ice ... snow ... bring it!

Wow - the entire midwest is braced for "the worst winter storm" we've seen this season. I had treatment this morning and went to Meijer for some groceries afterwards. It was CRAZY there! But yeah... an inch of ice and anywhere from 8-12 inches of snow is predicted here in the next 24 hours, with fierce winds blowing after that. Craziness I tell ya!

Missing the next couple days of radiation is one thing... but I have an appointment to get my hair colored tomorrow! {gasp} Now THAT is some important stuff! :)

Yep, glad to have hair, but tired of the grey. I don't feel old, I don't act old.... so I sure don't wanna look old! Here are some recent pics.








I'll keep ya posted on the weather.
But more importantly the hair!

3 radiation treatments down....

27 more to go.

But it's getting better. It's not excruciatingly painful anymore. It starts to get uncomfortable by the end.... but they are hurrying all they can and I am being more relaxed.

It really is fascinating as they measure and calculate everything. There are more numbers and fractions involved than I'd ever care to learn!

Here are some pics, so you can see where I'm at and what I'm doing.

These are my initial markings from earlier in the week (and there are more you can't see)



This is the room where I receive treatments. It really is beautiful (in my opinion) as it's big, new, clean & modern. See the + in the far closet wall? That is where one of the laser beams comes out - and there is another one opposite that. Same with the light bar on the ceiling.... my table slides backwards and that enormous machine rotates around me.



Here's a close up of where I lay, you can see some indentions, as it's formed specifically for my body. My right arm goes in that cradle on the far side.



And here I am modeling my position before treatment starts. I also hold onto a foam ring (not pictured) as it helps to keep my fingers from going to sleep so soon. Hey, at least I get a warm blanket!

today was better

Of course they told me afterwards... that they didn't do everything they need to - and though it was only about 20 minutes today... it'll be longer tomorrow. But at least I felt like I'd succeeded - and I have officially received my first radiation treatment - yaay!

I took my pain pill (Tramadol - a generic for Ultram) about an hour before I went in & my fingers were just starting to tingle when they said I could bring my arm down today. So hopefully we have it figured out and it'll get easier as time goes by.

My friend Marla also sent me a scripture this morning and I memorized that, saying it to myself over and over as I laid there. It is from Isaiah 41:10. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

When I left there, I joined Curves in Mahomet. I'd been planning on it for quite awhile. Not wanting to lose any weight, but just to tone things up. I went to one in Bloomington years ago and halfway enjoyed it (LOL) I'm not disciplined enough to do it at home on my own.

After that I went to McDonalds.
Yeah - go ahead - laugh. I did! :D

radiation so far ....

Well I've not actually had a treatment yet - that will (finally) happen tomorrow.

Monday I had an appointment for what they call the verification simulation. Where I lay on the table, on a foam mat which they've conformed to my body (as per how it was set up 3 weeks ago) with my right arm over my head, with my elbow resting in a cradle (also specifically made for me - for this precise position). So once I'm situated, the tech's make various measurements and adjustments - both to the table and to me - while telling me at all times to hold completely still.

Laser beams are shooting vertically and horizontally, helping them line things up and eventually they exit the room to begin this imaging process. After about ten minutes.... my fingers start going to sleep. After another ten minutes, my arm is hurting. Another few minutes later, I am wincing and saying "ow, ow, ow!" as I start to cry. It was awful I tell ya!

Funny - people told me radiation would be a piece of cake - chemo's the hard part. HA!

I tell them I can't stand it and I have to move. They say it'll be less than five more minutes and I say nope.... can't do it! So they stop and I finally bring my arm down.

This of course means that the process was incomplete - and they'd have to do it today - ugh! So as they suggested, I took three Advil before I went in this morning. And I was determined to make it this time. Which I did - but it wasn't easy. I did ask for a stress ball to hold onto and I think that helped some. Yet after several minutes, my fingers began going to sleep again, starting with the pinky and working towards my thumb. A few minutes later the tingling turns to pain - yet I continue to lay completely still as instructed. Towards the end of this 40/minute process, I begin complaining again and they tell me we're almost done.

