Initial meeting with the Radiation Oncologist

Kevin and I weren't aware of the importance of this part of the treatment process, but we found out when we went to talk to a Radiation Oncologist in late June.

Because I am now missing a large grouping of lymph nodes in my right arm pit area, I have to be a bit more careful about my right arm and the circulation of the lymphatic fluids. If there is "trauma" to that arm, what's left of the lymph system might not be able to function like it is supposed to and I'll end up with swelling issues - potentially for the rest of my life.

Radiation can be this "trauma". So I was thinking I could scrimp a bit on radiation, have the surgeon just chop out some of the skin area they are worried about, and do physical therapy to get my range of motion back. Evedinially, I was way off base!

First, the R.O. doc thinks that if I was prone to lymphadema issues, we would have already seen some sign of that in the 6 months since my surgery. So he feels that my chances are slim for developing it after radiation - and if so, it wouldn't be severe at all.

More importantly, he wants to zap me in 3 areas. Not just in my arm pit area. He wants to also get the clavical area - which is the next major lymph node grouping and a perfect place for microscopic cancer cells to be hiding - and the chest wall. In general, the chest wall seems to be an area of concern for recurrant breast cancer. No surprise, that is a spot where my sister's cancer showed up on the 2nd go around - and mine seems to want to follow in her footsteps.

He also said something that really hit home and scared us a bit.

Because the docs feel this was a recurrance, it is technically my second round of breast cancer. And even though all of my scans showed no spreading, they are afraid there are microscopic cancer cells on the move in my body that just aren't big enough to be seen yet. So they want to hit those nasty cells with everything they have - surgery, chemo and radiation - to make sure that they are all gone.

And if any of my cancer cells live thru this three-tiered treatment regimine, then the next discussion we have with the doctors will be a very sad discussion that no one wants to have.

When it is put right in front of your face like that - it stops you cold.

So, needless to say, I am getting as much radiation as they reccommend - arm swelling or not.

CHEMO IS OVER!!!!

Did I mention --> CHEMO IS OVER!!!!

It seems like such an enormous accomplishment, and yet, in some ways, not so much.

Don't get me wrong, it certainly had its drawbacks and side effects - and I wouldn't want to do it again just for fun - but I feel very fortunate to have had a much easier experience than many people do.

Now we are on to radiation treatments. Part 3 of 3. Whew!

The not so funny part of cancer treatments is this: Despite all of the advances in medicine, it is still just a high-tech trifecta of medieval events. First they cut you open and take pieces out of your body. Then they poison you for months. And finally, they burn you into a crispy critter. About the only thing missing is leeches.

Still better than the alternative.

(Written in June - Posted in August because I apparently took summer vacation from posting items :)