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Today, as I drove home from my last radiation treatment, the sky was a bright, BRIGHT Pepto-Bismol pink and Kool-Aid purple, the kind of garish display only the Almighty can get away with. And I was glad to have that be the only kind of pink in my life.
Previously, I lay for the last time under the blank gaze of the Varian Clinac machine, got a nice certificate from the technicians, and was showered with confetti. I brought them goodies from Whole Foods, and a smaller selection to share with my fellow zappees. I have follow-up appointments, but no more treatments.
No.More.Treatments.
And earlier this morning, I saw a surgeon at Brigham and Women's. I do not need surgery. It turns out that very few of these small hernias give trouble. I've probably had it for some time and not noticed it. I can do anything, eat anything, go anywhere... and come back if it gives me trouble.
We celebrated with hot chocolate and rum.
I don't know what my oncologist wants for a follow-up regimen, but that's also just a follow-up. I am not closing this blog yet, as I want to get through a couple of months while the billing settles down, but...
No. More. Treatments. No. More. Surgery.
It's hard to describe the relief. I feel as if vast amounts of time have been returned to me, not to mention spring, summer, fall, and winter.
(For those who asked, I have no follow-up chemo. That's for you folks with hormonally responsive tumors. I got the brutal ride up front; alas, you get the long slog of less difficult but still, not trouble-free daily medication.)
Mazel tov! Glad you are done with the radiation phase, though, as you know, you are not done with follow-ups, etc., etc. It is good that you've come through it relatively unscathed, though there were difficult days, I know. The billing will get all straightened out, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, I have 5 years of oral medication (plus the Prolia shots every 6 months), but I am happy with that. It's true that the oral medication is not trouble-free, but there's really no medication that's not trouble-free, is there?
Anyhow, I think the greatest benefit of finishing the radiation is that you are free of having to be there every single day and planning your day around it. That's what I'm looking forward to!
How wonderful. So glad for you! Congratulations, dear heart. Thank you for sharing the experience with us. You are beautiful. All my love to you.
ReplyDeleteWe're so glad to hear that.
ReplyDelete