I went today for my first mammogram since my surgery in July. The right breast (the one I had surgery on) is fine but 4 suspicious spots showed up on the left breast. Unfortunately they could not find my previous x-rays and therefore don't know if this is something that's been there all along or something new. Hopefully the x-rays will turn up in a day or two so they can make a comparison. Until then, it's wait and worry. This puts me a bit down because it's so unnecessary. I've had the appointment for this mammogram for 6 months. You'd think they would have checked to see that they had my x-rays before today.

It's Over
I finished up my radiation on Oct. 2. It's been almost 2 weeks and I'm starting to feel like my old self again. Last week I had 2 days where I felt so good that it made me realize just how bad I had been feeling. I still get tired, but not every day.
I saw the surgeon last week. I will have to go for a mammogram every 6 months. I asked about an MRI and was told they have too many false positives. I'm taking Tamoxeifen with no problems. The biggest side effect is hot flashes and I was already having them so not much has changed. I asked the doctor if the Tamoxeifen would make my periods finally stop and she said it probably would. I also asked if they were going to come back in 5 years when I quit taking. She laughed. I'd be 62 then and I can see me cashing my social security check so I can buy tampons!
The doctor was pleased that I had resumed my exercise classes and cycling. She felt that exercise was important in the healing process.
Many thanks to all my friends who have given me so much love and support. This the most terrified I have ever been in my life.

ONLY 5 MORE RADIATION TREATMENTS!!!
On Oct. 3, I will complete the last of my 35 radiation treatments. In spite of a rocky start, my skin and I have held up well. For the last 3 weeks, I've had to at least lie down for a while every day due to fatigue. This was tough to do at first, but I soon realized that I HAD to do it. I've been teaching my 4 classes at Gold's Gym every Tuesday and Thursday but stopped teaching my neighborhood classes on Mon/Wed/Fri. My winter schedule starts on Wednesday and I will have to teach on those days, but I'm only going to teach one class a day instead of two until I'm past all this.

This past Thursday was a very tough day for me. I taught my 4 classes at Gold's Gym in the morning and then stretched out on a mat in the gym for 30 minutes before driving to Palm Harbor for some aerobics training (required for my certification). The training wasn't strenuous, but I was very tired the whole time. I got home about 5:30 and went straight to bed. I found myself taking deep breaths like I had run a race. After about an hour or rest, I was fine, but don't intend to do that again. I have been able to ride my bike 48 miles every Saturday since I started the treatment. It's amazing that I feel no more tired when I do that than when I don't do anything. It's weird having to plan your day around the possibility of tiring out.

My skin has not burned on the outside. It gets a little pink, and I have what looks like a heat rash on my breast bone, but no burning. A lady at the cancer center who is a week behind me on treatments showed me her skin and it looked like she had been burned with an iron. I do have intermittent pain throughout the day. Sometimes it's a burning pain and sometimes it feels like my breast is in a vise. Fortunately, this only lasts a few minutes. I've used arnica gel, aloe cream and Aquafour from the very first day. I didn't think to put it on my breast bone at first because I didn't realize I would burn there. Arnica gel is a herbal ointment that is wonderful for muscle soreness and bruises. It soaks into the skin and works there.

I went back to my acupuncturist when the fatigue started. I think this has helped me a lot. My oncologist even approved. I would love to get a massage but it's too uncomfortable for me to lie on my stomach. The gym where I got the aerobics training had this massage machine where you lie down on your back. They let me try it. Wow! I'd love to have one at home. They are only $25,000!!!!

It Hit Me Like a Ton of Bricks!!!!
I'm a little more than half way through the radiation with only 16 more to go. After the shock of the first week, my body has adjusted and I've done very well. Tuesday I was tired but it was a stressful day with a lot going on (4 classes to teach, oil change, radiation, knit night in Palm Harbor). I trudged forward and told myself I would rest on Wed. I'm not sure what I did Wed., but I don't remember resting but I did get to bed by 10 which is early for me. Today (Thurs) I taught 4 classes, did a little shopping and went to radiation at 1:15. I got home a little after 2 and went straight to BED. I was exhausted. I slept for 2 hours (had weird dreams about burning hamburgers in the oven) and woke up refreshed. Now Harold says he wants hamburgers for dinner. Since I don't cook hamburgers in the oven, hopefully I won't burn them.
Oncologist says he's bumping my dosage up next week. I can hardly wait. My weight has remained steady but my blood count is down. It is well within normal but way down for me. I guess if you have to have cancer, it sure helps going into it as healthy a possible.

