May 9, 2022

Hi, y’all – Apologies for my lack of updates to everyone in the past week.  It’s been a bit of an emotional week for me since my last visit to MD Anderson.  I know that my feelings are nothing different than any other cancer “thriver” has gone through during their journey, although knowing that doesn’t make it any easier when you are in the middle of the trenches and walking the battle each day.  I will expand on this in another blog post.  I will keep this one to the radiation details.  

I must say, finding out that I was going to need to do oral chemotherapy (Xeloda) for 6 months after radiation has thrown me into a bit of a depression and at the same time, it’s been a gentle reminder from God that I am not in control of anything, only HE is.  Being a Type A personality, this is such a hard lesson to learn and it’s obvious that I still have not internalized and realized that I am not in control of anything.  I say this to people ALL. THE. TIME.  I know that this is one of the lessons that God is trying to get me to internalize and not just say that I know but truly internalize and KNOW that he is in control and that HIS plan is better than any plan I have for myself.  The struggle is real!!!  

My visits to the doctors last week went well.  I saw my oncologist who confirmed that radiation and the oral chemo, Xeloda, is a must after seeing the pathology report.  I saw my breast surgeon who confirmed that my surgical wounds are healing nicely and that the feelings I am experiencing are indeed the nerves trying to regenerate themselves.  (Side note – not one doctor explained this to me before this surgery and trust me this has been extremely difficult to adjust to.  It’s interrupted my sleep and still causes me anguish on a daily basis – but that is a topic for another blog post).   I saw my breast reconstruction surgeon who also confirmed the feelings are related to nerve regeneration, that my incisions are healing well and that I still need to “take it easy” for another month.  No heavy lifting, no repetitive motions like sweeping or mopping (that’s a positive, right?), and to start practicing the “Three M’s” – Moisturize, Manipulate and Massage the girls daily.  So, there’s that.  They need their own gym membership at this point.  Who knew?

The biggest update is from the radiation oncologist.  Dr. Smith explained that since there were cancer cells found in the tumor bed and the DCIS (ductile carcinoma in situ) which was found in some of the excised tissue he was recommending 16 rounds of whole breast radiation and 4 rounds of a booster – which is radiation to just the area where the tumor was removed from.  

Radiation will be daily starting on Monday, 5/16, and going until  Friday, 6/10.  My understanding is that the radiation treatment doesn’t take that long, in fact, it will take me longer to drive to the hospital, park, check in, and get to their office than it will to do the radiation treatments.  I will see Dr. Smith each Wednesday to discuss how the treatments are going and to see if there are any “tweaks” that he may need to make as we walk this path.  They will be adjusting my radiation boosters to do two booster treatments in one day since the Memorial Day holiday falls right in the middle of this treatment.  He’s doing this so I can complete my treatments on a Friday and not have to come back to Houston for one last treatment on Monday.  Praises for great doctors.

I am heading back to Houston on Sunday (5/15) and my wonderful sister, Nicky, has volunteered to come and stay there with me for the first two weeks and be my babysitter (smile).  I say this because Mano is insistent that I have someone with me during my time in Houston, thus the statement of a babysitter.  This will not be a pleasure trip but hopefully, we can fit in a good meal and a giggle or two while going through this.  

I have already begun to moisturize with the recommended lotion that the doctor gave me on my last visit. He recommends Nutrashield for his patients (link here).  This lotion is AWESOME and this link has a great deal for 3 tubs.  I am hoping this will also help with the hand/foot issues that I may experience with Xeloda.  I am going to be bathing in this stuff soon.  Just watch.

Radiation’s most common side effects are skin changes (redness like a sunburn, darkening of the skin, tightening of the skin, etc.)  Exhaustion is another symptom.  Not everyone experiences this but it is common.   Shrinking of the breast tissue – about 10%.  (Side note – this is why the breast reconstruction surgeon removed less tissue from the affected breast than the other one).

This week I have a few prayer requests from my village – they are as follows:

• Prayers for my beautiful mama, Pat, who is scheduled for back surgery on Wednesday 5/11.  Prayers for a successful surgery with no complications and quick healing.
• Prayers to cover Nicky and me for safe travels to Houston on Sunday, 5/15.
• Prayers for Mano and Christian who will be home “holding down the fort.”  We all know what a struggle that is when mom’s not home to supervise. 
• Prayers for me as I begin radiation on 5/16.

Hugs and love to you all. Thanks to all of those who reached out this past week to check on me as I traveled back to Houston to discuss the next steps.  HUGE shout out to my friend, Tara Knight, who took time off work to drive me to Houston, go to each doctor’s appointment and take copious notes, and sent them to Mano to keep him in the loop.  You are the best!

Xo,

Tracy