Connie's Cancer Chronicles

Thirty-three radiation treatments -- over!! That was 26 "full" and seven "boosts" but who's counting. Warm Pecan Pie in Caramel Sauce Crabtree's Kittle House And here's what I got for graduation: lunch at Crabtree's Kittle House (a surprise orchestrated by Anne), a beautiful card, a guardian angel pin, and lots of hugs. I earned that warm pecan pie in caramel sauce, which was preceded by potato and leek soup and (from the menu) " Our HV Grass-Fed Angus Cheeseburger  aged cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, tom cat pretzel roll, fries" and accompanied by a class of Castle Rock Pinot Noir. That was after  a glass of champagne. As my friend Terri says, it's all about the food. Is it any wonder I had no room for dinner, plus a bit of indigestion? It was worth every mouthful. Card made by Anne, words of encouragement from the Radiation Oncology Team, and a guardian angel pin And my sweetie made me a beautiful card (see the ...

I thought I had it beat-24 treatments down, nine to go, and then... Yesterday I took a two-hour nap, then slept another nine overnight. This morning I'm not my usual energetic self. My breasts have radiation burn, I'm sore under my arms where the burn feels raw, and I'm tired. I know, TMI, but there you have it. Source: https://ireprincess.deviantart.com/art/Sleepy-270168849 I somehow thought that I had "beaten" the radiation fatigue. I was doing so well. And now this, as John Oliver says on Last Week Tonight. Luckily it's cold, too cold to want to be outside doing anything, and I am reading C.J. Box mysteries so I'm following Joe Pickett around Wyoming. But I have to say that this isn't a great way to start 2018, as I end my 70th year and begin my 71st. Being tired makes me feel old, and although I am old I sure don't want to feel old! Happy 2018 everyone! May it be happy and healthy for all of us, and while I'm at it, I...

[Somehow this didn't get published-I wrote this on December 2, last year!] So we're down to a routine now with four treatments down, 29 to go. We get up, depending on the day we go to the gym or we do yoga (thank you Peggy Cappy  for Heart Healthy Yoga for the Rest of Us ) and write morning pages . We shower, eat breakfast, have a few minutes to ourselves and then it's off to the cancer center for my 11:30 appointment. Sort of like work. Show up, undress, put on the robe or gown (yesterday there were no robes so I had to wear a gown :( ), lie on the table. Nicole comes in and has me breath. She marks my sternum in two places, goes into the control "booth" and starts my treatment. "Big breath in, let it out, big breath in, hold it right there, 20 seconds later--okay, breathe." We do that twice for the left side, then she and Matt come in, check my positioning, out they go, "Okay, right side, breathe normally." Done. All of ten minutes. B...