First week of chemoradiation treatment over

I am pleased to say that week one of the treatments is over. No radiation on weekends and on Monday the machine will be getting maintenance. The chemotherapy drugs are circulating inside me, hopefully causing havoc to “nasty tricksy” cancer cells and sadly slamming normal cells too. Fortune is smiling on me because I have not had any of the possible acute allergic or servere reactions to the drugs. On the other hand, I can certainly report that I do not feel 100% well. Funny about that.

David has been wonderful in taking on caring and household duties while I attend daily treatments and appointments, stare into the distance, float off into dreamland, or sit on the toilet interminably waiting (sorry, too much detail .. one of the joys of chemotherapy is constipation – haha). I am so grateful that he is with me. I am delighted that even in the midst of this trial, we still have fun together. Go Derwen!

One of my current dilemmas is that my world has necessarily shrunk to a focus on appointments, treatments, avoiding infections, resting, and healing. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that those are all important things, but it feels like I have been transported into a parallel universe in which I am constrained to follow the routines set by others, albeit for my benefit. David and I are going to a “treatment review” consult with the head radiation oncologist on Tuesday. I am expecting that it will only be a “how are you coping with the treatments? what are your side effects?” kind of consult. That is, too early for any signs of the impacts of treatment. I will be asking about being around people when I speak with him.

PHOTO: That’s me with Elekta … the radiation treatment machine. She is HUGE but so far gentle. I think that sooner or later I will start to dread her attention.