Back in January, I posted my last health update – waiting to see if I was a candidate for radiation therapy or if another operation was my only option.
A few months have passed, and I have just been way too tired and sick to repost anything about my situation.
Today, Thursday April 9th, I seem to be a bit better than yesterday – which was not a very good day once again.
After a PET scan on February 25th – I met with Dr. Nabid at the CHUS for a consultation and an answer about my candidacy to radiation therapy. Dr. Nabid said that he found all to be normal and that radiation was indeed an option. I said yes, and on March 17th I began my five-week journey.
During the first two weeks – the machine was shut down for maintenance for a day, and this week the department is closing for two days due to the Easter holiday – so I will be in radiation until April 23rd to make up for the lost days.
I have had side effects – major fatigue – some days barely able to function after the two o’clock hour – needing daily naps. Have also been nauseas and of course the very frequent bouts of diarrhea which come along with the type of treatment being given.
I looked for documentation, information, help, in just about every area imaginable – then I came across the National Cervical Cancer Coalition website – what a great find that has come to be. The NCCC sent me a package of information via priority mail – which included a 60-page booklet entitled “Eating Hints for Cancer Patients – before, during and after treatment.” This book alone has become my "bible" per say and I use it daily for reference to the foods I should be eating depending on how my body is reacting on that particular day.
Enclosed in this package was also another booklet entitled “Radiation Therapy and You, a guide to self help during cancer treatment,” which has also been a great help in explaining what is happening to your body. I literally drag this package of information with me everywhere and have even spoke to hospital staff about the NCCC and how they have helped me.
After my daily external treatments are complete – I will be given a brief break to catch up on fatigue – and they be hospitalized for a few days for what is called brachytherapy. What this involves is quite scary to me; surgical steel tubes or genecologic applicators are placed in the tumor bed area in order to kill any remaining tumor cells. Cesium will then work its way from the treatment machine called Telegyn by wires that are attached to the applicators. This is a 24-hr a day treatment and can last 2 or 3 days depending on the doctor’s recommendation.
Oh yeah, the scary part is that I will not be allowed to move my lower body for the entire duration of this treatment – which means that I will be on my back the entire time. And at the CHUS visitors are not permitted when patients are undergoing this type of treatment. Sounds like an uncomfortable and lonely three days ahead.
More updates to follow…
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