Pause

Treatment – pause.

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Last weeks treatments were pretty intense on my skin.  The radiation area is really sunburned and very, very sore.  It has cumulative effects as the weeks go on.  My medical team thought that the three day weekend over Memorial Day, would be enough of a break to start up again today.  Unfortunately, it was not.  The weekend was tough – mentally and physically.  My skin feels like the worst sunburn you could ever imagine.  It is very uncomfortable to sleep, and sleep is what I desperately need!

I met with Dr. Moore today before my treatment and she decided that I needed one more day for my skin to recover.  Tomorrow we will start what is called the Boost treatments.  Boosts are typically given towards the end of radiation schedule, but apparently it can also be inserted during the second half if the patients skin is reacting severely.

A radiation boost is one or more extra treatments (in my case, I believe it is 8 extra treatments) that are given at a higher dose than routine treatments, and targeted at the tumor bed and scar area. This extra dose covers a small area and affects the tissue where cancer is most likely to return. Radiation boost treatments are given after the regular sessions of radiation are complete. Women who are 40 years old or younger at time of treatment get the most benefit from a radiation boost, but patients of all ages will have a lower risk of recurrence if they receive a boost treatment.

I think I’ve been reading way too much about the topic of cancer, but I did read recently that if breast cancer is going to reoccur,  it is most likely to return to the area around the scar. Since the scarred tissue receives less oxygen, the radiation that has already been given does not work as well there. So, the scar boost will help insure that any cancer cells hanging around the scar area are damaged for good.  Lovely.  In any case, I’ll do whatever I have to, in order to prevent a re-occurrence.

P.S.   I’ve also read that cancer does not like oxygen, which is another reason to get plenty of aerobic exercise and meditate using deep breathing exercises every day.
Keep the oxygen flowing throughout your body as much and as often as possible!!!
Take a deep breath now…… And another…..and another.  Ahhhh.   Don’t you feel better?
Time to get the kids fed.  Stay tuned for tomorrow’s boost experience report.