Donna in Hollywoodland

The Last Radiation Treatment !!!!

Yeah !!! Its over and done with.
Not only is today my official Birthday - it is my last Radiation Treatment.
Allelluia !!!

I got the radiation treatment just like any other day.

Then I had an appointment with the Radiation Doctor - who looked at my "Fried Tomato" of a breast to examine it.

First thing, he saw my left hand.
"Oh, no, your knuckles" He said.
"What knuckles? " I replied.
You probably would not notice it unless I pointed it out to you. But my left hand and fingers are a little swollen from the radiation. This is the same doctor who did not want me to see the physical therapist at first.

But the main problem is the area underneath my breast. Where the breast lays on the chest area. (No, I'm not going to take a picture for you.)
The skin has a hard time drying out, and moisture develops and its just gross.
The skin is all grey and other weird colors.

So at night, I have been tucking my t-shirt, under my breast. Which has really been helping dry it out.
The doctor gave me a bag of Gauze and said to place the gauze under the breast because the gauze is softer.
Ok.

The only other suggestion was to lay around the house topless - trying to get the area under my breast some Air.
And since, I don't have time to lay around the house in funny positions, the gauze will have to do.

I asked the doctor some questions.
#1. I need to get my teeth done. When can I get X-rays of my mouth ?
Doctor "Oh, anytime. Since its not radiation to the same area, it won't make a difference."
Okay, well, forget that answer - I am going to wait 4 to 6 months just to be on the safe side.

#2. When can I start taking my antioxidants again ?
At first he said right away, then he changed his mind. Since Vitamin E can make the radiation burn you more - it is best to wait one week. That way for sure there is no reaction between the Vitamin E and the Radiation.

#3. What follow-ups do I need to do ?
Well, now that my sister has Colon Cancer, I need to be checked for that. And the CT Scan I had before my surgery would not count, because they did not give me toxic junk to clean out my colon. So I need to definitely plan to get my colon checked in a few months.

Other than that, he just wanted to make sure that someone checked my skin in a couple of weeks.
I have an appointment with the Breast Surgeon after the holidays. And I could either have her check my skin, or come back there for him to check my skin. Either way he was fine with it. Since I already had an appointment with the Surgeon, he did not schedule another appointment with him. Just if I have a problem, call and he will see me.

Other than that, he seems towards the end of the appointment, he just wanted me to know him as a "nice guy". He asked me about my Birthday party, and my celebrity things, and talked about the fact that he likes to go mountain biking.
He gave me his email address, and said I could email him the info on the holistic doctors I was thinking of seeing, and he would let me know what he thought - and that I could also email him any questions.

It must be tough to give people a treatment that is (somewhat) good for them - I mean it kills cancer cells - while at the same time, it causes all sorts of problems like swollen fingers and burned skin and fatigue, and brittle rib bones and who knows what else.
I can just image that you really believe you are doing something good - And you just don't want to end up being the "bad guy."

All in all, I am glad I got the Radiation Treatments.
I feel it is one less thing that I have to worry about.
Now, I have to make myself stay healthy enough, so I won't ever need any chemotherapy.
Back to all my holistic stuff.
Time to get back to 100% organic, since I have been to tired lately to make the trip to Whole Foods.
And I can't wait to go back to doing Flaxseed, Co Vitamin Q10 and Grape Seed Extract, and whatever else I can come up with.

Okay ... no more medical things for a while - Please God !