A HALF YEAR

"Look forward, in the direction of sunshine."

- Lailah Gifty Akita -

Thursday, May 4

Yesterday marked 6 months since being told that I have breast cancer.

SIX MONTHS!

From very early on I knew I wanted to openly talk about my breast cancer. Share my experience. Express the highs and the lows. Remind women to get their mammograms. (PPSSTT... here's another reminder: GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS!) Start this blog. Accept support. Practice gratitude. And take charge how I was going to navigate this journey along the Pink Road.

BREAST CANCER. Whew. It's been quite the ride.

When I started my radiation therapy on April 24, I was scared. Uncertain. I didn't know what I was in for. I stepped back and retreated while I entered into the final phase of in-hospital treatment and so I decided to just concentrate on getting through the 15 treatments. Daily, Monday - Friday. I didn't have anything else on in the calendar. I was burnt out and knew I didn't have the bandwidth for anything else.

I was warned of the potential side effects (skin problems, discolouration, itch, redness and darkening, discomfort, changes to the size and shape of the breast, changes in the feeling, pain, tightness in the shoulder, fatigue, etc etc). Check! Check! Check!

A few days in, I started experiencing fatigue. By zap #5, I noticed the beginning of skin changes. Side effects have been cumulative and will continue for 2-3 weeks after my last day of treatment. I am tired. My energy is best in the early morning and then starts to tank as I go through the day. I've needed to take a nap earlier and earlier in my day. I am a nap champ!

I lube the boob with a water-based moisturizer a few times a day and apply saline soaks a few times a day too. This is to help with the skin conditions. So far so good. The Radiologist Oncologist advised that the peak of skin changes are yet to come. Oh JOY! Right now it feels as if I have a sunburn. Uncomfortable with pain that is easily manageable with meds.

As of today... I have 3 more "rays of sunshine" to go. WOOHOO!!

Yesterday, for the first time on the rad table, I cried. Happy tears as I near the end of active in-hospital treatments.

I’m celebrating all the LASTS… the last radiation oncology clinic (yesterday), the last radiation treatment (Tues. May 9) and look forward to the last of the home-treatments to counter the not-so-great side effects of the Rays of Sunshine. By around June 1, I should start experiencing more energy, side effects lessening and the return to regularly scheduled programming. 🤞🏼

Almost there my sweet love-humans. Almost there!!!

What's Next:

MAY 9: Last day of radiation treatment. Ringing the GONG!