I've been mentally segmenting my treatment into phases -
1: Diagnosis, 2: Surgeries, 3: Chemo therapy, 4: Radio therapy, 5: Herceptin, 6: Tamoxifen, 7: Remission.
The first 3 phases are complete.
Phase 4: I have had 16 of my 20 Radio therapy sessions and as the blog title suggests - I now have a red very breast (‘tis the season). It is sore but I'm delighted to say the skin has not yet 'broken down' as was the fear having gone for the larger fractionations over a shorter time period. The RT treatments will finish next Thursday but I'm told the skin will continue to react for another 2 weeks. Fingers crossed (seems to be their perpetual state) there will be no further deterioration.... however if there is, they tell me there is another cream they can give me for that. With a little luck, all will be well by Christmas.
Phase 5: I had my second Herceptin treatment last week. It took just over an hour. I’m told the remainder (16 treatments between now and 14 October 2010 if all goes well – not that I’m counting) will only take 30 minutes each.
Phase 6: I should have started my Tamoxifen on the 17 October but didn’t because I wanted to be free of the chemo and steroid side effects first. My doctor assures me that it is highly unlikely that I will experience more pain as a result of the Tamoxifen – but I am still a little reluctant. I am continuing to take co-codamol and another pain killer – stronger than the Ibuprofen but I can’t recall the name – and I am still feeling pain every day. I cannot tell you how annoying it is! As the Tamoxifen treatment will go on for at least 5 and maybe 10 years I think it is safe to say this is more of a marathon than a sprint and I’m hoping that a one month (or so) delay won’t kill me!
From the Docetaxel, I have now lost my thumb and index finger nails on my right hand and my left thumb nail is only just about holding on at one edge. The good news is that while they were preparing to fall off the nail started to grow underneath so that when they finally came off they were already ¾ of the way back – woohoo! They are ugly but it is reassuring to know that when the others eventually go (and they all look like they will) there is a good chance that they will all come back in a reasonable amount of time. My feet are still numb in places and my toes and toe nails are rather sore but no doubt this will also resolve with time. The return of my hair (including eyelashes and eyebrows) seems quite slow. The hair on my head is sparse and most of it looks almost transparent. I was told by another person that had been through this, that she also initially had what looked like ‘fibre optic’ hair but eventually it reverted to how it had been before. Well you can imagine – if it were really fibre optic hair where you can flip a switch and have the ends glow in different colours – maybe even a flashing light function – how exciting and cool would that be!!!!! I’d never want normal hair again..... but apparently that is not the case so I am remaining calm.
Phase 7: My understanding is that to be in remission you need to be clear for 5 years – so in my mind – this is only a matter of time! (PMA – Positive mental attitude all the way!)
I’ve planned a 5 day road trip with my mother in December (15- 19) so I am determined to be feeling well by then. Providing we don’t kill each other I’ll post another update on the final results of the radio when I get back.
Best wishes,
Noj x
