I can't believe it has been a month since my last post. I guess it is a good thing, it must mean nothing really exciting is happening in my world these days. I will catch everyone up on what I have been doing and what is coming up for me.
Up first, implants. I have been completely filled! YAY! I had my last fill on November 10, 2011. I am very excited to not have to go through that any longer. Once Dr. Saunders filled me for the last time he told me he was going to miss me. He said that I was a pleasure to work with and that it is not everyday you meet someone who always has a smile on their face and someone that he looks forward to seeing, that made my day. My implants are filled to 680cc's, which makes me a C. At the time of my exchange surgery he will be able to make them up to a DD if I choose (sorry Ry, not going that big). He told me that I have to wait until March to get exchanged, the skin, muscle, and the expander implant have to settle before I can get a permanent implant placed, and thanks to radiation Dr. Saunders will have is work cut out for him due the skin on the right side losing elasticity. I see him again on March 5th and we will pick out the implant, Saline vs silicone vs gummy bear. Oh the decisions. I am currently scheduled to be exchanged on March 16th. This surgery will be the absolute final step in all of this, Dr. Saunders will also remove my port (thank God) during this procedure so there will be nothing left lingering around.
Radiation is no fun at all. I have 18 more radiation treatments left as of today. They are not painful just a pain. They are every morning Mon-Fri at 7:15am, it takes about 5-7 minutes to get radiated and then I just go right upstairs to work. I am being radiated on the right side, I get radiation to the implant area, my right side under my arm, and my chest. It is very weird to lay there and have this big machine rotate around you and because I have to lay with my head facing to the left I get to look at the radiation machine the entire time and see the little radiation box on the computer fill up and then I see RAD ON and watch as the green box empties. Kind of an unsettling feeling to know that at that moment my body is being radiated. I have been experiencing A LOT of fatigue with this, by 7:00pm I feel like it is midnight and I find myself really struggling to keep my eyes open, also because they are radiating my chest I was told that a portion of my right lung is being radiated as well, so I get the pleasure of feeling like I am winded and short of breath with doing the easiest of tasks, and the metal taste in my mouth that left after chemo has returned. I really do not have any skin changes yet, I have noticed that my surgery scar on that side is more red than the other side. Dr. Strasser, my rad onc, told me that when I am all done my right side will look like it was in the Bahamas while my left side will look like it stayed home. I will be completed on December 28, 2011 at that point I will start on the pill Tamoxifen for the next 5 years. I just want to make sure that no major cancer treatments carry over into the new year.
2011 will go down as the absolute worst year, it will also be the year I learned the most. I learned how strong I really am, both physically and emotionally. I learned how precious life is, how to live and most importantly I learned how to finally conquer anxiety!! It only took cancer and the possibility of dying but I am OVER my anxiety issues. 2012 is going to be a GREAT year, I can feel it.
Great update! You should have a big celebration on New Year's Eve - you'll be done w/radiation and 2012 WILL be a great year for you!
ReplyDeleteSorry you are fatigued with radiation. You'll get through it!
Alexis