Ring That Bell!

Thursday 14th September - Tuesday 19th September

I AM DONE! Yesterday (Monday 18th Sept) I had my final dose of radiotherapy! Apart from friends coming over to our house for dinner on Sunday 17th, the past few days since my last blog don't seem to have any significance - only yesterday - my final radiotherapy treatment. It meant the start of a new chapter in my recovery, a chapter where, apart from my Herceptin every 3 weeks, I don't have to have any further treatment - all I have to do is concentrate on getting really well and getting through any of the 'left over' side effects of the chemo and of course the radiotherapy.
I must just mention that on Friday 15th I attended the Lymphoedema Clinic - all is well! I have no excess swelling or fluid in my left arm after the lymph nodes being taken from my left armpit. I have another check up in November. Also on Saturday I managed to go to Essex University open day - Reno and Sam had been earlier in the year when I wasn't so well, so we decided to go and have another look to give me a taste of the University that Sam hopes to get a place in - I approve!!!!
Back to Monday! - after my final treatment I had a review appointment where I was given a copy of my treatment plan and some information regarding side effects which can reach a peak 7-10 days after the last treatment. I have another appointment on 7th November by which time any side effects will have passed and the clinic will just make sure that I have no worries about anything and that any side effects have passed and healed. I was asked if I had any questions but I only had one - "Please can I ring the bell now?" "Of course! It's a must!" was the answer!
In the reception of the radiotherapy department there is a large brass bell fixed to a plaque on the wall - the bell was donated by a Karl & Shirl Barber and customers of The Railway Inn, Aldeburgh - on the side of the plaque is the following rhyme by Irve Le Moyne:-

Ring this bell

Three times well

Its toll to clearly say

My treatments done

This course is run

And I am on my way

Each radiotherapy patient gets to ring the bell after their last treatment and everyone around applauds! So I made my way into reception and.............I rang that bell! and the applause followed, I felt quite emotional as I left the department and made my way to the car.

 

So I guess that now my journey is almost done, I feel relieved, uncertain, happy, tired, elated, a bit insecure.................yes a whole range of emotions - it's been a tough year and I know I still have some recovery time to go as well as regular check up appointments. I am so grateful for all the doctors, nurses, radiotherapists, and surgeons who have made me well - they are all my heroes.  I am grateful and want to thank all my family and friends who have been on this journey with me, whose support has been so much appreciated, especially my sisters Anita and June - there have been times that I simply would not have got through if it wasn't for them and at times I wasn't the best of patients to look after - they will know what I mean! Of course words cannot express my love for Reno and Sam they are my world and my fight was for them above all. They have had so much to put up with but they have taken it all in their stride keeping me focused throughout.

 

I hope this blog may help others who find themselves in a similar situation to me.

 

So during the past 8 months 20days after diagnosis of breast cancer:-

 

I accepted it    -    I fought it with every bit of strength I had    -    and    -    I BEAT IT!!!!!

 

 

 



Almost there!

Thursday 7th September - Wednesday 13th September 2017

Today, Wednesday 13th September, I have had my 12th dose of radiotherapy - only 3 more to go and I will be done. Hoorah!!!! Having the radiotherapy has been fine but  my skin is now beginning to feel slightly tender and has a pink tinge to it! A bit like slight sunburn really. I am continuing to moisturise although I am told that if the skin starts to break down then I should stop until it heals. Apparently the worst of the side effects tends to be approx. 7-10 days after the treatment is finished - that is if it is going to get any worse! Tiredness still affects me quite badly - sometimes I feel so tired I could just cry! - but I am not going to let that happen as I think that would make me feel quite low in myself and at this stage I really should be on a high that my treatment is almost done! The good thing is that I am sleeping very well at night!
Tomorrow I am going to have some complimentary reflexology at the Macmillan Information Centre which I am very much looking forward to. Time to totally relax!! On Friday I have an appointment at the Lymphoedema clinic to help with the restriction I feel in my armpit since having a couple of lymph nodes removed when I had surgery.
So the past week has passed quite quickly including a lovely weekend when we spent some time with Reno's brother and sister in law - shame about the shower of rain but it certainly didn't dampen our day!

Oh so Tired!

Wednesday 30th August - Wednesday 6th September
Today (Wednesday 6th Sept) I had radiotherapy treatment number 7 so tomorrow I will be over half way to the treatment being finished. The past few days I have been so tired it's hard to describe! I thought that this would happen nearer the end of the treatment but apparently it can happen at any time - everyone reacts differently. I have also felt very emotional and a bit tearful but again that is, I am told, perfectly normal. Unfortunately I have also hurt my left shoulder (believe it or not, just by tying an apron behind my back!) so lying in the position which I am required to for my treatment is not easy and quite painful - my saving grace is the fact that I only have to lie still for approx. 10 mins! It feels longer than that but I try and pass the time by either singing along to the music which plays (not out loud obviously! - that would be too much for anyone to take!!!!) or by reciting nursery rhymes! Not sure where that idea came from but it works anyway!! I saw my oncologist today who has prescribed some extra strong pain relief tablets to help me get through my radiotherapy and also I have been to see a physiotherapist today to try and get some help with my shoulder as suggested by one of the nurses in the department.
The area that the radiotherapy is treating, is at the moment still looking good - the skin is still a good colour (not going red yet) and I am using a moisturiser daily as recommended. I get some 'pricking' sensations in that area but I am told that this is quite normal and is just my body repairing internally and the nerves trying to repair - bearing in mind that at the same time the radiotherapy is destroying cells that are also having to regenerate. In other words as I keep being told - there is still an awful lot going on!!! So its little wonder that sometimes I am just too tired to think let alone actually do anything! I am concentrating all my efforts on getting the radiotherapy done so that I can 'tick off' another milestone of my journey.
My last finger nail has finally come off so now we just await the toenails!
In the last week I have booked some complementary therapy (foot massage) and a place on a health and well being day as well as a place on a HOPE course in October. These things are all offered by the Cancer Information Centre at the hospital free of charge to help with coping after treatment has finished, returning to work etc. and how to look after new nails and hair, how to manage tiredness and emotions etc. Once I have attended each event and therapy I will include in my blog what they were all about and how they have helped. Should be interesting I think, and will hopefully get me meeting more people who have been affected by Cancer and sharing our experiences. I hope also that it will get me a bit more prepared for returning to work eventually!
All in all I am fine, and life is getting easier than when I was having chemotherapy so for that I am always grateful. This journey has been and is quite incredible!