The first project for 2008 is to clean up the local cancer, and regain my mobility after surgery. I happily report that the numbness in my fingers and toes has started to recede, and my family has commented that I seem to be thinking faster. And I have hair! And eyebrows! Still, I have to be careful, as my mental stamina has begun to outstrip my physical stamina. For example, I imagined I was ready to cook, so, thinking I would start simple, decided to do a baked chicken, salad, and roasted root veggies. Unfortunately, I didn't really think the whole thing though paying attention to pectoral muscle use. Peeling potatoes - pecs, yes. Cutting up hard veggies - pecs, yes. Lifting pot with chicken and veggies - pecs, yes. Thankfully, Zack stepped in as sous chef. I mostly made the salad.
Yesterday, exactly one month after surgery, I had my first radiation appointment. Dr I (and his team of minions) used a CT scan to make a 3D model of my torso. This will allow them to design the firing pattern for the radiation emitters (I'll figure out what they are called when I begin next week). The only problem was an area-type geometry one: to fit into the CT, I needed to get my arms up over my head with my elbows down. Unfortunately, I don't quite bend that way, yet. Eventually, with three technicians pushing and maneuvering, I got into a suitable position. Who knew lying on a table could be that difficult? By the end (after 15 minutes of Sarah saying 'just two more minutes...') I was panting and sweating.
Speaking of panting and sweating (and stretching, and aching), I also started physical therapy last week, with my first real appointment yesterday. (Oh yes, I did PT after working so hard getting into the CT yesterday morning. Really dumb.) Robin and Claudia are both trained lymphedema specialists, who work with lots of breast cancer clients. They are charming, upbeat, sweet, funny, lovely...with an inner core of pitiless drill sergeant. I have complete confidence that I will regain all of my strength and mobility, whether I like it or not. Robin and Claudia definitely respect my pain threshold, and have emphatically stressed that PT is 'not a no pain/no gain proposition', but they most certainly don't kid around.
So, for the next 6 weeks, my schedule looks like this:
Radiation, Monday through Friday, 2:45-3pm
Physical Therapy, twice per week before radiation for an hour.
Stretching at home, every day, 30 minutes
Jumping jacks, here I come!
Friday, January 4, 2008
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