radiation graduation friday and THANK YOU!

ekdennie
ekdennie Member Posts: 238 Member
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I was told today that my last radiation treatment will be on friday! I am so excited to finally get to a point where I can rest without having to get to the cancer center everyday. I love the way I have been treated there, but I am so tired. I just want to rest! I am doing a happy dance...with all the side effects I have been having I have been afraid that they were going to extend my treatment...nope!
fyi (mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the hard alate intermediate grade. golf ball sized tumor removed with clean margins in aug, but based on type radiation was recommended...MEC often comes back (unless low grade) without radiation treatment. no spread to lymph nodes. (stage 4a clinically (it was on my palate, but grew into my maxillary sinus, caused decalcification of my septum and was pressing on my jaw, which was also decalcifying), stage 2 pathologically(MEC intermediate grade clear cell variety)).

side effects: fatigue, radiation burns, hair loss, sores all over my tongue, sores on my remaining hard and soft palate, sores on my throat, dry mouth, dry and tender nose with nose bleeds, unable to open jaw all the way, thicker mucous, and dry eyes. I am keeping an eye on some moles that changed during the radiation and I am monitoring my hearing...possibility of some hearing loss in right ear.

despite all of those side effects and the permanent hole in the roof of my mouth...I am happy! I am happy that I am that much closer to being able to find my new normal. I am determined that this will not define me. I don't want to look back and wish I could have handled having cancer better. I don't want my children to think that mommy's diagnosis of cancer was the worst thing they have ever gone through. I want them to know that yes their mom had cancer and she fought it, but she fought it with strength and with grace. that just because there are obstacles in life that doesn't mean they have to buckle under the stress of them! only time will tell if they learned that lesson...I think they have!

I know there are those on this site who have things worse off than me and some who have had things easier. I just wanted to say thank you to you all for all the discussion topics you have written...they helped me prepare for what could happen...for better or for worse. Thank you for your stories of hope and of sorrow. without you I do not know if I would have been prepared enough to handle this diagnosis and treatments with the strength I needed for myself and my family.

I am doing a happy dance for myself and for all of us who have been diagnosed with cancer, our caregivers, and those doctors who have helped us.

hugs and prayers!
elizabeth

Comments

  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #2
    May I Have This Dance?
    Doing the Happy Dance with you, Elizabeth. Congrats on making it through treatment. So now it's three more visits to the rad room, then freedom. Good. I don't have to remind you that most folks feel worse just after rads are finished, but I will. Hope you're atypical, and can coast through recovery. Even if you don't, I know you'll step up, and get the job done. Do well.
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #3
    Pam M said:

    May I Have This Dance?
    Doing the Happy Dance with you, Elizabeth. Congrats on making it through treatment. So now it's three more visits to the rad room, then freedom. Good. I don't have to remind you that most folks feel worse just after rads are finished, but I will. Hope you're atypical, and can coast through recovery. Even if you don't, I know you'll step up, and get the job done. Do well.

    Elizabeth!
    Only a few day's left & treatment is over. I am in awe of you & all of the young mother's here that have managed treatment plus raising a young family. The strength you have is amazing & you will do great during your healing & recovery. I wish both you & your family my best & will keep you all in my prayer's.
    God Bless
    Roz
  • ekdennie
    ekdennie Member Posts: 238 Member
    #4
    Pam M said:

    May I Have This Dance?
    Doing the Happy Dance with you, Elizabeth. Congrats on making it through treatment. So now it's three more visits to the rad room, then freedom. Good. I don't have to remind you that most folks feel worse just after rads are finished, but I will. Hope you're atypical, and can coast through recovery. Even if you don't, I know you'll step up, and get the job done. Do well.

    radiation side effect delay
    Pam,
    Thanks for reminding me. my doctor also made sure I was aware of what to expect these next couple of weeks. I am just looking forward to not having to get up to get dressed to go to the doctor's office. I live 30-40 minutes away from it depending on traffic and after going with my mom to drop the kids off at school the days can be so long. she picks them up for me, which helps, but I am at a point where I need more sleep than 1 long nap a day. I would love to be atypical, but I haven't been so far. Thanks for joining me in the happy dance!
  • ekdennie
    ekdennie Member Posts: 238 Member
    #5
    rozaroo said:

