RADIATION - DONE AND DUSTED!

OMG ... two full weeks have passed since my last blog - and full and memorable weeks they have been. Since then I've completed radiation therapy - with nothing more than an itchy rash. I found the tiny icepack I'd been given after the lumpectomy and that combined with the cold Aqueous cream (keep in fridge Sally the breast cancer nurse told me) give great relief - five days on its gradually subsiding. I've been truly blessed with having an amazing support team in my family and friends, they've been my chauffers, laughed with me, shed a tear or two with me, 'shouted' me meals and given up three hours of their day for me (travel to Traralgon in 45 mins each way plus treatment time). On Monday, December 2 when Lindie & I walked into the radiotherapy department we were 'blown away' by the transformation over the weekend - a forest of Christmas Trees - each one decorated with a different 'theme', brick walls, a fireplace and a wooden Christmas tree with an array of homebaked Christmas treats packaged in cellophane for patients and their supports to enjoy .... and enjoy we did! my favourite was the tiny mince pies - similar size to what Mumma used to bake - I'm not a fan of the supermarket variety, find they are too big and have too much pastry for my liking. One of the staff members in IT makes the decorations and did the decorating over the weekend and I trust she was able to witness the appreciation of those of us undergoing treatment. Lindie has offered to assist next Christmas - I would too but compared to Lindie my decorations are very amateurish! I saw a psychologist ... however in the time between getting my referral and an appointment I'd had a huge meltdown - I won't go into details but to say to it involved silverbeet - silverbeet which became very finely shredded - after which I physically felt like a weight had lifted from my heart and shoulders. Deb put it down to grief and the fact I'm a carer and a supporter and forget to look out for me ... to help me overcome the overwhelming teary times (simple things like medical staff asking me to confirm my name set me off which then meant I needed to explain I wasn't scared just grieving) she suggested to think of silverbeet as a trigger word which will make me smile. Deb believes I understand and have control of my mental wellbeing, that I just needed to have it confirmed and talk with someone independent .. so no further visits required. Grief affects us all in different ways ... and you don't grieve if you haven't loved! Just don't put off seeking help if you feel you need it ... unfortunately there is still some stigma out there regarding mental health ... A friend of Lyns' gave her a copy of The Beacon (Breast Cancer Network magazine) for me to read and in there I found an interesting letter from a reader which said "don't say to recently diagnosed family/friend 'call me if you need anything' instead 'take the bull by the horns' and do something (make a meal, organise to go with them to appointments, take them shopping or for a coffee, contact them instead) as for most it's hard to ask for help even though it's been offered. And for those like me who do find it hard to ask for help ... people really don't offer if they don't mean it Leeanne and Caiti are holidaying with us for ten days, the past few years we have had an early Christmas with our Queensland family which unfortunately this year we couldn't manage, hence they have come to us. Tomorrow we are off to Melbourne for two nights before they fly home on Wednesday. Bill has his half-yearly check-up at Peter Mac on Tuesday - then its shopping and Christmas lights and decorations. It will be a lovely break to celebrate the conclusion of radiation. After three months of trying and numerous treatments, my nails were still flaking and breaking so with a little gentle persuasion from Caiti I now have some new acrylic Christmas themed nails ... silly but true they are a big morale booster! Started taking Femara on Wednesday - so a little early yet for any side effects, but hey I'm not going to get any! Posted off a few Christmas cards, mainly to those who are not on Facebook and that we don't see regularly ... and yes the first few cards we received were ones I'd missed ... oops My beautiful sister-in-law and niece had a lovely mother/daughter trip to Uluru - I could hear the joy in her voice yesterday when she rang - Christmas won't be easy for her this year. Each year my tradition is to watch Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve by the light of three special candles (Dad, Molly and Mum) this year we add another two for Pete and Robyn. Carols by Candlelight has been part of my Christmas since a little girl, I remember Mum purchasing a Carols book at the Newsagents and we would sit around the radio listening and singing ... then came TV and we could watch this amazing spectacle. Attending a Carols by Candlelight is on my "Wish List' and Robyn and I had been planning on going in 2020. One of Bill & my favourite Christmas eve memories is Mum singing along to a Carol being sung in Latin - after all those years Mum still remembered Latin from her highschool days. Finally some more warm weather predicted for the coming week ... bring on those lazy hazy days of Summer.