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.