Reread the original notes I got on my first visit to The Lymph Lady after someone suggested today I was overreacting - could one really get lymphoedema after minor things, eg being in an overheated car like I was yesterday?
Well, you can. I was not overreacting yesterday but luckily the drive to the garage to get the faulty temperature gauge fixed - a problem, I must say, the garage inadvertently created through sloppiness - was quick as I left later than planned so there was less traffic and the air was fresh. And I drove with my window down and the air blowing in.... and it was wonderful.
So things are ok although it did say in those original notes I read that be wary of pain in the affected area. Mmm... I have a fair amount of that.
Went to yoga tonight, now my usual Tuesday night activity, and it is pretty amazing. When I start off the night and have to do forward virasana - heels together, knees apart and lie forward with arms stretched straight out - it hurts like hell and I can barely stretch out my left arm (the side affected by radiation for breast cancer). By the end of the night, I look forward to forward virasana, as I stretch out my left arm - and stretch it further.
I live in Johannesburg, South Africa, where I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Thursday January 15 2009. This is my journey with cancer and other musings as surveyed - initially temporarily hairless - from under my hats.
Showing posts with label radiation for breast cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label radiation for breast cancer. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
cancer and therapy
When I got diagnosed, I walked out of the doctor's office and knew two things: I was going to go to therapy and I was going to write a blog.
With all the ups and downs of the diagnoses and the confusing treatment options presented - I had breast cancer but no primary tumour ie nothing in the breast itself but two cancerous lymph nodes - I didn't make it to therapy for a month. Think it might have taken even longer to start this blog. Cannot remember now. But know i battled on what to call it - now the hats are no longer relevant and think the name is a bit long but cest la vie....
Anyway...today decided I didn't really need therapy. But hesitant to throw up the lifeline completely, so therapist suggested I come twice a month instead of weekly. Fine with me. I am not depressed and when/if I do get miserable, it's usually for about an hour or so. Think I am handling things ok. Alright, so still not crazy about my job and getting fed up with being sick - well the cancer is gone but still having treatments (hormone tabs and herceptin) so getting sick of side-effects. And pain. Have pain from the radiation I had.
And in a way getting sick of this blog too. This journey, this experience with cancer is never ending. The cancer has gone but the treatments.....so tired of it, tired of the focus on it so finding I am more and more hesitant to write about the process cos want to forget about the cancer and just live, do other things. Plus, because I have had swelling problems from the radiation, start and end every day with about 30 minutes of manual lymph massage. So want time to do other things, things that aren't connected to cancer, that will allow me to think of other things.
Ja, ja, ja......
With all the ups and downs of the diagnoses and the confusing treatment options presented - I had breast cancer but no primary tumour ie nothing in the breast itself but two cancerous lymph nodes - I didn't make it to therapy for a month. Think it might have taken even longer to start this blog. Cannot remember now. But know i battled on what to call it - now the hats are no longer relevant and think the name is a bit long but cest la vie....
Anyway...today decided I didn't really need therapy. But hesitant to throw up the lifeline completely, so therapist suggested I come twice a month instead of weekly. Fine with me. I am not depressed and when/if I do get miserable, it's usually for about an hour or so. Think I am handling things ok. Alright, so still not crazy about my job and getting fed up with being sick - well the cancer is gone but still having treatments (hormone tabs and herceptin) so getting sick of side-effects. And pain. Have pain from the radiation I had.
And in a way getting sick of this blog too. This journey, this experience with cancer is never ending. The cancer has gone but the treatments.....so tired of it, tired of the focus on it so finding I am more and more hesitant to write about the process cos want to forget about the cancer and just live, do other things. Plus, because I have had swelling problems from the radiation, start and end every day with about 30 minutes of manual lymph massage. So want time to do other things, things that aren't connected to cancer, that will allow me to think of other things.
Ja, ja, ja......
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
day 2 of radiation
Getting a little anxious. Yesterday went for radiation at 4pm. By the evening had a shit taste in my mouth. This morning it was still there and I was starting to feel slightly nauseous. Told them - must find out what 'they' are professionally - and they said only get that from brain cancer radiation. But, said the one lady, I am the patient so if I have it the taste, then it's there. Ja well. Getting used to be told what I am feeling/experiencing is most unusual or cannot be a symptom and must be something else unrelated.... ja well.
Then this afternoon in the meeting at work could feel my chest closing and started coughing. Twice I left the meeting, first to get throat lozenges (I am a walking medicine chest these days), then to get water so I could stop coughing.
I have stopped coughing now but my chest is tight. Put it this way, if I was still allowed to go to gym, would never go to gym feeling like this. It is subtle but there.
And I was told - no side effects till after week three. Humph!
This is a bit scary. Twenty three sessions to go but will speak to them about it tomorrow.
Cooked fish curry tonight. Kinglip in an easy recipe I found on BBC Food fish curry recipe. Just added garlic and fresh chilli, curry leaves, a little fish sauce and could not find madras curry paste so used thai green. Will make it again although my version was a little watery. But enjoying my new found interest in cooking. It was Marianne's suggestion, my colleague who got injured twice recently, once mountaineering and once, just got injured - her knee gave in completely. She suggested cooking when one's energy is not up to going out a lot. So now indulging. While I can, before I get exhausted like the doctors, nurses and Internet sites threaten happens with radiation. And for now, only planning one night out during the week.
By the way, great to have my taste/desire for fish back.
Then this afternoon in the meeting at work could feel my chest closing and started coughing. Twice I left the meeting, first to get throat lozenges (I am a walking medicine chest these days), then to get water so I could stop coughing.
I have stopped coughing now but my chest is tight. Put it this way, if I was still allowed to go to gym, would never go to gym feeling like this. It is subtle but there.
And I was told - no side effects till after week three. Humph!
This is a bit scary. Twenty three sessions to go but will speak to them about it tomorrow.
Cooked fish curry tonight. Kinglip in an easy recipe I found on BBC Food fish curry recipe. Just added garlic and fresh chilli, curry leaves, a little fish sauce and could not find madras curry paste so used thai green. Will make it again although my version was a little watery. But enjoying my new found interest in cooking. It was Marianne's suggestion, my colleague who got injured twice recently, once mountaineering and once, just got injured - her knee gave in completely. She suggested cooking when one's energy is not up to going out a lot. So now indulging. While I can, before I get exhausted like the doctors, nurses and Internet sites threaten happens with radiation. And for now, only planning one night out during the week.
By the way, great to have my taste/desire for fish back.
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