I am happy to report that my arm performed well at the next CT scan and I was able to get it into the right position. Phew. They put four teeny-tiny tattoos (that look like birthmarks) to mark out the section that will be radiated (basically from the bottom of my neck to my lower ribs on the left side).
I am also happy to report that I will be starting radiation therapy this afternoon. Okay, maybe happy is not the right word, but I am certainly glad that this last phase of treatment is getting underway.
Here are the basics about radiation therapy:
The side effects are not nearly as bad as chemo. They mostly involve localized skin irritations (rashy/sunburny feelings, and the affected skin may turn reddish/darker during treatment), and of course, fatigue.
I will have 25 sessions. That’s a lot. It’s every day (aside from weekends and holidays) until mid-July.
The sessions are quite short. Each appointment is booked for roughly 30 minutes but most of it is positioning to make sure that I’m aligned properly and consistently from session to session. The radiation part shouldn’t take long.
Everything else is going okay right now. I feel much, much better from the surgery. My energy is okay. I’m doing some work and playing with Nate. And here is some photographic proof: me and Nate in a fort!
We can’t believe we are in a fort!
Nate looking down on the little people.
Everybody Hearts 
YAY ARM! Great photos. Hope today goes well! XO!!!
Thanks, K! Xoxo
What a journey you are on! 5 weeks goes fast.
Nate’s such a sweetie. Hugs to all.
Thank Doreen, hugs to you and the family too! Xoxo
Naomi – Congrats on getting your treatment underway!! It’s actually a really good sign that you are getting 25 treatments (fractions) of radiation. The amount of radiation given to a patient (measured in greys) is somewhat standard. But if they don’t think you’ll be alive for a long time then they’ll give you the same amount of radiation but in fewer treatments (ie: 2-5 treatments) so that you can benefit from the palliative radiation quickly and get better quality of life in the time you’re alive. The fact that they’ve stretched it out to 25 treatments means that they believe you’ll survive this cancer for a long long time and want to minimize long term side effects. Yay!!! That’s fabulous news worth celebrating!! 🙂
Thanks, Lesley! And only 24 sessions to go! Given everything we’ve already been through, 5 weeks shouldn’t feel too long. Hope all is well with you. Xoxo
We wish you blessings of wellness as you embark on this next phase of your journey. Thank you for keeping the connection to us all. It gives us the opportunity to send our loving wishes your way. And what gorgeous photos of you and little Nate! We definitely see what you mean by ” playing”! Playing is a great way to spend time and being a mom gives you the excuse to do it. We look forward to reading your next blog.
Love from Ron & Estarisa (friends of Leonard and Susan in Vancouver
Thanks Ron and Estarisa, It’s lovely to hear from you. I’m glad you are following along with the blog. Hope all is well with you, and that you are making time to play too! xo
I’m so glad to hear you are doing well and to see that you guys are not short on fun places to go. Where is this cute little fort?
Thanks, May. It’s lil bean n green. We should go sometime. xoxo
Dear Naomi,
We have never met. We are Eric Rosenberg’s parents, Eileen and Len. Eric has shared your blog with us. We want to let you know that we are keeping you and your family in our hearts and prayers as you go through this journey. We know that with all of the love and support you are receiving, you will meet each challenge with grace. We hope to meet you in person after you are restored to full good health. Happy Father’s Day to you all.
Eileen and Len Gold
Hello Eileen and Len,
Thank you so much for reaching out. And thank you too for your generosity in sharing your beautiful space. It was such a nourishing weekend for us.
It would be lovely to meet in person.
And a happy father’s day to Len! Enjoy the weekend. xoxo
Winnie shared your blog with me and I read it in one sitting – you are an amazing writer full of strength, honesty and beauty. My mom just went through breast cancer treatment for the second time in 8 years and I passed on your blog to her as well and she felt you captured the experience perfectly. A little tip that might be of interest to you……my mom discovered that Calendula gel was the BEST way to deal with the radiation rash she had and the doctors were so impressed with how well it worked they are now recommending it to others. She uses straight Calendula gel that she bought at Loblaws in the health section. Might be worth a try….
Good luck over the next phase of treatment.
Thanks Andrea! Winnie told me about your Mom and it made me sad to know that she had to go through treatment again. I hope she is doing okay now. I’ll check out the Calendula gel.
And I hope all is well with you!
Lots of love. xoxo
Love your faces popping out of the windows of that fort!
And I love your arm, of course.