    Elizabeth!
    Only a few day's left & treatment is over. I am in awe of you & all of the young mother's here that have managed treatment plus raising a young family. The strength you have is amazing & you will do great during your healing & recovery. I wish both you & your family my best & will keep you all in my prayer's.
    God Bless
    Roz

    thanks
    thanks roz! My kids are my motivation. My cousin's son in my inspiration. One of my cousins lost her 13 year old son to glioblastoma maleforme (brain tumor), he was about 12 when he was diagnosed. he went through all of his treatments without ever complaining, with such strength that everyone around him was amazed. the treatments didn't change his personality or his smiles and laughter...only when the tumor grew out of control did those change. he showed his younger brothers how much he loved them every day, even when his pain was great. he showed his grandma (my aunt) that she meant the world to him. I think a lot of my strength is because of him...when I feel weak I remind myself that he went through radiation, he wore one of those masks, but he didn't let it bring him down...I can't let it bring me down.
    thanks for the well wishes and prayers...I'll be praying for you too!
    elizabeth
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
    Yaaaa....
    It's a great day for you.....

    Stay strong, keep positive, it gets much better from here....just a little slow in coming.

    Best,
    John
  • mixleader
    mixleader Member Posts: 267 Member
    #7
    Graduation Day
    Congratulations, Elizabeth. You sound like a stong woman and I am so glad you made it through this with this kind of an attitude. Enjoy your happy dance as you have surely earned it. I wish you strength and hope in your recovery. I admire your strength. God bless.
  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450 Member
    #8
    mixleader said:

    Graduation Day
    Congratulations, Elizabeth. You sound like a stong woman and I am so glad you made it through this with this kind of an attitude. Enjoy your happy dance as you have surely earned it. I wish you strength and hope in your recovery. I admire your strength. God bless.

    Congratulations!
    You've walked through the valley, dark as it is, and come out the other side.
    Yes, you've got a rough few weeks ahead of you, but every day you'll get a little better.
    Life is good!

    --Jim in Delaware
  • Mikki332
    Mikki332 Member Posts: 49
    #9
    Congratulations and Thank You
    Elizabeth...
    congrats on your successful journey! You are an inspiration and a blessing!
  • nkimber
    nkimber Member Posts: 46
    #10
    Mikki332 said:

    Congratulations and Thank You
    Elizabeth...
    congrats on your successful journey! You are an inspiration and a blessing!

    Yay!!
    Thinking of you and SO HAPPY and proud of you!!!! Just two more days.... It only keeps getting better from here!!!

    Lots of hugs and prayers,
    Nicole
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #11
    ekdennie said:

    radiation side effect delay
    Pam,
    Thanks for reminding me. my doctor also made sure I was aware of what to expect these next couple of weeks. I am just looking forward to not having to get up to get dressed to go to the doctor's office. I live 30-40 minutes away from it depending on traffic and after going with my mom to drop the kids off at school the days can be so long. she picks them up for me, which helps, but I am at a point where I need more sleep than 1 long nap a day. I would love to be atypical, but I haven't been so far. Thanks for joining me in the happy dance!

    GREAT MILESTONE
    Way to go with your treatment. It was really nice to not have to be somewhere every day. You are on your way to KILLING THE BEAST!!

    BEST!!

    Mike
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #12
    Last day
    Great new elizabeth keep strong and keep praying as you are now a survivor
  • ekdennie
    ekdennie Member Posts: 238 Member
    #13
    Graduation Day
    I am very happy to be done with radiation...now for the healing to begin...I am viewing the end of radiation like my treatment is over, but now I have to heal. with a surgery, you expect to heal and that it will take time, so I am viewing this the same way!
    I did have a moment today when I was overwhelmed with emotion. I was already tired and I went with my family to a birthday party for one of my son's classmates. It was a chick e cheese's and I was too tired to actually get up and watch them play, but then I looked over and saw these huge smiles on Logan and Alyson's faces as they were playing air hockey while their dad stood nearby. I all of a sudden had the thought that to see more of these moments is why I just went through hell and why I am going to heal and be back to myself. I am a cancer survivor, and until or unless I am ever told otherwise, I am cancer free. I have so much to live for that this pain will soon be a distant memory. I have strong pain meds to help with the pain...it doesn't take it all, but it takes enough so I can sleep and that is good enough for now. soon my pain will be gone and all I will be left with will be a hole in the roof of my mouth, but what a wonderful thing to exchange it for. my life for a hole. it could be so much worse! I am blessed that I had a great ENT who removed the tumor and who sent me for radiation. I wish my dentist had sent me for a biopsy when I first discovered the lump so that I wouldn't have had to have either the hole or the radiation, but as that didn't happen, I won't dwell upon it.
    Happy Dance Time! and no, I will not film it....you never know what will end up online and my happy dance should not be one of them! :)

    hugs, prayers, and well wishes to you all!
    elizabeth

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