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!