It has been just over a week since my radiation finished and I am surprised at how quickly my skin has recovered. It is not back to its usual winter pastiness, but it no longer has the texture of an old leather boot. The cracking has healed and the blisters are but a distant painful memory. I will need to be careful about sun exposure, but so far things are looking good. I am starting to get more energy and haven't had my daily nanna naps for a few weeks.
Since the article came out in City News last week, I have received some wonderful messages from current friends, old friends, family and strangers. The support through this has been amazing and continues nine months after my diagnosis. Life is getting back to normal and it is a relief to not have to think about going to the hospital every day or how sick I will be after my next chemo treatment. I relish the mundane things in life - like shaving my legs which I finally did this morning. I am happy to report that my armpit hair has failed to report for duty, and I am not actively going in search of it.
The support group at the Mater for young women starts today and I am looking forward to it very much. I have been reading a blog of another incredible woman who has just started chemo and it makes me realise just how far I have come. When you are bogged down in treatment you can't see the end, then the end comes and your body bounces back very quickly. A friend of mind told me that the most amazing thing about chemo is that your body actually survives it. For those who are reading this and are bogged down in chemo - there is light at the end of the tunnel. Even on the days you can't see it - know that it is there waiting for you.
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Hi Karen, just wanted to comment to say thanks for writing all this down! i found your blog after your City News article. I'm a medico, but i'm also just a girl who also knows that life can turn upside down at any minute. it's so important to read how the staff related to you especially when you were first diagnosed. I was shocked by the Sonographer who asked if you were going to use a wig or a scarf!! and you hadn't even had surgery yet!!
ReplyDeletei hope & pray your road to full recovery is fast - keep the update's coming!