As of yesterday, I have had 8 sessions - so nearly halfway there. The first 3 took longer as there were images to take. Since then though, it has taken roughly 10 minutes to position and treat and about 30 minutes to wait for my turn. Radiotherapy patients seem to be more chatty and you get to see familiar faces as you get called through to the second waiting area. Unfortunately you don't get to see the same staff. A week and a half into my treatment and I'm still seeing new faces coming in to treat me (treat sounds like I have something lovely waiting for me every time I go in - believe me, I don't!).
This is something I was discussing with a fellow rads patient (new friend!). Her name is Gemma and she's 28 - breast cancer but not as invasive as mine. Sad thing is I consider myself to be nearer her age than that of the other rads patients - reality is probably very different! We had a really good chat yesterday and are at similar stages in treatment (she's 1 ahead of me). She's also on Herceptin (which I don't have to have), given intravenously, and has a Hickman line still fitted. Hope to see her again next week for another chat. 28, it's no age is it? Neither is 31 or 12 - two local lads who died last week of cancer. If I feel cheated, how did they feel, or how do their families feel now? I hate cancer.
The Tamoxifen is giving me a crap taste in my mouth and making me feel a bit nauseous at times (thought I was done with all that!). Hopefully, it's just while my body adjusts to it as I may be on it for 5 years!!
I'm feeling a bit tired, but think that's dependent on what I'm doing. Thursday was a long day - met up with Gaynor in the morning, then rads, then pick all the kids up, then Lynne (friend from work) round early evening - I was falling asleep soon after tea! Most days, though, I leave at 12:00 and don't get chance to relax properly until 17:00, when I've arrived back home, having picked all the kids up. So, I take advantage and don't do anything in the mornings, bit self indulgent really! Thursday was exceptional - in more ways than 1! Gaynor picked me up and parked in a pay and display car park. I got the ticket and forgot to look at the expiry time. Needless to say time flew, we went over and came back to a bloody parking ticket! Then, when I got home, I realised that Livi had waltzed off with the car keys and I had no way of getting to the hospital! I had to ring Chris, who came home from work with his keys! Naturally I was late and had to ring the department to let them know. In the end it was only half an hour and I didn't have to wait long before going in. Stress or what??!!
The areas on my body they treat are starting to look a bit red now and also a bit puffy. Yesterday, I mentioned that my right arm was looking a bit swollen and had a chat to one of the radiotherapy team who knows about lymphoedema. She gave me some more exercises to do and is referring me to the lymphoedema clinic - that compression sleeve is getting closer and closer! I also had to have bloods taken yesterday (words such as pin and cushion immediately sprang to mind!) but hey presto, the HCA got it first time, didn't hurt me and I've not bruised - result!
Other than that, I just go in, strip off, lay on the slab and don't move until they've done what they need to do. It's a walk in the park compared to chemo!
No comments:
Post a Comment