Half Baked

Dear friends and family, 

      I've passed the half-way point of radiation...14 more doses to go!   Things have been going pretty well overall.  I definitely am more limited with energy and sustained focus, which can be frustrating.  

       It leaves me with many unfinished to-do lists, piles of magazines and books left unread, thank you cards are at a 3-8 day later than normal post, and I don't even enjoy the television all that much either.  Why watch television, when you could be sleeping or writing an overly ambitious list of tasks I need to complete, right?!

  Even with new challenges, here are some selected triumphs that have occurred over the last few weeks: 

I have:

• enjoyed several unsupervised stand-up showers (very exciting!)
• saved some money with my coupon clipping hobby.
• attended to Katie for her wedding dress fitting .
• played flute and piccolo for a short Opera Theater Oregon performance.
• clipped articles from the newspaper and marked Gary Larsen "Far Side" cartoons to use in my classroom.
• limited my news media intake during the royal wedding and other world news events.
• walked farther.
• read half of Tina Fey's Bosssypants.
• did the dishes and operated the vacuum without incident.

   It's not all fun and games though, here's some things that have happened that have been character building for me and my primary caretakers/handlers.

    Some shedding...

May 4th, 2011  Tub Time

     My hair at the spot that gets the most radiation...well, its gone and going this week.  I was feeling more curious about it than sad or bummed out.  I was thinking, okay, well now I know what its like to lose some hair...and I have a state fair worthy comb-over. I knew it was coming and was tired of waiting for the shedding to start. It was a relief to me for this to start happening as they can never tell you how much or where it'll happen.  My oncologist and radiation therapists had educated guesses that seem to be pretty correct so far.  

          I quickly learned that I need to be a little more sensitive though, as people who love me don't appreciate  my "hey! check it out!!" attitude to my piles of hair that I take out to the yard for the birds to make their nests with. 

        Sometimes I can see that some of this stuff is easier on me than those who have to watch me go through it, well actually I feel that way often, but not all the time, but when I feel that way that's hard for me too very much.

Cinco de Mayo:  Dermatitis es no fiesta.

It feels like poison oak. 
Thanks to Tara P. for my fly "S" necklace!

     So, one thing we've been really careful about is my skin.  With the radiation, its really important to take care ofthe epidermis.  Basically its getting a sunburn Monday-Friday with the radiation, so its pretty important to take of it or we may get off schedule for the radiation.  

      We've been using 100% aloe with distilled water in a spray bottle and Miaderm (an expensive radiation relief cream that is available at the oncology pharmacy).  The 100% aloe has to be refrigerated, so we bought another aloe gel from New Seasons that I can take around with me.  Well, forget that stuff, because I got a nasty rash and welts all over my face, neck, and ears.  It feels like poison oak and has made things really difficult for me (and my caretakers...).  

      When I showed up for my daily rad treatment, I got diverted to the examination room within moments.  Photos taken of my condition and at one point I had the attention of 2 oncologists...I love attention and all, but yikes!!!  

        I've been airing my face out, taking loads of Benadryl and having minor crying jags from my swollen and hot face and huge red crusty ears.  They said to try some over the counter products after the initial airing out.  Walgreens sold some Benadryl gel and cortisone cream yesterday...fantastic improvement !  Its been getting better. Still super itchy and I'm loaded on Benadryl pills and cortizone so I don't scratch my face off, but I hope that things continue to get better with this, really thankful the reaction isn't happening on my scalp.

   What else?

Gary D. applying the 100% aloe/distilled water magic potion, the good stuff! That's my regular part, not the bald spot, yet?
He and my mom had the great idea to put it in a squirt bottle.  Thanks Nurse engineers!!

That's me with rash playing flute with OTO. I can't believe I did that.

This is my mask..the tape and markers show the fields of radiation and their entry points, keep in mind that the radiation also exits through my brain.  The machine is a linear accelerator.  This shows my right side if you need help orienting yourself.  Also, my nose is the point.

More fields. 

Left fields (find my nose point as a point of reference)

    
       I'm getting very tuckered out from this so I'm going to be done with it even though there's more I could share.  

Special thanks to those of you who have: 

• reached out to me through email, postal mail, visit, or phone
• driven me to radiation treatments
• delivered meals, treats or yourself to my house
• invited me to activities even though I'm not at my tip top shape
• been patient of my inability to commit to plans due to my tiredness
• given me a key to your house so I can visit your dog during the day
• sent me healing thoughts, spells and prayers
• let me have the best seat
• driven and helped me with errands
•  helped me keep track of my finances and stay organized
• been forgiving with how sporadically I post blog entries
• made me smile with your good humor, caring and friendship.  It really gives me a nice little vacation from cancer treatment hardships.

    Take care and thanks!

xoxo,

              Sara L.

p.s. Here's a favorite blog of mine these days...I can really relate to this Samantha K.   

http://www.alieofthemind.com/

p.s.s.  If you want to subscribe to my scribbles, go to the bottom of this page, enter your email address and it will deliver updates to you.