Radiation - the last week

I am heading into my final week of radiation. I am feeling somewhat anxious about what lies ahead of me. I was awake for about five hours last night worrying about a range of issues; if I can't get a job, if I do get a job but can't go on holidays in January, if my bald head is going to be on the cover of the publication coming out on Thursday and above all - hoping that my boob holds together for this final week of radiation. My boob is unrecognisable to me and is completely different to the other one. If I saw it in a boob line up, I wouldn't pick it out as mine. I look like I have had a painting accident with a tin of mission brown paint. I will not miss going to the hospital every day. There was a man in the waiting room the other day who had a visible brain tumour. It is not a place full of cheery sunshine. I am looking forward to radiation coming to an end. I was told during the week that my skin will get worse before it gets better. I am not looking forward to that, as at the moment the pain of it is waking me up a few times a night. The cream is helping, but I have to put it on about eight times a day. They have also given me gel pads to put under my bra strap, which helps ease the pain. One nurse did suggest that I not wear a bra for the duration of the radiation. Since I have not walked out of the house without a bra since I was about 11, that is not an option.

I am happy that this stage of Operation Kick Cancer's Ass is coming to an end, but I still don't feel like I can celebrate. I still have twelve doses of Herceptin over the next 36 weeks, so I will really celebrate at the end of that. However, I will definitely mark the return of my head hair with numerous cocktails! Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In other news, my eyebrows are making quite a comeback! The eyelashes are lagging behind, but I am coping with it. My leg hair has come back at a rapid rate, but I refuse to waste body hair when it is still lacking in other areas. On the topic of leg hair, I had quite a mortifying incident at the dog park on Sunday morning. There is a fellow that I have seen a few times and we always have a chat about dogs and rugby. He told me that he was at a party on Saturday night discussing my leg hair with a friend of mine. If you are that particular friend, please stop talking to men about my leg hair! If you are that stuck for conversation at a party, talk about my wit and sparkling personality (even if you have to make it up), but please refrain from discussing my body hair.