Mood: sharp
Now Playing: Day 2595-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)
Radiation therapy, chemotherapy and all sorts of other experimental oncology therapies.
The one most single group of batons that you never want to pass on. Not to any family/framily member, friend, neighbor, coworker or anyone else.
As I bravely and proudly continue to exit my oncology journey... One of those above begins their very first steps next week. A beginning of their own journey. The very first steps of a very grueling therapy. The absolutely most harsh type of cancer therapy.
Radiation.
Sure, as a patient who experienced her own maximum dose that not only failed to provide any cure, but actually, made things a million times worse. I still have my views. I still have my opinions, but the one thing you can never do... Is to dictate another patients own personal decision.
To me? Cancer is all the same. It's the same kind of evil, but just in different forms.
I was warned that the most harsh side effects of a maximum course of radiation would not begin until towards a year post-radiation therapy. I would like to at least say... Oncologists have that answer one billion percent CORRECT!
9 months later.........
I am just now starting to pay the radiation pied piper when it comes to a failing immune system, damaged organs, dried out hip bones which has now made using my home treadmill, virtually impossible. I have dealt with more infections and complications since 2 weeks after my last round of radiation, than over the past several years. I am still dealing with the same consistent E Coli infection that began a week after my last round of treatments. Now instead of running high fevers. My doctors are doing their best to manage an abnormally consistent, low body temperature. It's called, the body shutting down. I more than perfectly OK to be brutal honest with the truth. I am still doing the best this gal can on enduring the highest doses of some serious antibiotics and other various medications. All in hopes of my team of specialists doing their best to stay at least one step ahead of the battle. I am still battling other post-radiation and oncology treatment side effects weeks and even months later. A severe delay. Could this be due to my Gastroparesis and an already slow as a snail absorption rate? No one is for certain, but what we do know is that my battle is far from over. A new post-oncology treatment battle has begun. A battle of nothing, but PURE HELL.
Since I was given radiation therapy, lower abdominal area, in a maximum, fast track, 3D dose. My intestines are worse now than before treatment. My GI transit time has gotten far worse and so has the daily pain and vomiting. Marinol is now beginning to slow down as far as the benefits that I once used to receive from the magical little pill. This has now left a strong team of doctors wondering what else they can possibly do or provide me. For those who find offense to posting photos of myself in a far more HAPPIER state? Needless to say, you have not even a mere clue of the battle. I plan on continuing to show the far happier days, not the far worse days, when times I am not sure if I will make it out of the bathroom, oncologist's office or emergency room. If you don't like the far more happier, smiling, beautiful photos of myself... Tough cookies!
I refuse to look, how I truly feel. That is MY POWER.
So... As I bravely faced the toughest battle that I will most likely ever face and walked back out of the closed oncology society doors.... Next week, another of the above that I know. Another member of the radiation group of extremely BRAVE patients and searching for a chance at extending their life, SOULS, will begin their journey. My thoughts and prayers go out to this brave cancer patient. A brave soul. I can only hope that God allows them the chance at what they truly deserve.
A cure.