Yesterday was my last radiation!!  I have some mixed emotions about this part of the journey coming to an end.   I am at the same time very happy that this treatment is over and a bit apprehensive that this treatment is over.  While actively treating the cancer, it is comforting to know that something is being done to kill all those nasties. When the treatments end, you just have to tell yourself over and over that one nasty cell is not hiding in a corner waiting to pop out and yell “I’m Back!”.

I want to give a HUGE shout out to the radiation techs at SCCA.  They are the best. Here are some members of a great team of people.  I am so thankful and lucky to have had them on my side for the last seven weeks.  I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.  You all helped to make the process as easy and enjoyable as possible.

I know some of you are wondering about Jody.  She finished radiation on Thursday and I finished on Friday.  Wednesday was actually a teary day for both of us.  We discussed our fear of radiation coming to an end.  Once again, it was nice to talk to someone who was feeling what I was feeling and understood what I am going through.  We have each other’s phone numbers and will keep in touch.

What comes next you ask?  Well for the near future, I will take a bit of time and concentrate on getting the rest of the house put together. Starting in January, I will add back more clients to my work schedule, which has been very minimal, to say the least.  I want to go on some trips in 2014, particularly a belated 30th anniversary trip with Scott.

I will have regular visits with the oncologist and the radiation oncologist.  I start hormone therapy soon and will continue that for a minimum of five years.  I also need to plan some “renovations” that are not associated with the house.  I will continue this blog as this journey is not over.  If you know of someone going through a journey of their own and they would like to talk,  I can be contacted via this blog or Facebook.  I am happy to help in any way I can.

Scott, David, Rachel and I went to a great restaurant to celebrate.  When Scott and I got home, this lovely surprise was waiting for me.  Thanks Diana and the Posts!  See the post Cheetos, Snickers and Peach Fuzz for back ground info.

This is the start of week seven of radiation.  The final week!  I will have my last radiation treatment on Friday, Nov. 15.  The original date was Thursday, Nov 14 but I got Veterans day off as a holiday.  There are four bracelets left.

The first 28 days of radiation focused on lymph nodes that drain the breast:  the  axillary nodes in the armpit, the internal mammary lymph nodes behind the breast bone, and the medial supraclavicular nodes located just above the collar bone. There are three levels of axillary nodes:

Level I is the bottom level, below the lower edge of the pectoralis minor muscle. Level II is lying underneath the pectoralis minor muscle.  Level III is above the pectoralis minor muscle.

Since I had a Level II axillary dissection,  those level III nodes still needed some attention.  The last five days of radiation are known as the “Boost.”  Basically the boost is radiation concentrated in the area where the tumor was located.  I get that site radiated from four different angles.  Not everybody has the same radiation protocol so if you expect to have or are having radiation treatments, your protocol may be different than mine.

I get the “Do you have burns?” question a lot.  Yes I do.  My collar bone is pretty affected.  I have skin peeling on my rib cage where a bra strap would be and my under arm is very tender.  I have a picture of my collar bone but thought that might be TMI!  Those area should start to feel better in another week or so.

Hair update photos below:

I think this last one is weird.  You can see that my bedroom is still a construction zone.