Tuesday I got to see Dr. Washington and showed her my really damaged skin, especially in my left arm pit. It feels really tight, and has a sore forming. I also had a small scab form and then come off on my scar line, and the hole left there, albeit small, freaks me out. The hole is about the size of a Qtip stick with no cotton on it. She said that she wants me to watch it closely and make sure it is not opening up more. She also said I need to start using neosporin there and in my armpit. She asked if I needed any pain meds, and is always surprised when I turn them down. The shooting pains suck, but I can't imagine trying to teach while on percocet. When I inquired about why I was getting 38 treatments now instead of the original 33, she explained it was because of the margins during surgery. But she said she would be comfortable moving it back down to 5 boost treatments, rather than 8 boost treatments if that's what I preferred. I said 5 is good enough for me! So she made that adjustment. So today's treatment (#26) included only 2 angles (I guess one angle is completely done being treated). And they also took time today to draw a new area on the top of my breast (around 12 o'clock) that will be getting the boost. The area does not include my scar at all, like she said it would. Whatever. They have to pour a metal mold for the treatments so they had to get it all set up today. I get another treatment on Wednesday (#27) with bolus, a regular treatment on Thursday (#28), then I start the boost treatments on Friday. The boost treatments will apparently only go on the area they drew, and nowhere else. This is great news to me, especially since my armpit and under my breast are what's hurting me right now. So Friday (#29), Monday (#30), Tuesday (#31), Wednesday (#32) and Thursday (#33) are my last 5 "boost" treatments. That's right, I'll be done by the end of next week! That is soo much better than thinking I have 3 weeks left...
Wednesday I got my bolus treatment and got some gel packs for my armpit. It is getting really unbearable because it feels like it's on fire, so the gel packs help cool it down some. I had Back to School Night on Wednesday night, so it was definitely a long day.
Thursday I got my LAST regular treatment. Woohoo! The only part that sucked was having to lift my arms up. My skin felt like it was ripping and it was torture to hold it in place.
Friday I got my FIRST boost treatment. I don't have to lift my arms anymore, they can be down by my side. They put what looks like a longer lens down to where it's almost touching my skin. The area on top of my breast that they marked out is the only area that receives any "ions." They had a hard time getting everything adjusted, and had to call the doctor to move a piece of the machine. It was a lot of technical talk. I tried to keep up so I could blog about it, but it was all french to me. Once they got it all set up, the doctor came in and made a few minor adjustments. Then I got a piece of plastic wrap (another bolus) put on my breast, and a little piece of machinery taped to me that looked like a mini microphone. They all walked out, I got my 20 second "beep," and I was done. They assured me that my boost treatments won't take as long in the future.
A 2 year survivor recently told me that she still has a tan from radiation that would make Canyon Lake women jealous. That wasn't the most encouraging news ever, because now I know I'll probably be stuck with this awful skin for awhile. :-( There is a piece of skin that is peeling on my breast by my scar, and it's kinda freaking me out to have all that raw skin exposed. I just keep lotioning...
Looking forward to the Susan G. Komen walk on Sunday in Newport. I'll be there with team Don't Worry Be Happy Shirts!