Magical date of last chemo session is fast approaching

LESS than a week to go now before my last chemo session! Hard to believe, but it seems that the magical date is in sight and approaching fast.

I have been extremely positive throughout my treatment and have, for the most part, been spared the majority of the serious side-effects associated with chemotherapy. I have to say that the cumulative effect is starting to take its toll though.

The most irritating thing is a constant watering eye and very dry skin. No hair, eyebrows or eyelashes make you look odd but it’s not the end of the world. In the week immediately after my treatment I notice that I have a very dry mouth and a white tongue (but no ulcers) which affects how food tastes. This all passes and apart from a tremendous thirst and a slightly achy body life carries on.

So once I have my last treatment, I move into a different phase. I imagine that I will be given a CAT scan to see how I have responded to chemotherapy. Before starting treatment, I had three shadows on my lungs in addition to the removed tumours.

The doctors wanted to keep an eye on these as the lungs would be a typical place for breast cancer to extend to.

It is the hope that the chemo has eradicated these shadows and that should be that.

I will then have to wait for the call to start my radiotherapy. I have been marked out in preparation with tiny tattoos and have to prepare the area to be radiated with some intensive hydration! Being pale, my skin is likely to be more sensitive to the effects of radiotherapy. I am not sure how many sessions I will be given but I imagine around 20 or so. We shall see.

In the meantime, life ticks along. The children seem to be more grown-up by the day. I am convinced that they are visibly taller each day. We seem to be experiencing a little calm after the storm, although it is meant to be the other way round normally, in our case we’ve dealt with a mini tsunami so calmer waters are most welcome.

Less tears and a slow acceptance of the situation and even some laughter is a great relief.

Let’s see what next week has in store for us all. One thing is for sure… life never fails to surprise!

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