Nearing the end of my radiotherapy treatment with a smile on my face ...

I've settled into radiotherapy - took me a couple of weeks to become comfortable with it all and after completing 20 treatments sessions I only have 5 remaining! I've also become fully emancipated in the last few weeks! No I haven't burnt my bras - I've become braless! Which makes working out quite interesting and yes, I know good support is important but because radiotherapy causes my breast to swell, wearing a bra can create problems by rubbing and blistering the skin as it thins. 

My last week is not going to be easy. I've an itchy rash  - a sign of early radio dermatitis ( 98% of patients undergoing radiotherapy develop the condition) hopefully, it will remain at the itchy stage and not progress any further.  Of course, it has to happen at a weekend!  I'll definitely be speaking to my radiation nurse on Monday to find out what I can use to ease the itchiness.

I've been working out since my treatment commenced in early January  - I'm keeping fit and I am definitely feeling fantastic. I changed things around last week, cutting my workouts back to three workouts a week (instead of five) and in the days that I am not working out I have set my own shoulder/chest workouts which I do with light weights. This is to keep my shoulder/chest muscles working as radiotherapy can cause problems in these areas. I usually follow my shoulder/chest circuit by 10/20 minutes of cardio on the treadmill.  

I have noticed that my morning workouts are taking longer even though I've decreased my lifting weight by 2 kilos! It's also now noticeable climbing the stairs in the car park. We usually park in the Argyle car park opposite the Hobart Hospital on Level 5/6. Trip down two flights of stairs and cross the covered bridge which has direct access into the hospital opposite. Down a few more flights of stairs to ground level and wind our way to the Holman Clinic for my 2.00 pm appointment. On our return, we leave the clinic and go via the street - because the ticket machines are on the ground floor! Of course this means climbing the stairs back to the car. In my first two weeks I could easily run up to the 5th floor with breath to spare and reach the 6th floor without panting and stand waiting for my husband. Now in my fourth week, it is noticeable that I tire after running up a couple of flights and I now have to stop at the third floor to catch my breath before continuing to walk upwards with my husband grinning at me as he waits for me to reach him! (He is usually trailing me).

Showering is not so fun nowadays. Hot water or warm water is a real no, no so luke warm water it is. It was 5C here this morning so a shower definitely causes the shivers though it is refreshing in one sense!

Of course, having radiotherapy to your full breast means that part of your underarm (though my lymph nodes are not targeted) is involved. You are advised not to shave or use any creams on the area. Imagine my surprise, the other morning, when I patted myself dry to find that the hairs on the lower underarm were no more. Have to say it looks very strange seeing the top of my underarm hairy and the lower part of my underarm bald! As well as having one slightly tanned/red breast compared to the other breast which is white. And yes, the breast being treated feels heavy and sore and the nipple (which has darkened considerably) very, very tender!

Ah the joys of radiotherapy. The radiotherapy is not painful in itself . The after affects are mentioned but you have to experience them to truly understand. Everyone reacts differently but for me it's the enlarged sore nipple, the itchy rash, the miscellaneous spots that appear and disappear on the skin, the skin tenderness and the redness.   

I tell myself that I only have 5 sessions to complete my treatment and I console myself with the thought as to why I am doing this - radiotherapy lessens the chance of my cancer returning by 50%!  Well worth it to my mind.

I'm feeling the best I have felt since the beginning of my treatment. I am eating well, maintaining my weight, working out and walking and although I do tire slightly I am managing to keep myself fit which has definitely helped me through my treatment program.  

Five more sessions and then that's it - treatment over - I am so looking forward to living my life again ...