And then finally I hear "ok, you can relax now." Ahhh.... whew!

It was my understanding that once things were set up (once this initial scanning was done) that the radiation treatments would only take about twenty minutes. Umm... no. They were asking me afterwards, if today was better and how I thought I'd hold up doing this for 40/minutes, FIVE days a week for the next SIX weeks. Ha ha ha ha ..... oh you people are so funny!

Umm... not well; that was my answer. Which means I got to talk to a nurse about other pain medication options. Fortunately I remembered that I still have something here at home, that they gave me after having my port removed. It is non-narcotic and I had no side effects from it. So I will be taking that tomorrow and hopefully things may feel a little better. I can also do some stretching exercises which may help my arm to be in that position for so long.

Whatever.
I can do it.
I'll survive.

I told a couple of girlfriends today - it's about time I had something to whine and complain about anyway - this whole process has been too easy for me :-)

ok - wow

I apologize for a lengthy absence from blogging!

On one hand, it's nice.... because I started this blog as my "cancer journey" ..... so for there to be a gap in news, is good news to me :)

On the other hand, I probably ought to continue to give updates on my life - as I continue to appreciate and enjoy it so much!

So please forgive me, I'll try to do better and post a bit more frequently.

Yes, I have enjoyed my lengthy break from all things treatment related. I celebrated a birthday (#46) since I last posted. But other than that, I can't think of any big / exciting news.

The Chicago Bears will play the Packers in a playoff game tomorrow - that's pretty big news - right?! I'll be going to Paul's to watch, and Jeremiah is hosting a get together here at home.

Britt continues to do well and is loving her life in KC (which thrills me to pieces!) Even though she keeps incredibly busy with work, church activities, friends, and her family there ...... she still finds time to stay in touch with mom (love you Bert!)

I finally got the call from radiology yesterday, that I will begin those treatments on Monday. Fnally! I have been anxious, just wanting to get on with the next step and keep moving forward. So for the next six weeks (until mid-March) I will go in Monday-Friday mornings for radiation. I'll keep you posted on how that goes - although like everything else - I expect it to go incredibly well ;)

My hair continues to thicken and grow; and is developing several bends / curls in the back. Sadly, it is still quite grey but hey ..... I'll take it! Am already considering what shade I'll go with once I get brave enough to color it. I'll post a more recent picture one of these days.

Thanks for hangin' in there with me - I hope you all are safe and warm & enjoying this new year so far!

look what my friend made!

My friend Kim (in TN) does digital scrapbooking and she created this awesome tribute for me! I was so honored - I just think it's beautiful. Thank you Kim!
I think if you click on the image, you may be able to read her journaling (?)

Happy New Year!

2010 was a surprisingly good year for me. I discovered some great things about myself, and I realized what's most important. I experienced an outpouring of love and support from countless family and friends! I faced a would-be monster (with courage, determination and joy) and I didn't let it shake my faith. By the end of 2010, I felt incredibly thankful and blessed.

I'm looking forward to this new year and hoping (praying) it brings great things (like good health & much peace) to those that I love!

On New Years Eve, I went with Paul to a comedy performance in Champaign. We met some friends there and enjoyed a great evening w/many laughs :)

The next night (Saturday) we met one of those couples, plus all the others that we boated with last August.... at Alexander's Steakhouse for dinner. Again, a fun evening with a lot of good people.

Yesterday I took all of my Christmas decor down and hauled it out to the garage.

This morning I had my appointment in radiology. We went over some paperwork, an explanation & description of the treatments and then I had a CT scan. It's an interesting foam-like board ya lay on, and it distributes air to conform to your body. My right arm will be over my head, so they try to make you as comfortable as possible & it "remembers" your shape each time you come in. That's one of the ways they assure the radiation is only going to the required spots. Tiny laser beams were shooting left, right and overhead..... then I was marked for locations of treatment.

It'll take more than a week for them to devise my specific plan (prescription) and then I'll go in 5 days a week for 6 weeks. It'll only take about 30 minutes once we get started.