I had my first radiation therapy treatment yesterday. It was quick and easy. It took longer to bike to the hospital than have the treatment. My radiation technician, Bronwyn, who is probably 22 years old and absolutely beautiful, told me that I probably wouldn't feel anything for the first couple of weeks. Works for me!
The actual radiation treatments takes about 5 minutes. I basically lie on the bed and the machine moves all around me stopping at a few spots to zap me. The only thing that I have to focus on is keeping my chin up (because they are radiating near my collar bone) and not moving. Yesterday, I took the opportunity to have a little cat nap.
Well, off to the hospital again ... trying to work myself up to bike there ...
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Long, overdue update
Wow it's been a while since I last blogged. There's been so much going on that I don't know where to start. I guess I'll start with the tattoos.
I had the radiation tattoos a couple of weeks ago and everything went extremely well. The actual tattooing part of the appointment only took a few minutes and was relatively painless. I was a little nervous since one of the technician had said it hurt. Clearly, he's a man and has never had to experienced real pain.
Last week was a busy week. It started off with one of my fellow Stepping Stones ladies calling to remind me about modelling bathing suits for Kelly's Mastectomy Boutique. I immediately freaked out. Have I mention that I gained weight during chemo! But I thought what the hell! It's for a good cause. So Tuesday night, the four of us headed to the shop for a pre-modelling soiré. We picked out our bathing suits, wraps, and hats ... and then practiced our "walk". It was a hoot! Friday was our debut! We had to be at the A Channel for 7:30 a.m. cause we walking the red carpet at 8:00 a.m. I decided to ride my bike to the station in the hopes of burning off a few extra calories ... as I got closer to the station I was overwhelmed by the sea of pink. The station was having a pancake breakfast in support of breast cancer. Needless to say, by the time I walked in I was almost in tears. The actually modelling was fun and in the end I really didn't care about the extra pounds. I did, however, suck in my belly the whole time!
As of today I'm finished the exercise study. I still have access to the gym (for free) and my lovely trainer but the actual set 30-minute cardio is done. The post-chemo test is scheduled for later this morning. So, as of next week I can increase my cardio and add some strength training to my regime. Of course, I also start radiation next week so I may be too tired to go bananas but trust me I'm going to try! I plan on being in a bikini by mid-August which means I need to lose 10 pounds. God help me!
I had the radiation tattoos a couple of weeks ago and everything went extremely well. The actual tattooing part of the appointment only took a few minutes and was relatively painless. I was a little nervous since one of the technician had said it hurt. Clearly, he's a man and has never had to experienced real pain.
Last week was a busy week. It started off with one of my fellow Stepping Stones ladies calling to remind me about modelling bathing suits for Kelly's Mastectomy Boutique. I immediately freaked out. Have I mention that I gained weight during chemo! But I thought what the hell! It's for a good cause. So Tuesday night, the four of us headed to the shop for a pre-modelling soiré. We picked out our bathing suits, wraps, and hats ... and then practiced our "walk". It was a hoot! Friday was our debut! We had to be at the A Channel for 7:30 a.m. cause we walking the red carpet at 8:00 a.m. I decided to ride my bike to the station in the hopes of burning off a few extra calories ... as I got closer to the station I was overwhelmed by the sea of pink. The station was having a pancake breakfast in support of breast cancer. Needless to say, by the time I walked in I was almost in tears. The actually modelling was fun and in the end I really didn't care about the extra pounds. I did, however, suck in my belly the whole time!
As of today I'm finished the exercise study. I still have access to the gym (for free) and my lovely trainer but the actual set 30-minute cardio is done. The post-chemo test is scheduled for later this morning. So, as of next week I can increase my cardio and add some strength training to my regime. Of course, I also start radiation next week so I may be too tired to go bananas but trust me I'm going to try! I plan on being in a bikini by mid-August which means I need to lose 10 pounds. God help me!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
New tattoo?
People who know me know that I am a fan of body art and even sport a few tattoos of my own. But today I am getting a different of kind of tattoo. They won't be done by a dope-smoking, tattoo-covered guy on Rideau Street but by a radiation technician.
This afternoon the Cancer Centre doctors and technicians are getting my body ready for radiation. The technician will have to scan and "mark" me (aka tattoo) so that they know exactly where the radiation beams should hit. From what I understand I will be zapped in three different locations. The decision for the three zaps is based on the location of my tumours and the fact that the lymph nodes tested positive for cancer. Radiation makes me a bit nervous. Especially when Dr. M told me that a portion of my lung may be affected and that I may develop lymphedema as a result of the treatments.
The side effects of radiation seem quite manageable - tight red skin and fatigue. Part of the fatigue comes from travelling to the hospital everyday and from my body trying to repair itself. I have totally embraced afternoon naps!
This afternoon the Cancer Centre doctors and technicians are getting my body ready for radiation. The technician will have to scan and "mark" me (aka tattoo) so that they know exactly where the radiation beams should hit. From what I understand I will be zapped in three different locations. The decision for the three zaps is based on the location of my tumours and the fact that the lymph nodes tested positive for cancer. Radiation makes me a bit nervous. Especially when Dr. M told me that a portion of my lung may be affected and that I may develop lymphedema as a result of the treatments.
The side effects of radiation seem quite manageable - tight red skin and fatigue. Part of the fatigue comes from travelling to the hospital everyday and from my body trying to repair itself. I have totally embraced afternoon naps!
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