Radiation and Post Treatment Plans

Radiation went off without too much of a hitch. I only had 33 treatments but around treatment #25 my left armpit got really burnt and we had to change to localized radiation or my "burst" for a week to give my armpit a break. I was using silvadene cream multiple times a day and to this day it only looks like I had a tan in that area. There is a spot on my left breast from the localized treatment that is permanently reddened in the shape of a circle. It was right in the area where they found the original tumors though so I'm glad they were focused on that spot. When I completed my treatments, my radiation doctor turned to me and said, "So, it looks like you are cancer-free!" What wonderful words to hear! No longer did I have to wake up every day and goto treatments at 8:15. No longer did I have to be reminded daily that I was a cancer patient. This new life post cancer was one I will live with no regrets. I am now working night shifts and loving the extra money and easier workload. I am seeing the oncologist every month right now because I started tamoxifen. Having no side effects from that medication at all. I was having hot flashes throughout the first part of radiation treatments because of the chemo putting me through menapause. But that's even improved and I think I'm back to normal again. I have a follow up PET scan on June 15th and I am scheduled for my reconstruction surgery on August 17th. My mom is coming to stay with us for a week while I recover. I should be in the hospital for just a day after surgery. But they will take the back muscle on the left side of my back and wrap it around, using it as a pouch so to say for the implant. Sounds painful to me but necessary to truly put this behind me.