Another 5 radiation treatments completed! Still feeling fine with no skin irritations or tired side effects! Yeah! So far, so good!
I did learn this week that my white blood cell count is still on the low side. This worried me for about a day - until I went back to Pluta the next day and talked to my chemo nurse. I told her my count (2.5) and she thought that was not very low. She also said - it takes a while to get the white cells back up from all the chemo. And that radiation can also affect the white cell counts. So - my white cells aren't as high as a person who has not had chemo, but they are not any where near as low as when I was on chemo. Nothing to worry about. Just the normal process, I guess!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
1st week of radiation done!
1 week down - 4 and 1/2 to go!
That was simple. So far, so good. Getting radiation first thing in the morning is just a simple part of my daily routine. I drive to Pluta, change into a hospital gown, lay on a table for 5ish minutes, the machine makes some noise, then I leave, get changed, drive to work and the day has begun. I do it all again the next day.
Busy Christy's Crew weekend ahead!
That was simple. So far, so good. Getting radiation first thing in the morning is just a simple part of my daily routine. I drive to Pluta, change into a hospital gown, lay on a table for 5ish minutes, the machine makes some noise, then I leave, get changed, drive to work and the day has begun. I do it all again the next day.
Busy Christy's Crew weekend ahead!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Smilin' through it all
Here is a sampling of the many faces and hairstyles of Christy over the past 8 months.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
My Hair
OK -
so I know everyone keeps asking about my hair (at least those who don't see me everyday). So, here it is. It is about 1/2 inch long and filling in pretty well. It's still straight and baby soft. And - the worst part- it's REALLY gray! I mean REALLY gray! It's hereditary - I got my first gray hair when I was 16, and have been full-out coloring my hair since I was in my late 20s.
I've been dying to just wear my hair out and about, but it is so gray, I couldn't stand it. All I could see was this old person in the mirror! So, today, I went to my hairdresser (for the first time in 6 months!) and got my hair colored. I am so happy I did!
When CJ and Celia walked in the door tonight - CJ said "Mommy, your hair looks pretty!".............I asked Jamie if he put CJ up to that - and he siad no, he came up with it on his very own. So, I know it must be 100 times better now that it is brown again!
I am very excited to have it continue to grow - It looks fine now, but I would like more hair. At least the hair I now have is brown! Thank God for hair colors! Most women don't know how much gray they really have, I got a chance to know, and let's just say "not knowing is much better!".
Here's the photos (not my best pictures but they will have to do):
Before:
After:
so I know everyone keeps asking about my hair (at least those who don't see me everyday). So, here it is. It is about 1/2 inch long and filling in pretty well. It's still straight and baby soft. And - the worst part- it's REALLY gray! I mean REALLY gray! It's hereditary - I got my first gray hair when I was 16, and have been full-out coloring my hair since I was in my late 20s.
I've been dying to just wear my hair out and about, but it is so gray, I couldn't stand it. All I could see was this old person in the mirror! So, today, I went to my hairdresser (for the first time in 6 months!) and got my hair colored. I am so happy I did!
When CJ and Celia walked in the door tonight - CJ said "Mommy, your hair looks pretty!".............I asked Jamie if he put CJ up to that - and he siad no, he came up with it on his very own. So, I know it must be 100 times better now that it is brown again!
I am very excited to have it continue to grow - It looks fine now, but I would like more hair. At least the hair I now have is brown! Thank God for hair colors! Most women don't know how much gray they really have, I got a chance to know, and let's just say "not knowing is much better!".
Here's the photos (not my best pictures but they will have to do):
Before:
After:
Monday, February 4, 2008
1st Radiation Treatment
February 4, 2008 = first of 28 radiation treatments.
It went fine. My appointment is at 8am every day. I was in my car by 8:20am. I didn't feel anything. It's like getting an XRay. I just lay there and the machine "radiates".
I was at work by 9am and that's with a stop at Rite Aid. (I fell on some black ice in the parking lot at Pluta while I was leaving and got a boo boo on my thumb. I needed to get neosporin and band aids. You would think that after living in Rochester for 15 years, I would know better than to not wear my boots outside in the winter!)
