Next Chapter

The Last Treatment
You can contact me at smedwards80@gmail.com

Before I start about me, let me say how wonderful all the staff at 21st Century Radiation is. In the beginning, they made authorizations and test scheduling happen with unbelievable speed. Each day there were smiles, kindness, professionalism and comedic comments. I was able to bring a CD of hymns to listen to so I could go to my happy place and think of the love, the many blessings and tender mercies I have experienced.

Today was my last treatment. It was supposed to be Monday, but last week when I had a CT check, there was not enough shrinkage to do more of a pinpoint treatment on the remaining days, so they just gave me extra days without changing the amount. Flexibility is a good thing.

It will be interesting having to think about my meals now. For 7 weeks my breakfast has been the same thing. I didn't have to think much about my one "Real Meal" as twice a week people from church brought a dinner. There was always enough for at least two days, sometimes more.  For the rest of the day, I fasted. How many ways can you fix plain water?!? Though I daily thought of my previous Ketogenic diet, I just couldn't do it. I am not sure what direction will be next. More prayers for direction and guidance.

As far as physically, so far the journey has been pretty good! I was told I may have some tanning or pink sunburning at the treatment site. There is a patch of tanning on my back about 5" x 5" a smaller area on my front. A sore throat was possible and may need numbing medication. Nope, but on some days if my posture wasn't perfect, and if I swallowed a big bite, it felt as if a pill went down sideways and got a bit stuck. Not for every bite. I just had to be careful. Coughing could be a problem. It was, but I was coughing even before treatment started.. For awhile if I talked, I coughed. Sometimes a lot. I started taking Tessalon Pereles it has helped so much that instead of taking it 3 times a day, I can take it once for two days, then skip two days. Tiredness compounding as time goes on. I did not experience debilitating tiredness. I did need an afternoon nap. I tried not to over do it, but I did pretty much what I wanted, even yard work and washing my car. I have wondered how much had to do with the radiation itself, or my most interesting diet. I have read in several places that fasting actually helps your normal cells be stronger and the cancer cells be weaker for treatments. That may have helped with everything also.

Now we play the waiting game. Radiation can keep working for some time after treatment ends. If you want to know more go to:  https://www.oncolink.org/frequently-asked-questions/cancer-treatments/radiation-therapy/how-long-after-radiation-can-tumor-keep-shrinking I will have a follow up appointment in a month, then schedule a CT to see how things are going. I will do my best to try to forget about it for a month. It's time to start working on the "Bucket List", but that will have to be in another post!! Stay tuned......