Ready, Set, Radiation

All the planning and simulation is done. My radiation therapy starts today. I will have sixteen treatments using a new technique to protect my heart and lungs. I will say more about that in a minute.

Needless to say, I am a bit nervous, but God has made sure I know He is with me. There is a cross cut into one of the cabinets, I’m sure it is for the lasers, but it is a cross. Also, to get me positioned correctly, they mark me using Sharpies with an “X” to match me to the lasers. An “X” is the Greek initial for Christ, so I am literally being marked with His name. Finally, one of the therapist’s names is Faith, so I will have Faith during my treatments. Never, doubt that God likes to make us smile, but more importantly, when I look I see His presence everywhere around me. I am loved, I am protected, and I am not abandoned. Some may say I simply have a vivid imagination, but I much prefer to have my thoughts on my Father, than be dwelling in a place where I am on my own in that room.

My prayer request is that I am not too troubled by side effects. The most immediate worry is that the last two planning sessions were very long. After having to hold still on the table for about 45 minutes, one of my arms would go numb and then begin to cramp. The last twenty minutes or so were very painful as a result, and I was completely wiped out after it was over. They assure me the actual treatment time is much shorter, getting all the x-rays is time consuming. So, I should not be on the table long enough to have issues again. I pray this is so. The new technique will make the session slightly longer, but hopefully not too much so.

So, if you are not interested in what my new treatment is, you can stop reading now.

Apparently if I take a deep breath and hold it, my heart and lungs move slightly away from the chest wall into a safer spot. Who knew? So, I have a cube that sits on my abdomen and works with a camera to monitor my breathing. I get to wear what I call “space glasses” that are simply some glasses that let me view a computer monitor. The monitor shows a moving line that is my breathing pattern and a target zone for how deep a breath to take. When I take a deep breath, the machine will come on only as long as I hold my breath in that zone. It is all pretty clever to me, and it is saving me three extra weeks of treatments. I am one of the very early users of this technology at the Cancer Center. Again, God has some pretty nifty timing going on.

Thank you again for all your love, support and prayers. I know I keep saying this, but it impossible to express what they mean to me!

Choose Joy!

A Bump in the Road

I've heard the saying “wearing your heart on your sleeve”, but apparently I wear my heart to close too my chest wall. This means it will be harder to protect from the radiation. Normally, this would mean dropping back to the full six week treatment plan, but apparently there is something new they think will work for me and keep me at the three week, sixteen session level. The bottom line means a setback in starting my treatment to get me set up with the new procedure. So, radiation will not next week as I expected. I’ll let everyone know more once I do.

God has a plan for all this, so I am trusting Him as this unfolds for the best possible treatment for me. He continues to meet my needs during this time, from the simple things, such as finding the right lotion for me locally, and the big things, calming my nerves, and providing new treatments.

Again your support has been so very special.

Choose Joy!

Radiation Plan

Zoom! That’s how last week felt. We’ve had a lot going on. I started the week with a Bone Density test on Monday and my Radiation Oncologist appointment on Tuesday. Wednesday sent us on an afternoon road trip with my parents to funeral visitation for my aunt. She went home the first of the week. Friday, Ken had to have a steroid injection in his eye (ouch!) and we spent the weekend recovering from that. Yesterday we regrouped and prepared for this week. This morning Ken left before 7 am to pick our son up from college, and this afternoon I have the first of three appointments to prepare me for radiation treatments. Whew! I am tired just writing all of this.

As a result, I’m just now getting to update the blog. As I said, I am starting the radiation phase of my fight. I will have three appointments to get everything ready and tested before I begin the actual treatments. These will take about two weeks to complete. I will also see my surgeon one more time during this time to get the final approval that I am healed enough to begin radiation. The good news is I can receive 16 treatments instead of the usual 33. This will cut the time to complete this in half.

