Promised Photo

I promised a photo from the radiation party. Here it is.... the resolution is so bad that hopefully the other ladies won't get upset with this going live on the web. We were drinking pink champagne in fluted glasses. Quite the party at 8 AM. I came close to flashing with open gown but I guess that's appropriate for a breast cancer radiation party pic.



All is well. I've met with the surgical oncologist who doesn't think he needs to see me for a year now, the medical oncologist who I'll visit with again in 3 months (checking effects of tamoxifen) then every 6 months, and I'll meet with the radiation oncologist next week. I'm scheduled for my first digital mammogram in November, then a breast MRI in April '09. This will cycle every 6 months, mammo, mri, mammo, mri,... for about... ever. Makes me feel good to know that they're all watching out for me. And you too! thanks for thinking of me and continuing to check in. xox Beth

Weee......

I'm here, just busy with work, kids, etc. Radiation is DONE!!! I have to scan the photo the rad staff took of me and my morning radiation friends having some pink champagne to celebrate the last treatment. I'll get the pic up soon.

Appointment update. I saw the new surgeon for normal follow-up after radiation and he said all looks good so next check-up will be a year out. I see the medical oncologist June 23 (most likely start hormone treatment then.) I see the radiation oncologist July 3 for normal follow-up. I'll go for digital mammogram in November 08 and breast MRI in April 09, one or the other ever 6 months for....ever.... All is looking good.

I'm having a slight end of cancer treatment related mid life crisis where I'm contemplating buying a pink scooter named Stella for my commute to work. Hmmmm.....

And did I mention that I had no skin reaction to rad treatment? Nice. Off for now, thanks for thinking of me! Beth

Time flies when you're having fun!

I'm on my last week of radiation treatment, wahoo! It's unbelievable how quickly the time has passed. My skin is a tiny bit rashy but not bad at all. The radiation technicians say I'm doing amazingly well. The treatments this week (and three days last week) are a "boost" to the cancer site rather than the all over breast treatment (first 25 days.) I noticed that the breast being treated has tightened and shrunk a bit with radiation treatment. I was told that this could be a side effect. It was a tiny bit smaller after surgery anyhow and seems much more noticeable to me now. The unaffected side is a bit larger and sits lower. I said to the radiation nurses this morning that perhaps we should hit the other side with the rads to even things up. Ha.

My hair is still coming in. It the texture of teddy bear fur on the top, Phoebe loves to rub it. It's maybe a quarter inch long and sticks up on top but lays flat on the sides.

I went away with some other Mom's to the cape for an overnight last Friday to Saturday. The weather was beautiful on the cape although oppressively hot back home. We went out to dinner... played games... walked a long beach on the bay side... picked up shells... did a bit of shopping... sat on an outer ocean side beach and watched some seals frolicking in the waves... wonderful get-away (thanks again Sue!) Then we had a long drive home back to slightly cranky hubbies who had to deal with slightly cranky kiddos in 95 degree heat and humidity. All was better after a good night sleep Saturday night.