Holiday, but I survived all 33 of them with flying colors. As of today, you can hardly tell that I underwent treatment. My skin is barely red. I do consider myself very fortunate.

My hair is growing back. It is about an inch long and swirling all over the place. In the front I have some hair that sticks straight up and just won't stay down. We call it my Q-Pee Doll curl. The only bummer about the hair growing back is that it is also growing back on my legs and I have had to start shaving them again. Bummer. Not having to shave your legs is really a positive side effect of cancer :) My eye lashes are coming in wavy too. I am hoping they will straighten out in the near future.

Next Friday, the 25th, I have another chemo treatment. Dr. W. is starting to take blood again to watch my calcium levels. They are elevated and cause for some minor concern.

I been tired lately. I was told the fatigue from Radiation would last for awhile. They weren't kidding. Sometimes after the kids are off to school, I'll go back to bed. My weight is down again but I kind of like it.

That's all I can think of to tell you about today. Aruna and I are off to visit my mom for the weekend. Andrei is going to the Badger Football game tomorrow with his friends and Scott is just going to relax after a long week - but only after he gets his list of things to do done :)

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Happy Labor Day Weekend!
Since my last update, much has happened. I've had daily radiation treatments number 19 thru 29. I have 4 left and I'm done! Finally an end to something. This is GOOD. I have done exceptionally well with radiation. My skin looks fabulous and the doctors, nurses and techs are all amazed! I guess the diligent applications of Aquaphor paid off. Yeah for me!!! Plus I have 6 new dot tattoos! I wonder what picture would emerge if I connected them!!

My CAT scan didn't find anything. This is GOOD! The nodule on my right lung is nothing to worry about. Of course it is suggested to get a follow-up scan in a year to make sure it doesn't grow. Nothing was found in my pelvic or abdomen area but no one can explain why I hurt so much. This is BAD. They did find something with my bladder but unless I have frequent bladder infections, which I never have had, it is nothing that requires fixing.

My latest echogram showed the size and function of my left ventricle has greatly improved. Dr. W. has decided from now on I will receive follow-up echos instead of getting the MUGA Scans every three months. This means no more visits to the glow farm. My comment regarding my heart was that it should be improved since the blood pressure pills are really working. My pressure averages around 100/64. Any lower and I would drop :) But we all know that will never happen. I have too much spunk for that !! I have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Ewer my Cardiologist in the next 6 weeks or so.

Yesterday I had another chemo treatment. Not many new complaints on my part. I have 2-3 bloody noses every day so Dr. W. ordered some blood work. I guess everything was ok since I didn't hear different. Of course that doesn't stop the blood - this can get UGLY. But like everything else, I just roll with it.

Both kids started school on September 1st. Aruna is in the 6th grade in Middle School and Andrei is a Freshman in High School. I just celebrated a birthday so between that and the new schools, I feel old and this to me is UGLY!

All in all, everything is good. The kids are enjoying school. Andrei thinks High School is cool. Scott and I hope this attitude continues. Andrei is playing football and Aruna is playing Nerf Guns. It all makes me smile. And this is GOOD :)