Today was the first day of Radiotherapy. Now call me old fashioned but as a private patient, when I have an appointment for 10.40, I expect it to be kept within 10 minutes or so. Especially as I am still working and have arranged meetings and teleconferences around the scheduled radiotherapy times.
I didn’t get in to be zapped until 50 minutes after my scheduled time. Needless to say, I explained which way was up to the people concerned. I don’t think it will happen again!
Early days but the actual zapping bit was straightforward. Large machine is positioned by two radiographers who mutter strange numbers at each other for a few minutes and move you around in the dark with light beams being lined up on the tattoos etc. Then a minute or two of actual zapping – only noticeable by the noise the Linear Accelerator makes, and then it is off to put the bra and top back on and home we go. The biggest problem is that it takes me at least 40 mins to drive each way, which is a complete drag.
Apparently I am very likely to get a sore boob after a week to 10 days, which will last for 2-3 weeks after the therapy is complete. C’est la Guerre.
My biggest concern at the moment is getting the lymphedema in my left arm treated. My medical insurance won’t cover Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage by any one who is not a registered nurse or certified by the HPC. As there is no category for MLD specialists in the HPC that only leaves RNs who are also MLD specialists and there aren’t any within about 25 miles of where I live. There is however a highly recommended therapist where I live so I am working on trying to get the Insurance Company to agree to use her. If not I will have to pay for treatment myself or use the NHS (many weeks of waiting and a 50 mile round trip). In the meantime, my left arm is swollen and aches when I stretch it. I spend a lot of time waving it in the air and clenching and unclenching my fist. (Something that is supposed to help.) I’ve tried doing it in public and while I am driving but people think I am making black power salutes at them and give me some very odd looks. I need to be a bit circumspect about this. It could lead to some nasty situations.
Side effects from the chemo are also still in evidence – swollen ankles and feet and fingernails that are becoming detached from the nail bed. No sign of hair regrowth yet.
On the positive side I had a fantastic few days in Venice. It was wonderful and I am definitely going back – soon. The wig behaved reasonably well - It got overexcited on a breezy vaporetto trip and tried to take a quick dip in a canal but I managed to stop it.
NEWS…NEWS…NEWS… I just had an e-mail from the insurance company agreeing to let me use the local therapist for MLD. Brilliant.
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