PT, Radiation, Roses & Thorns...
"The enemy would have us so blinded by the thorns that we can't see the beauty of the rose garden."
~ Ruth Chou Simons
This past Wednesday, I had a consult with a radiation oncologist. I knew when my Dr. sent me that it was because she thought I needed to have it, and she was right. The new Dr. did, in fact, recommend 5-6 weeks of radiation beginning Feb. 20th.
The main reasons he said I needed it is that I am still fairly young, and since I had 2 positive lymph nodes out of 11 even after chemo, he thought it best to make sure that they had killed every last little cancer cell. He told me that studies show that it prolongs life expectancy even more than just chemo and surgery alone.
He also shared with me the bad things that can happen from radiation because, as he said, he had to do so. There is a possibility of injuring my lung, my heart (though not likely since it is my right side and not the left). It could injure the nerves in my right shoulder and arm or crack a rib or I could develop painful blisters. He said in some cases it can cause contractures or think scar tissue to form around my implant or cause me to lose the implant altogether. He said it could cause lymphedema or permanent swelling in my right arm, so during treatment, I will have to wear a compression sleeve on that side at all times.
All of these things he said are unlikely to occur but must be made known. The most likely side effects are redness & tenderness of the skin and possible fatigue. So, radiation it is. I will be praying, and ask that you do as well, for the mildest of symptoms as I do intend to go back to work in March and will be having radiation treatment the entire month and into early April.
I had my first Physical Therapy session bright and early this morning. I really liked the woman I worked with. She was very gentle with me. I now have exercises I have to work on really hard until my radiation therapy begins because I have to be able to raise my right arm up and place my hand behind my head comfortably. I see no reason why this can't be accomplished. I'm already pretty close to being able to do it, it's just the part about being comfortable that I am not entirely comfortable with as of yet. I will go twice a week until radiation starts and then they will re-evaluate. Having radiation increases my chances of lymphedema quite a lot so I may have to go more often because of that. I have to say, I am rather sore after today's initial session.
On February 15th I am scheduled to have my ovaries removed and a hysterectomy. It is to be an arthroscopic procedure and I have been told a fairly easy recovery. I sure hope so because they have scheduled me to have physical therapy on the 18th and start radiation on the 20th. No rest for the wicked, or in this case, the weary. That said, if I'm not feeling up to it, I will cancel the PT on the 18th and just do my arm exercises at home!
I am tired. When speaking with the radiation oncologist the other day he said, "So, you've been on this journey for nearly a year!" I hadn't realized that. Partially because when I first recognized there might be a problem last February, I was told my mammogram was fine. I had no idea that it was actually anything but fine. I would worry about the "probable benign cyst" for 3 more months before finally getting another opinion and finding out it was actually cancer. A whole year behind me...horrid chemo...going bald...bone pain...dehydration...losing my eyebrows & eyelashes...gaining weight and swollen face from steroids...looking like Voldemort in the morning...major surgery...losing parts of my body...more pain...and I'm not done yet. At least the worst parts are behind me. The rest should be fairly easy.
I am feeling so much better than I was, but still very sore. I can almost sleep on my side, which is my preferred position. I just can't stay that way for long. Sleep. Something I would love to be able to do without waking up all night. However, I seem to go back and forth between feeling like I am burning in hell and laying on an iceberg naked. There is no in between apparently and so I'm certain that I must be burning off quite a few calories just moving the covers on and off all night long! The day I can wake up and think, "Hmmm, I slept pretty well and my chest/shoulders/arms don't hurt", will be a glorious day!!
Looking at this past year, I have been so blessed, even with all the bad that has happened, because I have all of you out there praying for us and helping us in so many ways. I've said it before and I will say it over and over, it is overwhelming to feel so cared for and loved. Thank you loved ones for allowing God to use you to help us get through this past year!! Thank you for reminding me to focus on the roses and not the thorns!! I am going to return to church this Sunday and I'm looking forward to it SO much!! (No hugs for a while please!) I'm not sure about singing. I told Scott I will have to test out my vocals and see where I'm at. For all I know I could be a bass for a while, hahaha! But I hope to be back singing sooner than later! I will have to take another break after my next surgery, but hopefully not more than a week or two. Now, I think it is time that I took a little nap and recharged. It's been a busy morning.
This Week's Prayer Requests:
~ Ruth Chou Simons
This past Wednesday, I had a consult with a radiation oncologist. I knew when my Dr. sent me that it was because she thought I needed to have it, and she was right. The new Dr. did, in fact, recommend 5-6 weeks of radiation beginning Feb. 20th.
