It's a turn-around jump shot - It's everybody jump start
It's every generation throws a hero up the pop charts
Medicine is magical and magical is art
The Boy in the Bubble
And the baby with the baboon heart
-Paul Simon (from 'Graceland')
These really are the days of miracle and wonder. The fact that I can lie down in a big machine, have a laser enter my body, then get up and be on my merry way 10 minutes later is pretty dang unbelievable. Which brings me to the topic at hand: Radiation therapy.
So, as it turns out, radiation is a go! I'll be starting most likely the week after Easter and will have either 12 or 15 treatments total. The treatments last only 10-15 minutes and I will be having one treatment a day, five days a week. It will be done in Hamilton, and I will be staying with my sister during the week to cut down on all the travel time. It's pretty much exactly as I thought it would be so I can't say I'm all that disappointed. I was prepared for it. My radiologist showed me my "before and after' scans and it was pretty shocking how large my tumor actually was!! 8 cm! It is now almost undetectable other than some very small remnants which are basically the scar tissue from the shrunken tumour. Anyway, it is good to know that I am that much closer to the end of all treatment. If all goes according to plan I should be finished end of April or beginning of May.
Ottawa trip was great other than getting freaking PNEUMONIA!!! No Joke! The day after I got there I went in to emerg with some pretty classic symptoms, and knowing how low my immunity was I didn't want to take chances. As it turns out I was diagnosed with Pneumonia and given a crap load of antibiotics. So for the first week of my trip I was pretty much out of commission. Which of course I am used to by now! I definitely had a few days of wondering if I will ever feel well again. The good news is that it didn't take long for the antibiotics to take effect, and I did get some time with good friends and hanging with the parents which was great. Right now I'm actually feeling totally great...and not taking one minute of it for granted.
I also took a day of silence at a retreat house on the Madawaska about an hour outside of Ottawa and it was a highlight of my trip. While I was there I realized how much my mind has been racing in terms of thinking I should be farther along in recovery than I am. I clued in that I am not even done treatment yet and need to lay off putting pressure on myself! The general message was: SLOW DOWN. I kept thinking about a quote I heard a few years ago: "You can't push the river".
I guess that about does it for the update.
So, as it turns out, radiation is a go! I'll be starting most likely the week after Easter and will have either 12 or 15 treatments total. The treatments last only 10-15 minutes and I will be having one treatment a day, five days a week. It will be done in Hamilton, and I will be staying with my sister during the week to cut down on all the travel time. It's pretty much exactly as I thought it would be so I can't say I'm all that disappointed. I was prepared for it. My radiologist showed me my "before and after' scans and it was pretty shocking how large my tumor actually was!! 8 cm! It is now almost undetectable other than some very small remnants which are basically the scar tissue from the shrunken tumour. Anyway, it is good to know that I am that much closer to the end of all treatment. If all goes according to plan I should be finished end of April or beginning of May.
Ottawa trip was great other than getting freaking PNEUMONIA!!! No Joke! The day after I got there I went in to emerg with some pretty classic symptoms, and knowing how low my immunity was I didn't want to take chances. As it turns out I was diagnosed with Pneumonia and given a crap load of antibiotics. So for the first week of my trip I was pretty much out of commission. Which of course I am used to by now! I definitely had a few days of wondering if I will ever feel well again. The good news is that it didn't take long for the antibiotics to take effect, and I did get some time with good friends and hanging with the parents which was great. Right now I'm actually feeling totally great...and not taking one minute of it for granted.
I also took a day of silence at a retreat house on the Madawaska about an hour outside of Ottawa and it was a highlight of my trip. While I was there I realized how much my mind has been racing in terms of thinking I should be farther along in recovery than I am. I clued in that I am not even done treatment yet and need to lay off putting pressure on myself! The general message was: SLOW DOWN. I kept thinking about a quote I heard a few years ago: "You can't push the river".
I guess that about does it for the update.
Word.
-Julia
Thanks for the update. Keep on trucking Julia. Peace.
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