Potential side effectsof radiation: skin rashes / burning (over time, most people don't get bad burns, just irritation after a few weeks) and tiredness (again, cumulative - my doc said it would feel like I spent the day in the sun - nothing like chemo tired).
So - I am expecting that this process will go smoothly. Just 27 more times! Like groundhog day - every day!
It went fine. My appointment is at 8am every day. I was in my car by 8:20am. I didn't feel anything. It's like getting an XRay. I just lay there and the machine "radiates".
I was at work by 9am and that's with a stop at Rite Aid. (I fell on some black ice in the parking lot at Pluta while I was leaving and got a boo boo on my thumb. I needed to get neosporin and band aids. You would think that after living in Rochester for 15 years, I would know better than to not wear my boots outside in the winter!)
Potential side effectsof radiation: skin rashes / burning (over time, most people don't get bad burns, just irritation after a few weeks) and tiredness (again, cumulative - my doc said it would feel like I spent the day in the sun - nothing like chemo tired).
So - I am expecting that this process will go smoothly. Just 27 more times! Like groundhog day - every day!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Ramping up for the last leg of treatment
Radiation!
I have spent the past week prepping for radiation. It's amazing how much prep work goes into radiation. Technology is so good - they can radiate only my breast and axillary lymph area without it affecting any of my other organs. To do so, requires a lot of prep.
First, I had a breast area cat scan for them to determine where my heart, lungs, etc are in relation to the area they will be radiating. Then, I went to the "simulation" room at Pluta where they used the cat scan and radiation / Xray equipment to mark the exact areas on the machine and my body where I will be radiated. This helps so that the machines are set to my exact measurements each and every time I go for radiation. Lastly, I went to lay under the actual radiation machine, ensuring the measurement and markings are correct, the machine is set and more Xrays were taken.
None of this was painful. I was just surprised at the prep work involved! Radiation is an individualized process that is an exact science.
So - Monday begins my 28 sessions of radiation - 8am every day at Pluta, M-F! I should be done on March 12, 2008. The sessions last about 15 min each day.
I have spent the past week prepping for radiation. It's amazing how much prep work goes into radiation. Technology is so good - they can radiate only my breast and axillary lymph area without it affecting any of my other organs. To do so, requires a lot of prep.
First, I had a breast area cat scan for them to determine where my heart, lungs, etc are in relation to the area they will be radiating. Then, I went to the "simulation" room at Pluta where they used the cat scan and radiation / Xray equipment to mark the exact areas on the machine and my body where I will be radiated. This helps so that the machines are set to my exact measurements each and every time I go for radiation. Lastly, I went to lay under the actual radiation machine, ensuring the measurement and markings are correct, the machine is set and more Xrays were taken.
None of this was painful. I was just surprised at the prep work involved! Radiation is an individualized process that is an exact science.
So - Monday begins my 28 sessions of radiation - 8am every day at Pluta, M-F! I should be done on March 12, 2008. The sessions last about 15 min each day.
Friday, February 1, 2008
First Week Back to Work
I am in process of completing my first week back at work! And it felt GREAT to be back! I have felt fine and it's good to have the entire household get back to some normal routines. I was out of work for 6 weeks with this surgery and even though it seemed like a lifetime while going through the surgery recovery, looking back it seems like just yesterday I went out for surgery!
It has been a busy week. Not only have I had work, I have had to squeeze in my walk training and a lot of doctor appointments getting ready for radiation.
But - Ruth, Alice and I have been doing our walk training together at lunch time. We even brought our Logility consultant, Michele, with us one day, in replace of eating lunch out. We just ate while we worked (who doesn't?).
It has been a busy week. Not only have I had work, I have had to squeeze in my walk training and a lot of doctor appointments getting ready for radiation.
But - Ruth, Alice and I have been doing our walk training together at lunch time. We even brought our Logility consultant, Michele, with us one day, in replace of eating lunch out. We just ate while we worked (who doesn't?).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)