@Jax1964 What a wonderful photograph! Fantastic to see and feeling a lot of pride to see what you enjoying your life to it's full set. If that means climbing a mountain or hugging your dog, I am all for us all experiencing some good things in life. Re the smell, I was going to suggest the same as @Flaneuse. I use essential oils and with the brand I use, you can apply a drop to the lotion you are using and lather it on. One drop is sufficiently strong enough with my brand. But you need to make sure that it is an essential oil that can be applied topically, as with some, you can't. If you or anyone wants to know what I use and think is great, PM me and I will send you a link to the website if you feel like browsing. I've always loved essential oils so it made sense for me to become an 'advocate' for the brand I use. But I don't have a sales bone in my body so just purchase them at the wholesale price for friends and rellies. Happy to do the same for anyone here!
I last had radiation in March and am seeing my rad onc next week. My main issue to discuss is pain in the chest wall. I have had that since radiation ended and would like to know more about it. I recently had a chest cold that ended up with me having a chest xray that showed something where I had rad. So it was off to a CT scan then, and the finding was some changes thought to be associated with radiation, and possibly radiation pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung). I accepted this as a fact, as did my GP. Then I thought, hang on, ask the rad onc! He rang me the same day I called and was able to look at my images. He said no, it's too soon for you to get radiation pneumonitis. It usually occurs at least 9 months plus after radiation. He is going to check me out next week and see if I need steroids or something. (I am already taking antibiotics in case I had pneumonia and not just a cold and cough.) So I guess the moral of my story is I need to make sure I go for the expert opinion straight away and not wander around for a couple of weeks thinking I have something I don't! I was still a bit upset that the radiation has had an impact on the body besides just doing its job. I guess that's something I have to accept. My advice to myself is to now build up my immunity, or regain it, and get fitter and stronger. And start eating for immunity and good health/to lose weight for health reasons … I will start with walking and cutting out the cakes! I notice people keep telling me to have that slice of cake as I deserve a reward. But I know I have a middle that's expanding and that is no reward in the long term, so it's time to stop with these types of rewards! Love to all xxx
