Beyond the Treatments

June 2009 Nevada-Utah Trip -- celebrating
the end of my treatments with my sisters and their families.

Wow! It's the middle of summer already and it's been over a month since my radiation ended on May 13, 2 days early due to some really uncomfortable skin reaction from the radiation. It was soon after Kailee's 4th birthday (May 5th), that the radiated region started peeling & oozing. I admit, I was feeling quite confident about my treatments & had continued swimming & even did go briefly into the hot tub at the gym and once in the backyard at my father-in-law's home here. Dr. Fields thought it was more the radiation itself since they were focusing the treatments very superficially/externally since I only had my chest wall (& no remaining breast tissue). I stopped going to the gym & couldn't even go on the Rebounder (just bouncing around was sore) -- and even just walking was uncomfortable because I didn't want to swing my arms & rub the area under my armpit. I bought boxes of non-stick gauze to try to deal with it, constantly trying to hold my arm away from my side, even when sleeping. Plus catching a cold (thank goodness not the flu -- so far the flu shot's working this year) made it a less fun experience. The last 5 treatments were to have been focused on a smaller region nearer the scar, but Dr. Fields thought missing 2 days would be OK, more of a judgment call. I did return the following week for a skin check & to give the staff a box of Big Island Candies shortbread cookies. They presented me with a certificate of completion, something similar that the infusion staff also gave me after my chemo. They were all very nice at the radiation clinic -- trying to make the treatments as tolerable as possible.

Marianna Goodwin - Guided Imagery Counselor

I wanted to mention other complementary resources I have been involved with that have been helpful. I occasionally see Marianna on Fridays for guided imagery sessions through the Institute for Health & Healing affiliated with Marin General Hospital. The Institute secured grant funding to offer 3 free sessions of guided imagery & 3 1-hour massages for breast cancer survivors. I'm still going after I was approved for further sessions at a reduced rate of $25/session (normally about $60-90).

Astrid Mackwitz - Art 4 Healing Facilitator

On most Thursdays, I have been attending 3-hour workshops sponsored by the Foundation for Integrative Oncology. The program is housed in a small art studio located in the same building where I go for guided imagery. It's a unique expressive arts therapy program combining a variety of techniques such as visual art (I usually opt for pastels), movement, guided visualization, writing & dialogue. The facilitator is wonderful! She has such a nurturing and warm spirit about her. Unfortunately, she recently lost her mother to breast cancer back in her home country of Switzerland & her father also was recently diagnosed with cancer too -- so this type of work holds very personal meaning for her.

On June 19, I had a follow-up mammogram on my right side, which came out clear. I'm to do an MRI in 6 months, so alternating these tests every 6 months. That same day, I also started taking Tamoxifen, an anti-hormonal pill taken once a day for the next 5 years. So far it's been almost a month & (yay!) no hot flashes so far (a common side effect).

So I'll be celebrating my 41st birthday on the 17th, this coming weekend. Lots to be grateful for. Also, we're close to signing a lease for a rental in San Jose. We'll be moving out of Pete's family's home probably at the beginning of August. I'll be seeing a new oncologist soon and hope to find another great support group & other resources down in Santa Clara County!