Hey guys...
So on Wednesday I got to mark the end of treatment by ringing that bell. It felt such relief and such an emotional day. I was lucky enough to have my little entourage with me and madly, the Princess Royal showed up too! Nice of her to make an appearance for my special day! I didn't get to meet her tho, she was visiting the cancer wellbeing centre at the front of the hospital.
Now that the daily routine of radiotherapy is over, I'm left with a lot of time to reflect and process everything. It's been such a rollercoaster of emotion, but I've been able to laugh and smile my through the majority of it with the people I love most in this world. Their support has been endless!
The soreness/burns are really quite bad, if I'm honest. I'm thankful I can now be at home to tend to my wounds... the nursing team have been fantastic and have provided lots of numbing and cooling gels, plus dressings for the worst affected areas. Going to the loo is not fun at all! I'm looking forward to getting past this stage and hopefully regaining some normality.
Feels a long wait for the 3 month scan, but I'm trying not to to focus on that for now. Keeping my mind occupied as much as I can, I've even started drawing again, which is something I haven't done in a very long time.
Anyway, I just wanted to give a little update! And say thank you to everyone here for all the advice and understanding you've given these past few months. It's been invaluable and helped me prepare in so many ways. I hope you are all doing ok too.
Jenna xx
Hi Jen,
So happy to hear that you’ve finished treatment! It’s such a milestone and it must have felt good to ring that bell. Lovely photo. Congratulations on getting through what was a really tough and complicated time for you.
I know that this is a hard bit too, but rest up now and make full use of all of those lotions and potions while you heal and recover. It will be a relief not to do the daily trips.
Big hug to you xx
That’s great news! So happy for you. I rang the bell just over 6 months ago and all is well. I hope the same for you. Now is the time to pick up the pieces and fully enjoy life again.
Happyflower
Hello Jenna
You are at the very sharp end of treatment now and it may well get a little worse before it gets better. But then, for many, literally overnight the burns start to heal, new skin forms and you will honestly look back and think did I really go through that! Isn't a huge relief not having to visit the hospital every day and just being at home and getting your strength back. Just be very kind to yourself and don't try anything that exerts you too much, the treatment takes such a toll on you and the body is working very hard healing itself.
Sending a gentle healing hug
Irene xx
Thanks Irene :) really hope that healing day arrives sooner rather than later! But yes, glad to be at home at this point. Xx
Hi Jen
So pleased for you that your treatment is complete and you can start to put your life back together again!
Sounds like you had lots of support through your treatment, which must have been great.
I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery. Please let us know how that goes as some of us still have all the joys of treatment to come. Any tips would be gratefully received with regards to your non-negotiables during treatment and since.
Interested to read that you have started drawing again, can you sit for any length of time (just curious!) or are you lying down most of the time?
Los of love and best wishes to yo
Jo xx
Hey... thanks Jo x sitting is a bit challenging at times! Have to adjust a lot to be comfortable and tend to sit on my hips or lay. The dressings help tho and I go nekkid at night with a big pad on my bed to lay on!
Loose clothing is a must... although with the dressings now, I have to use big, comfy pants to hold them in place lol ...I've also found that using a peri bottle during or directly after using the loo helps take the edge off, but my MUST is lidocaine mixed with cooling gel (instillagel). I honestly couldn't cope without it at this point. Also, if it becomes difficult holding your bladder for treatment or you start to get the ouch when peeing, I recommend cystitis relief sachets - I would dissolve one in water to drink to achieve the full bladder so that it wouldn't be too harsh.
I've got into a routine of applying the lidocaine as soon as I get up each morning, in preparation for needing a BM. I've still tended to need to go in the mornings, although often more than once, but it's more difficult to prepare if your BMs are more irregular.
Also, get yourself some VERY mild shower wash to clean yourself... and be really gentle, with luke warm water. I have Aquaphore baby cleansing wash and it doesn't irritate or sting at all.
Hope that helps!
Jenna xx
Thanks Jenna, that's very useful. Is the lidocaine in a cream that you mix with the instillagel? My nurse hasn't really talked to me much about pain relief yet and their cream of choice is aqueous cream. I was hoping to use this Strata XRT get but it was not approved.
Aqueous cream seems very low level compared to some hospitals and I'm a bit worried that it will not be enough to stop the skin breaking down quickly.
I'm already so worried about the pain....
The tip about the cystitis relief sounds great as I used to get cystitis a lot!
Gosh, I bet you're relieved that it's all over and you can concentrate on healing now!
Jo x
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