Hello

Thought I’d better check-in. Apparently it’s been 14 days since my last post!

Today will be day 15 of my radiotherapy and my final ‘normal’ one. ‘End of treatment’ it says on the list of dates and times but then there’s another five dates and times. These ones are just a ‘boost’. Where the normal one radiates my whole breast, the following five just target the tumour area. These extras are given because of my age, positive blood vessels, grade of tumour and aggression (the cancer, not me). Apologies if I’ve already told you that – 14 days is equivalent to 14 years with a combination of menopause/chemo brain.

The radiotherapy was all going swimmingly, complete doddle until I got to last Thursday (session 11). Then the tiredness got up and gave me a Tyson punch! I feel drugged I’m so tired yet suffering from insomnia, ironically, which really doesn’t help. So tired yet can’t sleep – go figure!

My right tit, sorry breast, (don’t want you getting confused with any person who may come under this category), is very red. It is the sun burnt red and I am expecting it to turn brown any day. Sunday evening it started to become very painful and yesterday there is definitely swelling. I saw my oncologist yesterday who said this is all normal but has given me a different cream to use if it gets any worse.

He is still very concerned about my hip. I’ve got rheumatology in a couple of weeks. I said all is good as at least his side was clear but he said even though bone and ct scan were clear he’s very concerned and wants me to do more bloods and hopefully rheumatology will order an MRI – not sure why he didn’t, will ask next time. Putting it all to one side and just taking each day at a time.

I asked him when I should start with the Tamoxifen. Someone had told me the day before I should be on it by now. He said as my last chemo gave me added complications, my scare at Christmas and my hip he didn’t want any more things for me to cope with as the side effects are not that good. I can start now or wait until after. I think I’m going to wait until after we are back from holiday. I’m sure a few more weeks won’t hurt and will be nice to let my body have a rest from any more meds, especially that one as I’ll be on it for 10-15 years! Hopefully I’ll be one of the few lucky ones who doesn’t get the side effects.

I am still unable to walk or stand for very long. Was a bad day yesterday, I’m in so much pain. Getting in the shower looked like a scene from a Carry-on film! I am unable to use a stick to help me walk as my trigger thumb is coming back so hand too tender to put any pressure on it – and that would be a lot of pressure! I’ve had to remove my rings as fingers have swollen on both hands. I googled excercises for fat fingers but I’m not convinced!

My hair is growing back very quickly, I’ll be plaiting it by the end of the month – well not quite but I do have a very visual hair-line. Before it was unclear where my forehead stopped and hair-line started. Although I was happy with the head/hair merger, it is nice to see it coming back. It’s so fluffy I can’t stop stroking my head! Leg hair never left so I probably could plait them!

I still have amazing friends. I was told to be ready last Saturday at 11.30. I was picked up, blindfolded and taken to a secret location. Well there wasn’t a blindfold and the place not really secret as open to the public but I didn’t know where we were going and didn’t even realise it was there so sort of secret. I was taken out for afternoon tea by my two lovely friends. Left with a belly full of tea, cake and laughter!

Saturday evening was amazing too. Friend’s surprise 50th. An evening spent with old friends, more belly laughing. Was nice to see so many people but I still tend to hide in the corner whereas before I’d be up and mingling (doesn’t look like that’s how it’s spelt but there is an ‘l’ before some of you start!).

Best go get ready, we have our daily trip to hospital soon.  I worked out that in total  this radiotherapy alone is 1.120 miles altogether. That’s not including the day the road was closed and we went on a huge de-tour. This cancer malarkey is expensive!