Finished!

Yesterday was a bad day. I was tired (although I feel even more tired today), depressed, anxious, and completely not myself. I actually had to admonish myself during my walk to the hospital not to cry. Very unlike me. When I arrived, Joan, Dr. Yamada's assistant and liaison, stopped by to see me and noticed how tired and depressed I looked. She suggested that the metallic taste is being caused by the steriod and that I should continue to take Zantac for another week (my steriods finish Thursday). If the metallic taste continues beyond that, I should let them know.

She feels the moodiness is also from the steriod, and she and the nurse think that having the treatments along with coming into work every day has worn me down. The nurse tried to convince me to take off today, but it's a short week, so here I am. I don't recall the last time I felt this tired. Maybe about 10 years ago when I came back from Walt Disney World with the flu. I slept well last night, but it just wasn't enough. I did manage to have dinner with Ed and get caught up on what's happening in his world, so that was a good thing. I'm going to try to make it through dinner again tonight. Then it will be only one more morning this week with an alarm clock!

The treatment went fine yesterday and took much less time than they had allotted. Apparently I parked my butt perfectly in my mold so no adjustments were needed and I had seven blasts lasting between 37 and 65 seconds. All were done from the back directly to the tumor, so there was no colon involvement. No diarrhea issues forthcoming, thank goodness. In conformal radiation, where the beam is not targeted, other structures can be involved which may lead to complications like diarrhea. I'm sure I paid a lot more for this targeted approach, but the less they hit, the better.

My treatment was finished in about an hour and then I met with the nurse and Joan again. I have to go back in eight weeks following a brain MRI and my pelvic CT scan (mid-January). I guess they will be able to see what's going on with the mets at that time. As mentioned yesterday, my next Doxil treatment is scheduled for December 18 with another Zometa treatment on the 19th. I'll have to contact Dr. K's office to find out when she wants to scan and see me again. Perhaps I'll be able to get in another Doxil/Zometa treatment and then be scanned. At least I'll be able to get through the holidays without scanxiety.

So, my radiation saga ends. I'm very happy to have it done with and now will await the reactions. No bald spots yet and no redness that I nor Ed can see. My skin is still very dry all over, but moisturizer helps. I'm also still eating my way around the East Coast, but that should taper off with the end of the steriod -- I hope.

The young guy at the front desk of my office building asked me today if I changed my hair color and told me it looks great. Wait until my wig wearing days are over and I reveal the chopped off grey hair! That will be a shock to everyone. I really like the wig, but I have to admit that I enjoyed spending the entire weekend au natural!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone and safe travels to anyone hitting the road or sky in the next few days!