I have to confess that I have gotten a little anxious now that it is here. I guess I’ve just ignored it until now. I know this will be fine, but the unknown always gives me pause. I keep reminding myself the God knows and has this under control. The two biggest issues with radiation are fatigue and skin irritation. So my prayer requests relate to those. Pray that God will give me supernatural strength to get through this and that the skin irritation will be manageable and I won’t be too whiny. I suspect as I get tired, I will have to be even more diligent in choosing joy each day. I have been known to throw some amazing pity parties. I want to avoid those this time.

Again thank you for your support. God has given me many people to support me and lift me up. You are a reminder that I am loved and valued. We all are!

Choose Joy!

Healing Well

It’s been quiet here on the blog, simply because I've had a quiet couple of weeks. I saw my surgeon about a week ago for the post-op check-up, and I am healing nicely. So, that is what I have been concentrating on, healing and getting my strength back. However, it’s about time to get busy again.

I met my Oncologist at the end of this past week. She will be the one responsible for my long term care and monitoring for the next five years. I will go on a hormone drug for five years as a means of reducing the risk of the cancer reoccurring. However, I will not start on it until after I have finished radiation treatment.

Speaking of radiation, many of you have asked about it, and the planning for it will begin this upcoming Tuesday. I will have much more specific information after that appointment, including how long treatment should last. I do know that I must see my surgeon one more time for her to make sure I have healed sufficiently from surgery to begin, and that appointment is not until mid-May. So my expectations are to begin radiation very shortly after that time. Again, I will know much more after Tuesday’s appointment.

It is comforting to hear consistent information about my prognosis at each appointment. I am continually struck by the comments of amazement that the cancer was found at such an early stage and small size. God indeed did grant me mercy and grace over this. I have been spared a much harder road than many women have had to walk, and my news continues to flow with abundant goodness. I just have to keep singing of God’s great goodness, power, and love. He is indeed amazing. He is the reason my mental state has been as positive as it has been. I know it sounds trite and redundant, but He is indeed so very very good.

Thank you again for all of your support and prayers. You are God’s goodness in action in this world. I am truly blessed.

Choose Joy!

The Report is In

The caller ID said it was my surgeon calling, the Pathology Report was in. “I have a good report” says the surgeon to open the conversation.

“I like a good report” I reply.

The news is indeed all good. The margins are all clear and all three of the lymph nodes removed showed no signs of cancer. The final size of the tumor was almost the same as the initial ultrasound measurement, showing no significant growth. My report is Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Stage 1a. More importantly, the cancer is gone from my body and I do not need any additional surgery.

For the next week or two, my job is to heal from surgery, and then the “preventive maintenance” as I am calling it will begin. I have appointments for the surgeon to give me the “all clear” from surgery and to meet my Oncologist for the first time. She will be the one to monitor me and my treatments for the next several years. Once I get the “all clear” from the surgeon, radiation treatment planning will begin. At that point, I’ll know exactly what the rest of my treatment plans will be.

God has been faithful and good through all of this. I have been supported and loved by so many people. I have been prayed for all over the country and even around the world. I am amazed at the outpouring of His love through His people. I have had peace when it seemed impossible. I am also the poster girl for early detection, something I fully believe He orchestrated.

Thank you all for your support, your kind words, food, and your prayers. I cannot begin to explain how much they have meant to me and lifted my spirits.

Choose Joy!

Two Days After Surgery

Well, it has been about 48 hours since surgery. I am doing amazingly well. I'm down to Tylenol for pain and most of the fuzziness has disappeared. I'm still sore and a bit tired, but I am up and can move around fairly well. I will even be allowed to shower later today!

We are waiting for the final pathology report to confirm that the cancer had not gotten into the lymph nodes. That will indeed be wonderful news. Otherwise, I need to heal before radiation begins, probably in about 3 weeks.

God has been very good during all of this. I also want to thank everyone for the prayers and support. I can't begin to explain how much it has lifted my spirits to know that you care.

Choose Joy!