Today was my first day of radiation treatments. Treatments will happen every weekday for the next 4 weeks (with one extra day off for the 4th of July). It will be a total of 20 treatments. My last radiation treatment will be July 29. I set up the appointments for the afternoons. I've been managing to work full time so far through this cancer journey and plan to continue that, if my body allows, during the radiation treatments. My plan is to work in the office until 1:30 everyday, go to treatment, and then go home and work another hour or so from home. The big side effects that can happen with radiation treatments are fatigue and skin irritation/pain. I may have to adjust my work plan as the treatments progress depending on how side effects manifest themselves. It's a wait-and-see game for now.
So far, the radiation treatment experience has been the most emotional for me. It took a long time for me to decide if I was going to choose a treatment course that would include radiation therapy or a more extensive (prophylactic) surgery plan. I chose radiation, and the road has been a bit bumpy ever since.
Greg wanted to be with me when I went to my first treatment today, so we rode to work together and then went to the appointment together. I was very glad to have him with me before and after the appointment.
I was nervous and emotional before arriving at the appointment because the "dry run" appointment didn't go very well. I was dreading this one.
After I arrived at the appointment and was sitting in the dressing/waiting room, God calmed my nerves and provided a sweet surprise/distraction for me. A woman came out of her treatment and and into the room where I was waiting, and said, "Whew! That's done." and the following conversation ensued.
She said, "Today was my first treatment."
I said, "Me too."
She said, "I have triple negative breast cancer."
I said, "Me too."
She said, "And I found out when the radiation treatment is over, I have to do an oral course (pill form) of chemo for six more months."I said, "Me too."
She said, "Who is your doctor?" And I told her the name.
She said, "Me too."
We talked for a just a couple more minutes before staff came to take me back for the treatment. She told me her experience with the first treatment and said it wasn't as hard as she thought it would be. She had a cheery disposition and was easy to talk to. It put my mind at ease.
The first radiation treatment went well. I felt more relaxed than I had been in the previous appointments. I'm so grateful to God that He allowed me to meet "Pam" before my appointment. Talking with someone who is familiar with my exact circumstances was what I needed in that moment. God is very faithful, and He can trusted in all things.
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