The Home Stretch

The end is in sight. I only have five treatments left as I write this. For this I am very grateful. How am I doing? In reality, not too bad, I just tend to lose sight of that fact. I am sore from some minor swelling and my skin is red and tender, but I am not in any real pain. I am tired, and I am hot all the time. The hot probably makes the tired worse, because it is interfering with sleep.

It is easy to get down when I feel this way, and I have to continually remember to count my blessings. I have not had to receive chemo. I am not blistered, peeling, or burnt. I only have to complete sixteen treatments, not over thirty. My surgery was much simpler than many have had. I have been very blessed.

My prayers are that I bear up under whatever discomfort and suffering I am to endure in a way that honors God. I would love to be spared all of this, but if this is part of my times of suffering, I ask for the strength and peace to bear up under it. Believe me, it is very hard to do without the peace of God.

A lot of this has been a mental battle. Surgery was easier than the radiation has been. You wake up from surgery at the bottom of the hill and you work your way back up. You start at the worst point and then improve. With radiation you start at the top and then gradually go down. The problem is you don’t know how far down each step takes you or what the bottom looks like. Each Monday I have been hit with a wave a nerves and anxiety wondering how bad it will get during the week. The unknown can be daunting. I have to push those thoughts aside and know that I will get through this and I will recover.

I know I can do this. I am scheduled to be finished on June 19th. I can get through five more treatments. Thank you for your support. I know I am not alone.

Choose Joy! (Remind me to as well!)