Eleven down ... only 19 to go!!

December 21

Radiation isn't too bad, but I AM getting burned and it's beginning to itch.  Yuck.  I think the hardest part is driving up there every day knowing that I'm just going to get burned some more.  It's kinda like getting sunburned at the beach, and going back every day to get sunburned on top of the sunburn you already have.

Ever seen the inside of a radiation room?

I lie on the bed and put my arms in the "stirrups" up by my head and then hold on to a bar that sticks up between my arms. That blue thingy on the bed is where i rest my legs.  Once I'm settled in, they cover my arms and head and the rest of my body with warm blankets.  (Ahhhhh.)  Then they raise the table and position me just right with lasers pointing at the tattoos and marks they made on my chest and under my arm.  When I'm all positioned, they bring down "George," my name for the radiation machine.  It's the circular thing facing down at the top of the pic.  The therapists bring George down to the exact spot where he's supposed to be, and they ask the same questions every time.  "Mrs. E, we're in the radiation room, the equipment is in the right position, and we're going to radiate your right breast.  Is that correct?"  And sometimes just for fun, I'll say, 'NO!  GET ME OFF THIS DAMNED TABLE."  It's always good for a laugh.

When the radiation therapists leave the room to administer the radiation, I'm all alone on that table in that big room with walls so thick a cell phone won't work in there.  I don't like being alone in that room even if it is only for a minute.  

So now you know what a radiation room looks like!  Aren't you glad??

Chemo's Over!!

December 11, 2011

I had my very last chemo on November 14th.  It was a really good day because when i was finished I got to ring the special bell.  A good friend of mine gave the bell to the cancer center before he died of colon cancer.  

This is a picture of the bell:

Here's a picture of what is printed on the plaque.  It's so touching.

In this picture is my good friend, Leigh Ann (in the front), my friend, Sally, who's husband gave the bell (in the back), my son, Ryan, and his children.  I'm holding Walt, Ryan is holding Charlotte, and Clark is standing in front.  Love, love, love these people.  They all came to support me while I rang the bell.

I'm in the chemo chair with Clark, Charlotte and Walt.  Those kids bring the sunshine with them everywhere they go.

I've started radiation ... had three treatments so far.  I go everyday, five days a week for six weeks, and it's really easy.  The actual time i spend in the radiation room is probably a total of 10 minutes.  For real!  How could I complain about that?  I bought some rather expensive cream at the cancer center pharmacy that supposedly will keep me from getting badly burned.  I'm slathering that stuff on two or three times a day!  

I'm still getting a Herceptin infusion every three weeks.  That isn't bad either; it takes about an hour and I'm done.  Herceptin is the miracle drug for my Her2 positive cancer.  It's not chemo so there are no side effects other than keeping my hair from growing in as quickly.  I can't complain about that either.  When it's ready, my hair will make an appearance!

How cute is this picture of Sophia and her new little brother, my guy, Charlie?