My bag of chemo for the day.

Round 6 of chemo – check. As I sit here with aches and shooting pains running through my body, I’m yearning to go for a long power walk to enjoy this beautiful summer day that is upon us. Only a day or two more of the aches and pains, and then I will enjoy feeling ‘normal’ again until Round 7, next Friday.

The standard ‘protocol’ for cases like mine is to have a month off after chemo, in order to regain strength and let your body heal. Then they will clobber me with 5 weeks of radiation, 5 days per week. I find myself googling radiation therapy and evaluating its worthiness. So many people I know have had long term side effects after radiation. I suppose it is the weighing of the chance of cure with the risk of side effects.

Lymphodema is a risk when radiating the lymph nodes – which would be the case in my situation. They actually want to radiate three areas: the lymph nodes under my arm, my breast and upwards to my neck. To me that seems like ‘overkill’ – yes, pun intended! However, I suppose if I was to get lymphodema but have my life, it’s a fair trade-off. Decisions, decisions.

Off to IVC mañana. Looking so forward to having this behind me!