20 Weeks of Chemo and 6 1/2 Weeks of Radiation Completed!!!!!!

All treatments completed-16 of chemo and 33 radiation!!!  Certificate of Completion and Sparkling Cider from radiation clinic.  Flowers came with the thought and feeling from Suzanna, Benjamin, and Shannon that they are perfect to represent the beginning of the rest of my life-a new chapter!

3 More Radiation Treatments

Officially 30 radiations completed and 3 more to go.  It is almost unreal that after Wednesday I will have completed all 33 radiation treatments.  The last couple of weeks have been harder in this round of treatments.  I have been more tired, but also I have had more pain with my skin being sore.  However, the alternating tylenol and ibuprofen have helped a lot along with 98% aloe vera, neosporen+ cream, and Aquafor.  Thursday I noticed that the first sore and very red places are now beginning to heal.  That was encouraging also.
I have postponed my last lymphedema session until December.  It was really getting to me with the pain and the sleeve.  My therapist agreed that I needed to get through these last weeks of radiation and heal before we continue, especially since my swelling isn't too bad.  I continue to do the lymph massage and that seems to keep it doing well.

Prayer Answered

This past week has been more of a struggle than the previous ones.  On Friday the soreness or pain from the damaged skin increased.  Interestingly I prayed that I might know how to take care of my skin and myself better (I have prayed for this often throughout the last months of treatment, as I realized I have a responsibility in all of this too.), later as I thought back over the day, I realized that is just what happened.  While waiting a few minutes for my treatment Friday morning, one of the therapists that I don't see every day walked by.  She asked how I was doing and my skin, I showed her.  She said that it looked pretty angry and asked about pain and if they had given me more on Tuesday.  She said that she'd talk to the nurse and they would talk with me after my treatment.  The other therapists asked me to wait when I got dressed and the nurse would come and get me.  We went to one of the examining rooms.  Dr McCallister wasn't in, but Dr.  Harris was. (I hadn't heard of him before.)  She talked with me and then he came in, looked at my skin and then asked me about and shared with me things I can do to help manage the pain and care for the skin.  It was really helpful.  I'm sure I would have learned more sooner, but I hadn't had much of a problem with it before.  I'm so grateful for prayer and the great love that my Heavenly Father shows to me always.