For Adult Audiences Only...contains photos of my skin

Finally, radiation has started to take its toll on my skin and my body this week . I started what is called Boost radiation where the focus is only on my breast area and the setup was a little different. They get closer over my body and have a contraption that attaches from the radiation machine which practically touches my skin compared to the prior 5 weeks.

The whole treatment takes a whole whopping 15 seconds and I'm done, but the dosage is stronger and more localized so I am noticing some more side effects. For instance, last night I slept for about 12 hours! Definitely radiation fatigue! Also my skin is much more red on the left breast and armpit and I just had my first 'break' in the tissue. As you can see, even the areas around my collarbone are beginning to show the burn from the radiation. And while this photo shows a coloration difference between left and right, it's even worse in real life! But, sorry, this is about as much as I would show on this site. Believe me, it's worse!

Actually, the break in my skin is because I removed  the 'sticker' they put on me for lining up the beam. They said I could remove all of them except the new ones they put on me yesterday which were only on the breast. When I peeled it off my skin on my sternum area, the skin was super red and today, it actually feels like  when a blister pops.

I was given a new cream from Dr. Kharofa in case the skin breaks opens, so I applied that today to help with healing. It's called Silvadene Cream 1%.

So, thankfully, I only have 3 more days of radiation and I hope it won't break down much more, but I am glad it has held off at least this long.

ONE MORE WEEK OF RADIATION AND I'M DONE!! GOOD BYE CANCER!

It's been 3 weeks since my last blog! I guess the reasons are good ones...I feel great! I have not experienced hardly any fatigue and my skin does not hurt. My radiation is going as well as one could imagine! Thank you, Jesus! To be specific, I have only had two days in the past 5 weeks when I had to lay down and take a little snooze. Not bad.  My skin is definitely more red and splotchy, but there is no itching, no pain, no peeling and no real awareness of it unless I rub my skin too hard. I keep it moisturized regularly and don't shower with super hot water, like I usually like, so I really don't even think about my radiation except for when I drive to my appointment every M-F or when someone asks. Here is Jen pointing out what they see when the radiation technologists treat me.

So since I have been feeling so awesome, I have been volunteering for my dentist, have started developing a dental hygiene coaching business, and keeping busy with my social schedule, including having a LulaRoe party. So glad my sweet daughter got to join me and now we can be matching mama and daughter!

We have hockey games to attend, friends to enjoy, and fun to have!

Next week my radiation will be even shorter as they will do what's called a BOOST, where they will no longer radiate my armpit or clavicle area but only focus on the area where the breast tumor was. So my 3 minute radiation appointment will turn into a 15 second appointment next week.

I also will meet with my medical oncologist on Monday and get the final word on when I can have my rotator cuff surgery.

For now, I'm keeping busy with normal life stuff. So thankful to be alive! And my hair just keeps on growing! Only 3 more years and it will look like BCD (Before Cancer Days).

Radiation Fatigue And Free Time Activities

Radiation is continuing to go swimmingly. I'm almost done with week 3 and still feeling great! My skin feels and looks normal. I am faithful to apply aloe or Ann Post's Whipped Neem Balm on it multiple times daily. I haven't used the castor oil as much. It's so sticky and really I feel like the others do the job just fine. Fatigue might be just starting a little as I felt like laying down a while last evening, but it was short lived because my mind was going a hundred miles per hour so I couldn't sleep. So from a cancer treatment perspective, it's nice to report that it's uneventful!

Since I'm feeling well, I have been able to keep busy with normal activities, for us, like having our annual Frozen Butt Hang last weekend! Great fun being with such awesome people and relaxing in our woods around a huge campfire and enjoying the gift of wonderful friends! We had 16 for the campfire and potluck dinner and 10 overnight campers!

Also, I am now volunteering a little of my time at my place of work. No, I am not able to do dental hygiene yet. In fact, that won't happen until after my shoulder surgery. But I'm helping our Dr. Henize with some marketing projects. It's quite fun and since I'm not getting a paycheck for it, I can come and go pretty liberally. That's nice for when I'm needing to have a day with a friend or two. In fact, this week Liz, Brooklyn and I had the 'joy' of being together to help Liz go through Jordan's final belongings like his clothes closet, his box of things with him when he died, and they cleaned out his locker at the firehouse. This was hard. This was emotional. This was necessary. I'm thankful to be able to be available for days like this. In in all, we still agree that God is good.

So after 276 days...cancer has been a good teacher. It has shown me the compassion, generosity, and love of so many people. It has given me the gift of new perspective on living and life (thank you Dr. Mary Neal). It has offered me lots of time with my amazing husband, for which I am most thankful. And it has taught me that even when I have lots of time on my hands...I still don't like to exercise! However, I did do something this past weekend that was quite fun. Aerial yoga...

Two Weeks Of Radiation Down, Four to Go!

I started radiation a couple weeks ago and nothing has really changed physically. It's still quick, easy, and painless. In fact, I was told that I should expect fatigue after week 1 or 2 and I still am feeling normal energy. In fact, I've woken up a few times at 2-3 a.m. and couldn't fall back asleep! My skin has not turned pink or feel like sunburn yet either! So lots to be thankful for.

After chemo and losing my hair, I went from long brown (30% gray) to bald. Then on October 15, 2016 I stopped shaving my few hairs remaining and let it start growing back in. Now I have a really cute hair color that I've been told that people would pay lots of money to have their hair colored like how mine is growing back in! I'm loving it, but it will be growing out long again. And I'm thankful everyday for bedhead...it means I have hair!

I've also enjoyed hanging with some local friends, Susan and Karen,

my daughter, Sarah Jean,

 and this weekend I have the joy of LillyMae Pieniazek as she will 'hang' with us tomorrow night at our Frozen Butt Hang! We were out in the Wonderly Woods all afternoon preparing for the 'hangers'! I am so appreciative that I have the physical strength and energy to do this. We love hanging in our woods!