Some of you have been curious as to what this looks like.  These are “my” ladies, Kathy & Karla.  So nice and friendly. Treatments are going good.  I see Dr. Chris once a week & he’s let me know that I “can” do the boost at the end of these treatments.  The current treatments treat the whole breast, the “boost” is only concentrated on the area of the lumpectomy.

Yippee – I “can” add 5 more days at the end! LOL (Thanks Dr. Chris 😉 )

So other than my “Smashburger” episode, healing from the surgery was longer & slower than I’d expected. You never realize what an impact you put on your body by just walking. I have a tendency to walk fairly quickly anyway, but the 4 weeks following surgery I was walking like a little old lady down the hallway (at work).  It was exactly at the 4 week mark when I realized, hey I’m walking a little faster and my arm is down at my side.  The incision under my arm was the worst of it.  It was sore and swollen and I didn’t want to put my arm down. I had been walking so slow as to NOT “jiggle” ANYTHING! At four weeks – I could see light at the end of the tunnel.  Five weeks – feeling great. Six weeks – feeling fabulous.

I’ve since met with my Medical Oncologist (Dr. D) & my Radiation Oncologist (Dr. Chris). Even though my “dot” had been removed in the biopsy, because the cancer cell was present (even a 1.5mm dot) their suggestion was to STILL go through the treatments. That in “my case” I probably had a 1% chance of recurrence for every year – so in 30 years I’d have a 30% chance of recurrence (w/o radiation treatments). If I did the treatment, in my case, recurrence in 30 years would be maybe 8%. I was blessed to get a second opinion (without the cost of $600) and they recommended the same treatment, soooooo here we go . . . my first radiation treatment started yesterday, August 16. The treatment itself only lasted 10 min. but round trip took an hour and 15min. (have to drive downtown).  Treatments are EVERYDAY, Monday thru Friday, at 1pm for the next 5 weeks (one down – 24 to go).

You know it could be worse – and I’ve seen ladies “worse” in the waiting room. I’m thankful for my “dot”! I’m thankful for all those ladies who have gone before me and have been part of the research and treatment successes to get breast cancer treatment where it is today.

You are all caught up now and up to date. I will continue to post random “updates” and always do appreciate your prayers. Side effects can be similar to a sunburn and some women experience extreme fatigue either midway through treatment or at the end.  Dr. Chris (my radiation oncologist) told me 30% of women do the treatments without ANY noticeable differences. I told him I want to be one of them!

Some good news  . . . . . . the hospital I have to go to has valet parking!!! Sweeeet! 😉