Radiation Week 2

Episode LIX: It's Friday I'm in LOVE...

So another week down... another 5 zaps... 10 total radiation treatments!!!

2 weeks & 10 zaps down...

I have continued to have the same skin discomforts, but enjoy the good conversations with technicians and other fellow radiation patients. However, I am one of the young ones getting breast cancer radiation in or around my scheduled time. I keep saying to myself that my youthful energy is an asset!!!

Smiling through my treatments... go week 2!

I spent much of the week just going back and forth to treatment... following a pattern. I get kids to school, shower quickly, and drive to the treatment center. I go through my radiation routine and head home. Usually, I begin to get tired - especially by mid-week!!! So, then (if I have nothing planned) I embrace my exhaustion and nap...

Exhaustion = Nap time

By the end of the week, I was starting to peel. It was like a slight sunburn peel where a light layer of skin was ready to come off. When I took a shower on Thursday and Friday mornings the skin on my breast would turn white and was gently removed when I dried off. And by drying off I mean patting dry, the idea of rubbing was a not something I would consider and was even warned would be a bad idea. On Thursday, I even had a little extra skin get stuck to my tank top and peel off into my shirt... Yuck!

Dark tank top showed a combination of skin and dried aloe.

I finished another week of treatment with only mild to moderately irritated skin and some slight peeling. And the peeling (since it was light) actually made me feel slightly better. And now I was excited it was Friday, because I got my weekend pass from treatment!

Looking slightly pink after peeling on week 2!

In my head...

I am still refusing to wear a bra. I have had too many warnings that bra = disaster. So, I am slowly getting used to going into public all free-swinging. However, I always keep a rolled up, soft, cotton rag under my breast to prevent skin-to-skin contact. I was told that I should burn badly there due to having larger breasts. So, I am trying to prevent that and it seems to be working.

I am glad to be maintaining my redness and not progressing too much. I am so glad that I was able to have one of my friends along with me on a couple of visits where we got to eat and hang out. I was also provided an amazing meal by another friend, which really helped since cooking has become something less desirable to do as the week progresses. And for some reason my family wants to eat in the evening?!?!?

Let them eat cake...

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” 

- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Episode Reference: Friday I'm in Love, The Cure song