Things are settling down now
I think my body has finally adjusted to the radiation treatment. After shocking it the first week, things have settled down. I'm not in constant pain any longer. I do have bursts of pain throughout the day, but they don't last long and are tolerable. Along about Wednesday, I get queasy every time I eat, but this usually passes in about 30 minutes. I have 19 more sessions to go which means I'm almost halfway. I haven't had any skin irritation (yet). I always feel great on Sunday and Monday.
Every Monday, my blood is tested for white and red cell count and platelets. Radiation can play havoc with your blood. My counts have been extremely good. Every week, my bp is taken and it's better than ever. I haven't slept consistently this well in years. I had another period which was a normal one for a change.
I'm teaching 11 exercise classes a week and enjoying a 45+ bike ride every Saturday. I'm no more tired than usual. However, if I do get tired, I stop what I'm doing and take a short nap. I didn't allow myself this luxury before.

Radiation — Radiation — Radiation!!!!

I'm into my 2nd week of radiation and those who say there are no side effects are full of baloney. I've noticed some definite patterns in my physical wellbeing.
I get my treatment at 1:15 p.m. each weekday and here's what I've discovered.

First - I must eat dinner between 5 and 6:30 PM. After this time, a horrible taste is in my mouth and I have no appetite. If I try to eat after 6:30, I feel nauseous and cannot sleep. The nasty taste lasts until about 5 pm the next day, but the next day my appetite isn't affected as much.

Second - I must rest a couple of hours every afternoon.

Third - I cannot stand for anything to touch my breast at night — not even a lightweight nightgown or t-shirt. I have a skin allergy on my arms and sleep in gloves to keep from scratching. So here I am, completely naked except for the gloves. Can you imagine if there's a fire? It will look like I had time to put on gloves but not clothes. I guess when the weather gets cooler I'll add socks.

At first, these symptoms were very frustrating. The people at the Cancer Center (including the doctor) told me you do not have nausea from radiation. They said I had a virus. In fact, they've denied that anything I've felt is real.

You do not feel anything when you get radiation.
Yeah, well, ok. But I can tell you exactly where the radiation is on my breast. It's not pain, but an uncomfortable feeling. I definitely know when it crosses my nipple.

Your breasts are not warm after radiation.
Humph! No the radiated breast isn't warm, it HOT for several hours.

What's the procedure like?
Well, you lay upon this table in the exact position everyday. Then the therapists leave the room. A huge round disc comes up over my left side. It sounds and looks like something from a science fiction movie. But I'm not sure if Star Trek (with a cure) or War of the Worlds. This disc moves to 4 different locations and shoots radiation at you from 4 different angles. A monitor is barely in my vision, but I can see "how much" and "how long". I just figured that out yesterday.

Maybe I'm just more sensitive than most people or maybe I have a more vivid imagination. Whatever it is, it is real to me.

2 Down and 33 to GO

This has been a memorable week. I resumed all my exercise classes, rode 45 miles on my bike (first time since the surgery 6 weeks ago) and started radiation. Now I only have 33 more radiation sessions to go. I'm told not to expect any fatigue due to my good health and the small amount of radiation.

Last week, I went in to prepare for radiation. An uncomfortable plaster mold was made for me to lay on so I would be in the same position each time. I also got 3 tiny tattoos. I always wanted a tattoo would have preferred something more outrageous than black dots. The doctor and tech drew all sorts of marks on my breast. When I got home, I wanted to show my granddaughter my tattoos. Can you imagine the surprise when I saw a smiley face had been drawn on my breast with a red marker!

I've been gradually taking over my exercise classes. I put the weight training classes off to last for obvious reasons. I taught this class on Tuesday with on problems, but boy was I sore. Six weeks is too long to go without working with weights. I'm back to my my regular summer schedule of 11 classes a week.

And best of all, I can now ride my bike again. I tried riding 4 weeks ago but it was too much stress on my chest muscles. I tooled around the neighborhood on Wednesday with no pain at all. Today I went out and rode 45 miles!!! I didn't set any speed records but I was out there. I didn't get tired, but my butt was so sore from not riding for 6 weeks.