I RANG THE GONG!

15 ROUNDS OF RADIATION THERAPY DONE!

Tuesday, May 9

I rang the f@@kn' GONG! On Tuesday, May 9th at approximately 9 am, I rang the end-of-treatment gong at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

15 rounds of radiation therapy. Done. My last in-hospital treatment for my breast cancer. And hopefully my last ever!

Watch the gong ringing HERE.

Soon after starting my radiation treatment, I started to experience fatigue. It would come on suddenly with my needing to put my head down. Time started shifting quickly from experiencing fatigue at around 5 pm, then moving to 2 pm, then by 12 noon I was done for the day.

As soon as I started radiation I had realized that I was only going to be able to concentrate on getting my treatment, the daily trips to Princess Margaret (excluding weekends), taking care of me, lubing the boob with water-based moisturizer a few times a day, applying saline soaks to my skin often, and resting. Everything else was taken out of my calendar.

After my treatment on May 9th, David and I celebrated at one of our fav pubs, Sin & Redemption on McCaul, followed by my sabering a bottle of bubbly to add some flare to my special day!

Post-Treatment Reality Strikes Back

The side effects continued to increase in grand form. This was expected. Since the side effects are cumulative, it would be another 2 weeks or so before I hit the peak. My fatigue continued to increase. Some days it was hard even getting out of bed. Just doing simple little tasks would wipe me out. First thing in the morning was by far my best time to get anything done. It was a struggle. So much so, that even thinking about updating this blog was too much. I tried to get some fresh air and a short walk in, but as time went on, even that was difficult. And I had foggy brain. Ugh.

And then there was the skin. Oh the skin!! Blistering with lots of discomforts. The daily rituals of skin care continued and I was applying saline soaks more and more each day in the hopes to lessen the side effects. I couldn't find relief.

Just before the 2 week post-end-of-treatment mark, I was in really rough shape. Any movement would cause pain. I could barely allow my left arm to come in contact with my side. All the skin folds (under the arm and under my left boob) were on fire!!! I was in tears at the end of each day. I was in so much pain and nothing I did seemed to work. Brutal. Just brutal. It felt as if I had paper cuts all over a severe sun-burn from under my arm, the arm pit, the upper left side and my entire left boob. OUCH! Luckily, at the Nurse's Clinic, the wonderful Nurse Renée saved me. She applied dressings and a mesh overlay to keep it all in place. GAME CHANGER! She loaded me up with supplies and within a few days, I was well on the mend and no longer in so much discomfort.

By week 3 post-treatment, I was definitely healing. In the last week, my skin has started to peel, as if from a bad sunburn. It's like I'm a molting snake. Not sure if my skin will ever return fully to its original colour or state, and right now I don't care. Just knowing and feeling that the worst is truly over is such a gift and a huge relief. I AM SO GRATEFUL!! I have also had little glimpses of my returning energy! WOOHOOO, I'm starting to feel like myself again. AMEN TO THAT!!!

HUZZAHHHH! We have turned a corner!