Day 2 of Radiation

This morning I woke up extra early! I requested a CT scan to double, triple check my lungs, and make sure the cancer is not hidden in that organ — even though nothing showed up in the PET scan or any other scan that I’ve had. The scan was bright & early this morning. I’m going to call Dr. Crozier later to find out the results.

Day 2 of radiation went well. After the treatment, I was able to talk to Dr. A (radiation oncologist) and ask any questions. The one question I asked is why they are only treating the lesions on my spine if I have lesions all over my bones and my body? He said they would not treat all the lesions because that much radiation would be too toxic. So they are treating the lesions that hurt or could cause severe damage, which in my case are the lesions on my spine.

The chemotherapy pills  I will take after radiation are expected to make these lesions go dormant (they will never go away) and stop spreading. The ultimate goal for the medication is to control the cancer. The treatments may work or may not work, so they will continue to monitor scans. I think I have said before, but there are like 12 different medications I could go through. Dr. A also said he knows someone that lived 14 years after being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer that had spread to the bone.

Another thing that is very important during treatment is to make sure you have plenty of water in your body — that way you are nice and hydrated. I have been drinking a gallon of water each day for the past four or five days! It’s amazing how tough it is to get a gallon of water down, but I’m managing to do it.

A friend of mine Kat, who is a cancer survivor, gave me a cookbook with recipes that can be healing while going through cancer. My friend Nicole made me a couple of the recipes and brought them over today. The items are supposed to be full of nutrients and goodies!!!  I will say I tasted them and they were very tasty. I can’t say enough thanks to these two young ladies for helping me out.

All of this is so hard to take in and process. I’m doing my best to remain positive during this journey. If it weren’t for my friends and family helping me, I probably would crawl into a fetal position and cry all day. I know God is caring for me through this, and he has me in his arms, keeping me strong! I will keep fighting this fight for these reasons.