The Hardest Part Is Over!

I have completed all my planned cancer treatments and as far as can be seen at this time am free of cancer. In 3 months my body will have healed enough from treatment for them to do a scan and verify this but until then I'm just delighted to be on the road to recovery and feeling good!

So here are some pictures from the last week...

Without makeup I miss my hair- the good news is that it is growing back!

These are of the radiation experience. They took them for me my last day. Monday thru Friday for the last few weeks I have spent about 15-30 minutes laying on this hard table while machines moved around me taking pictures and administering targeted radiation treatment. The mask was clipped to the table to keep me in the exact same position for every treatment. I usually took a short nap as soon as they would dim the lights.

On my final day (I was wearing pajamas because we had a pajama day at school and watched parts of the polar express) they gave me a certificate for completing my treatments and a bottle of Sparkling Cider (which I haven't been sharing) and I got to bring home my radiation mask. I have 6 weeks before I go back for a follow up. This will be the longest I've gone without seeing a doctor since March of last year.

So excited! Happy Christmas and a wongerful New Years to all of my friends and family! You have been a great support through this exhausting experience, I am grateful for all the kind words, prayers on my behalf, and the generous gifts. I feel blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.

"We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come."

'Let Him Do It with Simplicity' Elder L. Tom Perry, Oct. 2008, General Conference

Some Truths About My Radiation Experience

I began radiation a week and a half ago, which means I'm already half way done. So far the side effects are pretty minimal.
My skin gets a little red and tender, not painful, just tender, like my clavicle is embarrassed about something. If I run and try to breath ( I've found I can't do one without the other) my chest hurts  just a little and I suspect I'm about to have a heart attack. I developed a sore throat in connection with a mild cold and coughing is a little painful. My doctor and I discussed this and determined it is probably because my coughing puts pressure on my radiation burnt insides. Swallowing is also painful because my esophagus is mildly burnt. Also I get achey, like sore muscles from a work out, in my shoulder blade area because that is where all the directed beams converge to exit my body. I'm a little more tired than normal but it's much easier than chemotherapy was so I'll take it.
In other news, my hair is still gone. I have a slight fuzz on my head, but it's still thin and with bald patches. My eyebrows have continued thinning but I suspect this is mostly part of their natural growth cycle and is mostly apparent because no new hair is growing to replace what leaves. I now draw them on with Anastasia's Dip-brow, some fancy makeup I bought at sephora after consulting one of their sales people. I use black eyeliner to make my weird eyelashes less apparent. I have also learned how to wear liquid eyeliner which I find exciting and fun.
Also, not appearance related, I have a second job. I started in October working part time at Peaks Ice Arena. I was getting bored, and it keeps me pretty busy. I can't decide if I actually enjoy it, I'm not sure I thought that through very well. I have to say, it is probably hazardous to make decisions under the influence of cancer.
I have been extremely emotional lately, sort of like it's all finally catching up with me. Every now and then I get upset about how hard this has all been and I cry a bit.
On the positive, life is still enjoyable and I'm meeting new people and starting new friendships all the time. This has been a wild ride.