...the long and winding road

It's been a very long and winding road. I think that I have finally found a way to get OUT and get back on normal ground. Finished up radiation on 3/22. What a send-off they give you, complete with confetti and a diploma (did I accomplish something big? you bet I did!) I left the gals with a couple of bags of 'doctor and nurse' gingerbread cookies. They let ME leave there with a smile on my face! Did see the pulmonary doctor that morning. He says that all my 'functions' (i.e.: lung capacity, heart, breathing) are fine. Determined this cough is triggered by seasonal allergies and post nasal drip. Guess that's a relief. I am now an offical 'druggie'..I have more drugs to take daily than I thought humanly possible. TWO acid reducers; TWO allergy pills; cough medicine with codeine at night to help me sleep (and it has after only THREE rounds of coughing first!!) then there is that dreaded 'anti-cancer pill' Arimidex. Waiting for the shoe to drop on that one. Hated reading the side effects, maybe I will get lucky. I am on the road to wellness..so if it takes a few drugs along the way, so be it.
My 'girls' took me to dinner last night as well. Fun night, lots of laughs, delicious dinner. I then went to an "INSPIRATION NIGHT" at a Yoga studio afterwards. How uplifting and spiritual for me. Feel like I got a lot of 'junk' out of my system. Tears and laughter and rejuvenation. Miserable night, but I was in a good place.
Slept fine for the first time in months. Supposedly the sun is going to shine again today. Let's wait and see..
I am NOT taking a U-turn on this road, I am forging ahead!

there is a light at the end of the tunnel...

Here it is, week #6 of radiation. I am burned to a crisp, but am so looking forward to NOT having to go out every night to get 'zapped'!! I will be officially done on March 22. Had to go an extra day because last week the machine broke down and they had to cancel everyone's appts. I was fine up to week #4; then I started to burn at the radiation site. I have used all kinds of creams, ointments and patches. I finally got the doctor to get me a prescription for Aquafor with lidacaine. Feels so much better!
Saw my oncologist on Friday, March 12. She says that all my tests are looking good, scheduled me for a bone density this week along with a mammogram. I am a bit nervous about the mammo. I pray they don't 'find' anything anywhere else. It's not UNcommon.
I had an appointment for a pulmonary function test on Monday, 3/15. I will see a pulmonary specialist on 3/22. It took an act of congress to get this appointment, fortunately for me one of the receptionists at the Cancer Center knew the office and made the call!! She's my special angel, Liz!! Guess it's WHO you know!! I am still coughing and my ribs kill, but I will be patient and see what the doctor says. Had another CT Scan last week and the oncologist told me it was CLEAN!! WHEW!!! We'll get this hacking under control yet!!

I have forged many a friendships with my 'radiation ladies'. They are wonderful and we are all in the same boat..just wanting to be CLEAN of cancer. We promised each other we won't lose touch. How can you? We have been a part of each others' lives for over a month and waited each night 'patiently' while our allotted times come and go...!!
I am now looking forward to my hair growing back in (not much there yet!) and walking the SURVIVOR'S WALK with my family and friends by my side at the Relay for Life on June 18, 2010. WHO KNEW at this time last year that I would be a SURVIVOR!??
So there is a light at the end of my tunnel and I am going to shine it brightly when I emerge!!