Radiation is done, but it's effects aren't

I finished my radiation on Monday (March 22nd). It was a great feeling, signing in for my treatment and not seeing any upcoming appointments.

I had to see the nurse, as my burns have opened up and are wet and weepy. She was very upset with me for putting a dressing on my neck. Because it is located in the crease of my neck, and every time I move my head, it seems to weep more, I felt covering it was the best thing for work. Anyway, now I leave it open and hope for the best. I try to wear wide necked tops, which leaves it fully uncovered and exposed. As bad as my neck wound is, the ones under my breast are the worst. As you can imagine, there is a lot of chaffing. About the only relief I can get is to line my bra with with patches of flannel diapers. The nurse and even the radiation techs all said that it was going to get worse before it gets better, and that I should take some time off of work. I might just have to do that. I will decide this coming week, depending on how things progress.

My breathing is better, and I find I have more stamina than even 2 weeks ago. I am scheduled to see the cardiologist in 2 weeks, and then the oncologist, so hopefully my heart function has recovered and my treatments can continue.

Well, I guess that is all for now. A special thank you goes out to Linda and her sister Ellie, for the information on diet and wound care/healing. I will try to eat right. And to all my staff in Bowmanville, Thank you for the flowers and the cupcakes. You all mean a lot to me.

~Inez

Herceptin is a wondeful cancer drug

...but it is not without its side-effects.

My herceptin treatments are being delayed for 9 to 10 weeks, because of Herceptin-induced Congestive Heart Failure. It took 2 over night visits to Emerg and a Muga scan results showing a decrease in function of more than 50% to get me to a cardiologist to diagnose this.

Both Emerg visits came after an hour of laying in bed gasping for air. First visit resulted in a puffer and being sent home to followup with family doctor. Second visit was more thorough, detected fluid in lungs, and treated with antibiotics but no mention of heart trouble.

It took the poor MUGA results for the oncologist to request an emergency referral to the cardiologist. He, the cardiologist, feels we can reverse these results and then continue the Herceptin with constant monitoring in 6 to 7 weeks.

This is the scariest time in my course of treatment. My mother died of heart failure, and she was only 53. She beat breast cancer, back in the mid sixties. Now I battling them both at the same time.

On the radiation front, I only have 6 treatments left. They have been going pretty good. It is a constant battle to get out of the office on time to make it to the hospital, and some day I end up going back to the office after my treatments.

Work is work this year. I have great office staff and everyone is pitching in. They make it easy for me to deal with my treatments and not worry too much about the office.

I will try to post more often.

~Inez