Radiation 8-14

As much as it seemed that my radiation would last a lifetime, 25 was so far away. I am happy to say that I have completed 14 of 25 treatments. Going to the hospital everyday for a 20 minute appointment is a pain in the but, it's almost over. 

I must admit I really expected it to be bad by this point but I guess I can count my lucky stars that it's not so bad. My skin looks like I have the beginnings of a sunburn, my skin is sensitive and itchy but thankfully no blisters. The fatigue is not so bad, some days are better then others, but all in all not so bad. 

I am so happy that I am seeing a clearer light to the finish line. After all these months of agony and fear, it is almost over and I will reach the finish line a winner. 

Keep you posted on the final stretch of my battle. 

Love you all

Franca😘😘😘😘

Radiation 1-7

I thought i would give you all a very quick update since I have started and completed 7 of 25 radiation treatments. 

Well so far so good, the actual treatment is at the most 7 minutes long, the arms get tired of being in the same position and of course everything itches when you cannot move. The machine rotates around me and shoots out the radiation to my breast, underarm and neck areas. 

My skin is now starting to get a little red and itches, like a very mild sunburn, the key is to keep the skin extremely hydrated, there is not too much fatigue. It's a pain in the but that I have to go everyday to the hospital, but it's almost over. This seems to be a breeze as compared to chemotherapy, would never want to go through that again. 

I will continue to keep you posted.....

Love you all..

Franca

Radiation Therapy........ 25 rounds.....here I go.....

Once again I am in a position of the unknown, as human beings we always want to be aware and in control of our lives.  The reality is that at times we have no control over what happens and what follows.  

Today I begin what I pray is to be the final step in my treatment for my breast cancer.  I begin 25 rounds of daily radiation therapy.  It was great to be treatment free for the past 5 weeks, my hair is growing back as well as my eyebrows, they all seem to be coming in with a vengeance (lol).  I am looking forward to a normalcy to life to once again with no treatments, medications and side effects.  

How will life be after all this turmoil, who knows, will it ever be normal again, what is normal....

How can anything be normal again, I went to bed one day in November 2015 a healthy 40 year old and woke up the next day with a lump in my breast which was breast cancer.  How can anything be normal after that.  I cannot say how my life will be after going through all this, I can say that I will try my best to not allow it to take over my life. 

One day at a time is all we can all do in life, we all have ups and downs in our lifetime no matter how big or small, I believe that how we manage them and come out stronger is what is important. There will be days and trust me I have had many and still do, that are rough and tough and we become bitter and angry, and I strongly believe that it is a part of healing. Not sure how long it takes someone to get over the fact that cancer took so much away and maybe it never gets better but we learn to live with it. I would be a hypocrite if I said I have learned to live with it, no I am still very bitter and angry but I also have good days and I am extremely thankful of my outcome and being able to have beat cancer, many people are not so fortunate, and survivors guilt is very difficult also. 

So today I will walk in to the radiation room and yet again fight this battle with my head high and say to myself I will get through this no matter how ugly it can get. 

Thank you all so much for standing by me and supporting me in my fight. Most of all thank you to my husband for always being by my side. 

A little reminder, my team and I will be walking 5kn for the CIBC RUn for for the Cure on October 2, please help my team and donate to a cause that is my reality. 

Team: Breasts4life

Love 

Franca 

Round 1 is completed, not so bad. Feels just a little hot on the surface. Will keep you all posted with the next 24.