Yippee!!!

Yesterday was my last radiation treatment! I celebrated the occasion by wearing a tiara to radiation. It was a big, silver, plastic tiara with three large, pink heart-shaped rhinestones and several clear rhinestones. With a big crown resting on my semi-bald head, I was quite a sight! The tech ladies got a good laugh on my behalf. My response to them was, "What, has no one ever worn a tiara to radiation before?" Earlier in the week I sarcastically asked if I would receive a diploma at the end of treatment. They told me that in the past they handed out diplomas and sometimes play "Pomp and Circumstance." However, some people did not like the graduation-themed treatment, so they had to stop this practice. Since there was no graduation, I thought a coronation was the next best thing.

Even though I will no longer be zapped with radiation, my skin will continue to burn, itch, blister and peal for about two weeks. I see Dr. Dad next Wednesday, and he will give me the rundown on the skin issues. Two days this week the tech gals forgot to tell me to "breathe in" before they turned on the radiation for the first of ten zaps. Somehow the big inhale protects my lungs from radiation. Over the past 7 weeks, I had only three incidences, with three different techs, when they forgot to tell me to "breathe in" on the first zap. On one occasion, the tech came right in to me before the second zap and apologized and then went directly to Dr. Dad. She came back to tell me that Dr. Dad said not to worry. I am not worried, but I am curious to hear what Dr. Dad says when I ask him about my left lung and the radiation. Maybe he can also tell me why my body aches all over every evening, as if I am getting the flu. This is a new side affect that goes away after a couple of Advil and a night of sleep.

It will be strange on Monday when I don't have to race to treatment after dropping off Molly at school. It was like having coffee with some friends on a daily basis, except, there was no coffee, and I was lying partly naked on a table, getting zapped with radiation. These ladies helped me through a tough time - watching the Giants get through the playoffs and win the World Series!

One of the tech gals asked me who did my surgery because she said that she said that it looked really good. The scars are slowly fading. I figured that she has seen a lot of reconstruction, and that she was a good judge of surgeries. Hats off to Dr. Chief.

Speaking of hats off...I am getting a little weary of wearing hats all the time. I think I am a couple of weeks away from not needing hats or scarfs when I go out, except that it's getting cold and I need to wear a hat for warmth. BC (before cancer) my hair grew fairly quickly.

This little train is back on track and coasting all the way to the station.

Made!

Whacky thought for the day...
45 degrees feels very cold these days. Come January and February, 45 degrees will feel like a heatwave.