Radiation Treatment #17....

I have had 17 radiation treatments so far and have 11 to go. My skin is doing really well and over my breast, it is just slightly pinkish. It is a bit redder on my neck though. I am trying really hard to keep the exposed area hidden from the sun. The good news is that the doc thinks that my skin is faring really well so far, especially for someone so fair-skinned. Yahoo! So 11 more days to go. That would put me at the first Monday in August but you never know.... the machine has broken down once already (creepy) and postponed treatment a day. My understanding is that this is not uncommon.

I also have only ONE Herceptin IV left! I can't wait to have those finished. I am so sick of getting stuck in the arm. It never gets easier and I always feel a bit queasy when I'm there. Could be because I hydrate myself at the last minute and am stuffed full of water, or could be psychological... Last IV is around July 29. Anniversary of my first chemo... nice....

Only other thing to report is that when i went to see the eye doctor recently, they said that my peripheral vision had decreased and had I not been through chemo recently, they would be concerned. They want me to come back in 6 months to be tested. The doc mumbled something about small chance of brain tumor or cancer there affecting it. Cripes. I'll mention it to my oncologist and see what he says.

Oh, lastly, my hair! It is so weird. Doug calls it a shag rug and I call myself a chia pet. It is getting longer and is still curly. It is just plain weird and unpredictable. I'll have to post a picture so you can see. All I can say is that goodness it's not too gray and I am just happy to have hair!

Other great news is that I just finished my first century (100 mi) road ride yesterday in Santa Maria in over a year. I hadn't really ridden more than 50 miles or so in a year, so I wasn't in prime shape but what the heck. It wasn't terribly difficulty (3500 ft elevation gain) but every hill was a challenge for me. There were also 10 miles of pure hell, with a headwind, horrible road and traffic that had me digging down deep psychologically to not just turn around. Honestly, I wanted to cry with the back and shoulder pain I was experiencing. But I was very lucky to have Lois and Doug pull me along (draft behind) on large sections of the ride. Thank You!