The main reasons he said I needed it is that I am still fairly young, and since I had 2 positive lymph nodes out of 11 even after chemo, he thought it best to make sure that they had killed every last little cancer cell. He told me that studies show that it prolongs life expectancy even more than just chemo and surgery alone.
He also shared with me the bad things that can happen from radiation because, as he said, he had to do so. There is a possibility of injuring my lung, my heart (though not likely since it is my right side and not the left). It could injure the nerves in my right shoulder and arm or crack a rib or I could develop painful blisters. He said in some cases it can cause contractures or think scar tissue to form around my implant or cause me to lose the implant altogether. He said it could cause lymphedema or permanent swelling in my right arm, so during treatment, I will have to wear a compression sleeve on that side at all times.
All of these things he said are unlikely to occur but must be made known. The most likely side effects are redness & tenderness of the skin and possible fatigue. So, radiation it is. I will be praying, and ask that you do as well, for the mildest of symptoms as I do intend to go back to work in March and will be having radiation treatment the entire month and into early April.
I had my first Physical Therapy session bright and early this morning. I really liked the woman I worked with. She was very gentle with me. I now have exercises I have to work on really hard until my radiation therapy begins because I have to be able to raise my right arm up and place my hand behind my head comfortably. I see no reason why this can't be accomplished. I'm already pretty close to being able to do it, it's just the part about being comfortable that I am not entirely comfortable with as of yet. I will go twice a week until radiation starts and then they will re-evaluate. Having radiation increases my chances of lymphedema quite a lot so I may have to go more often because of that. I have to say, I am rather sore after today's initial session.
On February 15th I am scheduled to have my ovaries removed and a hysterectomy. It is to be an arthroscopic procedure and I have been told a fairly easy recovery. I sure hope so because they have scheduled me to have physical therapy on the 18th and start radiation on the 20th. No rest for the wicked, or in this case, the weary. That said, if I'm not feeling up to it, I will cancel the PT on the 18th and just do my arm exercises at home!
I am tired. When speaking with the radiation oncologist the other day he said, "So, you've been on this journey for nearly a year!" I hadn't realized that. Partially because when I first recognized there might be a problem last February, I was told my mammogram was fine. I had no idea that it was actually anything but fine. I would worry about the "probable benign cyst" for 3 more months before finally getting another opinion and finding out it was actually cancer. A whole year behind me...horrid chemo...going bald...bone pain...dehydration...losing my eyebrows & eyelashes...gaining weight and swollen face from steroids...looking like Voldemort in the morning...major surgery...losing parts of my body...more pain...and I'm not done yet. At least the worst parts are behind me. The rest should be fairly easy.
I am feeling so much better than I was, but still very sore. I can almost sleep on my side, which is my preferred position. I just can't stay that way for long. Sleep. Something I would love to be able to do without waking up all night. However, I seem to go back and forth between feeling like I am burning in hell and laying on an iceberg naked. There is no in between apparently and so I'm certain that I must be burning off quite a few calories just moving the covers on and off all night long! The day I can wake up and think, "Hmmm, I slept pretty well and my chest/shoulders/arms don't hurt", will be a glorious day!!
Looking at this past year, I have been so blessed, even with all the bad that has happened, because I have all of you out there praying for us and helping us in so many ways. I've said it before and I will say it over and over, it is overwhelming to feel so cared for and loved. Thank you loved ones for allowing God to use you to help us get through this past year!! Thank you for reminding me to focus on the roses and not the thorns!! I am going to return to church this Sunday and I'm looking forward to it SO much!! (No hugs for a while please!) I'm not sure about singing. I told Scott I will have to test out my vocals and see where I'm at. For all I know I could be a bass for a while, hahaha! But I hope to be back singing sooner than later! I will have to take another break after my next surgery, but hopefully not more than a week or two. Now, I think it is time that I took a little nap and recharged. It's been a busy morning.
This Week's Prayer Requests:
- Pray for Jarod and Aimee as they head back tomorrow to Boone & Mt Olive for a new semester.
- Praise for Taylor's new job! He loves it!
- Pray that Physical Therapy will go well and do the job it needs to do.
- Pray for my upcoming surgery to go well and for me to recover quickly.
- Pray for my radiation therapy to go smoothly and that I will not suffer any of the bad side-effects that are possible.
- Pray that my arm will not start to swell.
- Pray for our finances, that we will have the means to pay all my many copays and deductibles.
- Pray for my family.
- Pray for me to grow stronger, stay well, and stay positive.
Today's Verse:
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