Radiation

On Monday, November 6^th, I had my first round of radiation. Up until then, I had been on a cancer vacation.  Whoop whoop! I didn’t go anywhere exotic (although, that would have been nice) I just had the opportunity to recuperate from my bilateral mastectomy and get my body ready for radiation. I also had my expanders (plastic pouches under the skin on my chest) filled with saline every few weeks. This process has to take place prior to radiation due to the fact that radiation will cause my skin to lose its elasticity and therefore make it difficult to expand my skin for reconstruction in the future.  Reconstruction will take place in the summer of 2012. You need to allow your body at least 6 months after radiation to get your body ready.

I was originally scheduled for 28 radiation treatments but my radiation oncologist recently added a “boost.” Which means I will receive an additional 5 treatments specifically to the inner mammary node. This was the only area that they were not able to access during surgery because the node lies behind my breastplate, sitting close to my heart. So, I will receive 5 extra treatments to that area for precautionary reasons.   I will have my last radiation treatment on December 29^th.  Radiation has actually been somewhat of a breeze (compared to chemo). I do have redness and a little irritation at the site and I do feel unusually tired at the end of the day but is it the radiation or is it mi vida loca?  Most days I am at the Moore’s Cancer Center by 7am for the first appointment of the day. I am home in time to make some ponytails and braids and take the girls to school. Then, 2-3 days of the week I run with Graciela at running club and volunteer in her classroom.  I love being room mom and planning the Halloween Carnival and Thanksgiving Feast (I am working on their holiday party right now). Then the rest of my day is spent with Mateo (we are total BFF’s). I like to prep dinner while he naps and then I am off to pick up the kids.  This super mom thing is no joke. Seriously.  So, yes, I am a little tired but I am enjoying every minute of every day spent with my family.   Thank you to our new nanny, Rachel, who really has been a little gift (literally, she is a peanut) for our family. She watches Mateo a few days a week on her days off from her real job and she even watches him before she goes into work. Thanks, Rachies!   I also can’t say enough about the staff at the radiation office. Since I go in around the same time each day, I see these women every day. They are quite wonderful and make the radiation experience not so bad (I like to pretend that they are prepping me for a spa treatment).

Graciela dominating on the soccer field.

On December 16^th, I will have surgery to remove my ovaries. I will have the day off from radiation that day to have the surgery. Due to my BRCA positive status, I have a high risk of ovarian cancer as well so my doctors and I decided that there was really no reason to wait any longer to have them removed. It will be nice to have this taken care of before I return to work in January. Yes, I said work. We can talk about that in a different blog post (insert mixed feelings face here).

It is hard to believe that it has been almost 1 year since my diagnosis.  It has been quite a journey. I hope that this is the most difficult event that my family and I will have to endure together. I feel proud of my family for making it through this time and coming out somewhat normal and I feel proud of myself for finding the strength that I never knew I had. No way would we have been able to complete (almost) this journey without the very special friends and family that we have. I will always be grateful for the generosity and kindness that you all showed us every day.  Now, it is time for me to pay it forward!

Maya in action.

I am thinking of and sending positive thoughts to my beautiful cousin, Tracy, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer while 5 months pregnant with her second child. She has had her first chemotherapy treatment so please keep her in your prayers.  Also, please continue to pray for my wonderful friends, Ni Cheng and Fanti, who are recent I-Spy 2 trial chemotherapy graduates. They are currently getting ready for surgery.  My friend, Clarissa who has her 15^th treatment today. She only has 1 treatment left-Si se puede, amiga!   My friend, Mary, whom I have never met but we text talk like we have known each other forever.  We have that cancer bond, girl! Our dear friends Aaron Commerson and Papa Sid Porch who are also both battling cancer. I hope that my blog has allowed you all to find comfort on those days that you needed a little pick me up.

Love,

Felícitas