I'm Almost Done!

I’m Almost Done! 

I have been going through the daily mundane radiation process.  My skin gets a little bit more red and irritated every day but it is “looking pretty good” according to my doctors.  I have to just take their word for it, I guess. 

I noticed last week I had a small rash on the center of my chest and figured it was related to the radiation.  Then the rash spread to my neck, and then to my face, and then to my shoulders.  I wake up on Monday morning with my right eye partially swollen close and a very obvious raised red rash from the chest up.  Just what I needed.  It looked as if I had wiped poison ivy on myself.  For the record, I had not.  I went in to see my radiation oncologist and he is unsure what it is, but says it is not related to the radiation.  He wants my medical oncologist to look at it though just to be sure.  He wasn’t in yet, so the nurse practitioner takes a peek.  She says it is not shingles or chicken pox.  Great, so we can rule out a few things.  It’s NOT poison ivy, radiation side effects, or shingles.  Now if only we could figure it out.  Unfortunately, we cannot.  They give me a steroid pack and it takes away most of the itchiness (ahhh) and reduces some of the redness and puffiness.  From far away, I look alright.  As you get closer, you see that my skin is still pretty irritated. 

I have to remind myself that I’m almost done.  Other than this crazy random rash, the sunburnt boob area, fatigue, and my fingernails*, things are going quite well.  I am beginning to feel like I’m getting some of myself back.

*Three of my fingernails are very sensitive and the fingernails have lifted off the nail bed, one is dangerously close to falling off.  This is a lingering side effect from chemo.  With the nail not bound to the nail bed it can be an issue if bacteria enters.  I have to be sure to have excellent hygiene to prevent an infection.  Lucky for me, excellent hygiene and hand washing are skills I happen to be pretty awesome at.  Nail polish also covers the discoloration nicely.

Looking on the Bright Side… I have 21 radiation treatments down and 7 to go!  On July 12^th I will be finished!!!