The end of radiotherapy
After eight months of non stop treatment I have come to the end of radiotherapy. Whooppeeee.
I can't complain, my skin may red but it is intact. I took part in a little study at the hospital to see if a plastic film over the breast would help maintain the skins integrity and I do believe for me it has been of benefit.
My skin has been sore but when that happens I just put some more cream on and that has helped enormously. I have been using a combo of sorbolene and moo-goo. The radiation will continue to do it's work for another two weeks so I am hopeful for a continued good result.
It was such a relief to finish. Very emotional. I put on a morning tea at work for all the people who have supported me and that was even more emotional. I was giving a splendid speech to thank everyone and they gave me flowers to celebrate the end of my treatment and I completely lost it. Hadn't shed a tear until then. Perhaps the floodgates are open now - will have to see.
After morning tea I posted a message on our intranet to let everyone at work know how important their support was in enabling me to be at work and to remind all the girls not to ignore or postpone their breastscreens. I would like to share some of those thoughts with you:
I will give you some examples of why being at work has been important to me:
1. I believed everyone when they told me how well I was looking on chemo - the photos I have of that time tell a different story but I thank you for bolstering my spirits.
2. Finding little gifts like the headwear I found on my desk one day - I can assure you it is very hard to find headwear you want to wear.
3. The friendship, the laughter, the jokes, the hugs, the conversation.
4. Amazing people.
Cancer has put colour back into my life - I wish I didn't have cancer but I won't regret the experience because of the lessons learned along the way.
Several messages later, I think Breastscreen Geelong will be busy for a while. Made me feel it was all worthwhile. I love that my experience has had a positive impact on others.
Well, my hair is growing back and I have to say I am loving my extraordinarily short hair so much that I think I will keep it. It is a different colour and I think it is curlier but too short to tell. My eyebrows are back in full force. My eyebrows look really black against my hair which is very white with some brown underneath.
I have a whole week off before I see my medical oncologist and then it will be hormone therapy. I believe the plan will be to go on arimadex. It's wonderful that before I go on the therapy, I have to have a bone density scan and bloods for vitamin D - for every positive there is a negative impact but as always I will keep my eye on the prize which is of course a long and healthy life.
I don't want to make it sound like nothing bad has happened and it has all been a breeze, it hasn't, but overall I still consider myself to be very fortunate and that this experience has been a positive one.
Finally, I want to wish everyone all the best with whatever challenges they have to face because we don't know what tomorrow will bring. Keep smiling. Laughter really is the best medicine.
Maureen
