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.