12-23

I believe Dr. Seuss  says it best.

“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!”

12-21 Port Removal

This is what is looked like while in position

At the surgeons office we took some photos,I had a mini enterauge, the girls from my department at  work  came with me to watch.First he numbed the spot then cut along the same  line he used to insert it in June. The thing was actually held in place with a few stitches into my pec muscle so he clipped those and then it was 5 minutes or so of tugging and a few jokes about alien movies and voilà 

I didn't see much since it was just out of my line of vision and I had a surgical drape on me. He did offer me a mirror so I could watch but I passed on that. I asked if he would have to stitch the vein where the tube was inserted  and he explained why they don't have to but I don't remember exactly what he said...maybe it closes up on itself when it was pulled out??? 

Here's  my new stitch job, it will look better in a few days when the swelling goes down.He covered it up with surgical glue (love that stuff) so I can shower. 
Here's the good Doctor. He performed well under the pressure of an  audience. 

And here's the souvenir

While I had it here at home I took a good look at it. The black rubbery part in the middle is dense. That's where they would stick the needle in for the IV drip/chemo. I got out a pin and took a poke at it and it is HARD to push into. Those nurses who did it to me had to be fearless and the needle they used must have been wicked! 

12-20

Cat investigating the dino planters.

Monday's photo

Tonight's photo.  Tomorrow the Port will be removed. I'm looking forward to that appointment. 

12-19 Radiation Therapy and the machine

Posting late tonight. Busy day. Trying to get to work early and taking short lunches to make up appointment times. I did take a photo this morning but I don't know where I put the camera.
Here's the scoop on what radiation does for me. don't miss the video links below showing what a treatment session looks like. 

Radiation Therapy 

Radiation therapy — also called radiotherapy — is a highly targeted, highly effective way to destroy cancer cells in the breast that may stick around after surgery. Radiation can reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence

Radiation therapy uses a special kind of high-energy beam to damage cancer cells. (Other types of energy beams include light and x-rays.) These high-energy beams, which are invisible to the human eye, damage a cell’s DNA, the material that cells use to divide.

Over time, the radiation damages cells that are in the path of its beam — normal cells as well as cancer cells. But radiation affects cancer cells more than normal cells. Cancer cells are very busy growing and multiplying — 2 activities that can be slowed or stopped by radiation damage. And because cancer cells are less organized than healthy cells, it's harder for them to repair the damage done by radiation. So cancer cells are more easily destroyed by radiation, while healthy, normal cells are better able to repair themselves and survive the treatment. 

 I am treated with a machine called a  linear accelerator.It  is very high tech, it looks like something out of star wars.They dim the lights and play nice music. 

First video, a regular guy made a video of one of his sessions. I am in the same machine as this one but mine does not go down below me for treatment, I get the top and side shots.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbCfQRzocjI

Second video is a very detailed tutorial made by a treatment center. Tells you specifically about breast treatment  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFyPZgRbyvE

Prep for Radiation

Before beginning any sessions I had  an appointment to make my body mold and get xrays in an MRI machine.  I also met with the Radiation Oncologist and his nurse. They outlined the treatment plan (33 sessions M-F), the care of the area and the side effects. 


Making the mold. They took me to the MRI machine and had me lay on a blue foam/air pad that goes from just below my shoulder blades on the back to above my head. I was asked to turn my head to the side, away from the treatment area, and bring both arms above my head. Then they released a valve on the foam pad and it molded to the shape I was in. 
I was then loaded into the MRI machine and the took xrays and scans. This lasted about 10 minutes. 


Each time I go for a treatment I use the mold to keep me in position. They also x-ray to align me before each treatment. My arms go numb and the room is cold but otherwise I feel nothing during the treatment. 



the cost of the visit on my set -up day 
$510.00 for the office visit with the Dr. 
$4612.00 for the mold, x-rays and MRI

12-16 Crafting for the Holidays

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I used to craft. At some point I learned that it was prudent to purchase the finished product vs. purchase all the parts and pieces and try to make it myself. Every now and again I'm inspired to give it another go.


My friend and I were at the Blue Genie Bazaar over the weekend. After flipping a few price tags we decided "we could do that".  Here is an e-mail I got from her a day later. (Notice the numbered list, she is a classic type A) (and hey, if you're reading this..you know I love you and all your quirks!)

I figured out a few things last night:

1. I think I bought the wrong type of paint for the coasters and for the dino.  The dino is going to take a TON of coats with the paint I bought and it's water based so it's not really gripping to the rubber well.  It's also sliding off of the tile and I think that's b/c of the water base too.  

2. It might look good if we paint the coasters black.  I have a neutral background for the ones I have and the photos look really out of place b/c they don't match the tan background.

3.  Photos are really thick and it's hard to get them to lay flat on the tile.  The type of tile I got has a slightly raised center (the edge around the tile slopes lower than the rest) and the photo won't grip the edges.  The mod podge won't create a thick enough barrier to smooth the edges of the photo.  So I have two really sharp coasters. :(

Do you think spray paint will work for the dinos or do you think it'll eat the rubber?  Should I get ceramic paint for the tiles? 

The next day I got a bulletin update, she had used a different paint on the dino, sanded the backs of the photos to thin them then used binder clips to hold them down while the modge podge dried. Success. I'll give her another day to work out every last kink then we'll get together and I can reap the benefits of all her hard work.She did mention that "her house looks like a craft bomb exploded" but I'm sure it's all sparkly clean by now. 

12-15 Change in the schedule

Radiation starts today. Scheduling is a nightmare. (Sadly) the Oncology center is booked solid. I was holding out for an early morning or late afternoon time slot so I could stop in coming or going from work. 4:45 opened up next  Monday but because it is a short week they requested I start tomorrow. Doesn't make sense to me but they know what they are doing. 
The sooner I start the sooner I finish. A few extra days off around the holidays but otherwise I am down for 6 1/2 weeks of treatment. Monday through Friday. 
The center is about 4 miles from home and 8 miles from work.


Now for all the zingers that come with the treatment. 
Zinger #1.  To bra or not to bra. 
They ask you to not wear a bra for 8-10 weeks. They told me to go buy a few cotton camisoles to wear in place of a bra. I pictured 10 weeks of the  Uniboob, you know when your boobs get smooshed together in a non lift-and-seperate sports bra?  When I asked again to be specific the nurse told me I could not get the camisole that has the little shelf bra included. Now I'm picturing something worse than the uniboob. How do you keep things together with just a loose camisole? What can I possibly wear to cover that? 
It is winter but that doesn't mean much in Texas and I don't really have many loose blob-like tops.  I feel better when I look good. I do not want to schlep around all blob-boob for 8-10 weeks. 
This weekend I will be bra shopping, looking for a compromise. The nurse conceded that these days while women work and go through treatment we need better choices and I am allowed to wear some kind of soft, loose,  all cotton bra-thing for work as long as I take it off the rest of the day. 
As soon as I won that point I started to wonder what will I wear to yoga? 

Photo today: making the most of my last day of lift-and-separate.