(Almost Halfway Finished) Radiation Update
Sorry that it's been awhile since we last updated everyone on things. Honestly, it's been quiet-not much new! I'm 12 treatments in, with 18 more to go, and I'm feeling really good. The expected side effects from radiation are nausea, fatigue, headache, hair loss and skin sensitivity where the beams are directed. I was most worried about the headaches and nausea, which I haven't really experienced, but I am approaching the 3 week mark, which signifies the expected hair loss timepjoint. And yes, it's happening. And because the tumor was on the right side, that's where the radiation beams are directed, so I'm looking a bit asymmetrical right now, afraid to open the car window for fear that my hair might fly out the window. Honestly, it's literally hanging on by a thread or two. I'll probably go back to the all over shaved head look and resort to all the beautiful hats I've received! Honestly though, the proton radiation therapy has been quite easy and manageable so far. The center is very zen like. Everyone there, from the reception staff to the technicians are lovely, welcoming, and it's just a nice place to have to go to on a daily basis. And we are lucky to have the center just 15 minutes from our house! Besides my vanity and the loss of hair that I'm venting about, I'm just feeling some mild mild fatigue. When 10:00pm hits, I'm spent. I take occasional naps to get me through the day, but besides that, I've been able to continue with my regular activities, like running (unfortunately I can barely do 3 miles without feeling winded), and I've also been doing pilates (thanks Deb and Suzan for turning me on to that!) and yoga. We have also been savoring and holding onto our normal lives as much as possible, like being able to cook meals, run errands, prepare lunch and breakfast, and do grocery shopping together. For those of you interested in helping out with meals, right now, we have been really trying to keep things as much like our pre brain cancer diagnosis lives as possible. Helps us all feel strong, appreciate the simple things, and look forward to next year when all the treatment is behind us. Who knows if that will change when chemo starts in early November, after my post radiation/pre chemo MRI and rest month (YAY!), so stay tuned and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The support and love and well wishes we continue to receive from friends and family continues to make me tear up-it's overwhelming! Dan and the girls are doing well, getting back into their routines of school and work. I, too, am looking forward to resuming work part time. I went into work a few weeks back and was overjoyed to see everyone. It's been almost 7 weeks since my seizure and about that long since I have seen many of my work colleagues. And I feel so personally connected to the work that we do at Juno, in a way that I hadn't been before, now being on the patient side. Have a great start of the school year, for all of you with kids in school! Ciao, for now....[...]
