lindae's Cancer Blog
February 21, 2010
I finished my radiation treatments Feb. 18. I am so happy about that. It seems to have been a big blur though. I can tell my skin is in the healing mode. I am experiencing fatigue, diarrhea, emotional upsets, a desire to eat but know I should stick to a soft diet for a while. I am tapering off the pain meds and that seems to be working out fine. Would love to start going places. Short trips to the grocery store would be great. Just not sure I have a handle on the bathroom situation if needed. I know—baby steps…..but I am so anxious to test my energy levels even if its for just a few minutes. I have not driven a car since December 17. My sweet husband has taken me to every appointment (except a few where my son was able to do it).
I am here to say whether you are just beginning treatments or are in the middle or near the end. There is an end to it. Be strong and stay lifted up by all the people who are keeping you in their thoughts and prayers. God held my hand every day. He will hold yours too.
Hugs,
Linda
Waiting to feel better....one day at a time., 
5 comments)
February 6, 2010
Monday starts week six for me. I will have radiation Monday-Friday and then the following Monday. My treatments started on a Tuesday so that is why the extra day.
I think it is going to take everything I have to make it through this last 6 days. I could not be any redder and rawer. Thank goodness for pain meds. The only downfall is they make you constipated.
Anyone else on week six? Any suggestions or advice on how to get through it?
Blessings to all,
Linda
Linda—
I am so proud of you and how you have done so well through week 5! I know this has not been easy, but you have handled it like a champ! The next week will be rough, but I know you can do it! Just stay focused on the finish line. Towards the end, every time I went to the bathroom, which was a lot and very painful each time, I told myself I was flushing that cancer out of my body. That helped keep me going forward. I did not have the constipation problem that you are having from the pain meds, as I didn’t take the pain meds as much as I should have. Please make sure to mention to the doctors that they are making you constipated and see if they will recommend a mild laxative for you. Dr. M recommended Ducolax to me, but the chemo nurse said Miralax would be more gentle. The only time I was constipated was when they had me on the iron supplements, which I eventually had to stop.
I hope your appetite has remained good. Just stay hydrated and eat protein whenever you can. I am certainly thinking of you as you get closer to being done. I know this is tough, but so are YOU! You’re going to get through this, then things will be so much better. Please feel free to call me anytime. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs—
Martha
Posted on I agree with Martha, keep focused and Miralax does work the best. Don’t forget stool sofeners, they really help as well. xoxo:) Linda
Posted on Thanks ladies for the advice and encouragement.
Miralax was recommended and I took some today.
My appetite is poor but I am eating. I think one of the reasons for not wanting to eat is not wanting to have a bowel movement. My mind is trying to take care of my butt. LOL.
How soon before my skin is normal again once treatments stop? Were you given a special cream to speed up the healing? I know I am looking ahead. I still need to take this one day at a time but the finish line is looking so good.
Thank you for your support.
Love,
Linda
Hi Linda—
I can certainly understand the not wanting to eat because of not wanting to have a BM, as I did some of that myself, along with not drinking enough to avoid peeing! If you can not tolerate eating much, at least try to get some nutrition through protein drinks. As for what to use on the skin once treatment is done to promote healing, I would recommend taking Vitamin E capsules and breaking them open. Apply the liquid to your skin. Aloe would be good too. Avoid using any irritating soaps. If you use a soap like Ivory or Dove body wash, it will have less irritants in it. Drink plenty of water, as this will definitely help with the healing of your skin. Also, avoid toilet paper for awhile, which I’m sure you are already doing. But after treatment, continue to use wipes or whatever you are using now, until your skin is not so tender.
Please know that I am thinking of you as you get ready to begin your last week of treatment tomorrow. Hang in there and don’t hesitate to come here if you need advice or have questions. Also, you can call me anytime you feel like talking. You know me, I’m always home, stripping wallpaper or doing some other fun thing! :) I send you healing hugs today and will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Martha
Hi Linda,
I just finished week 6. They cancelled the last 7 rad treatments to allow the tissue to heal. I know what you mean about the pain and constipation. I take senna capsules for the constipation (1-2 in the evening). Also, I’ve found that placing an ice pack on the genital area (put a paper or cloth towel over the ice pack) for a few seconds will help numb the area before you pee or poop. I don’t even head off the BR without my ice pack. Then I just place the ice pack on the area again for a few minutes after the deed is done to help ease the pain of evacuation.
I like Martha’s visualization of the cancer being flushed down the toilet.
The more you can leave your bottom clothing off, the better and faster it will heal (my experience). I had my husband buy disposable underpads to put on the sofa (where I spend most of my time)so that I can lay there bare bottomed without staining the sofa. The air is good for healing and keeping the area dry. I also had him buy me a few pair of men’s boxer shorts because they don’t have the elastic around the legs.
Hang in there. I’ll be rootin’ for ya,
Theresa
Posted on Stay positive your on the home stretch now. Try to eat well if you can and stay hydrated. Use whatever skin creams your doctor gave you. If you don’t have anything to help numb your rearend I would ask for it. I used aquaphor with lidocaine and it made pooping much easier. As the days go on it will get easier and you will feel better. This last week won’t be easy but you will get through it we all did. Stay strong and know that you are in our prayers!
Hugs,
Eva
Hi Linda,
Hang in there! It will be over before you know it! The last week of radiation treatment was definitely the hardest for me. I’m going to repeat a few things others have said but it is b/c it worked for me too. Most importantly, stay on top of your pain meds. That’s one thing I could have managed better. Wearing loose boxers will also help. By the last week of treatment I could not use any creams the docs gave me b/c my skin was so raw. I’m still taking a stool softener myself for constipation from the pain meds. For urinating, try this: take a soda bottle, poke a hole in the cap, feel it up with lukewarm water, and squirt as you urinate – should definitely help some to dillute all the amonia and everthing that makes it burn so bad (eEK!). I also bought a small fan and air-dryed after showering & using the bathroom (better than rubbing/patting the skin).
Know you’re not alone and stay strong, keep up the fight!
Angela
Posted on Thanks everyone for your tips and encouragement. The ice packs have been WONDERFUL! I am practically living on it. It certainly cools things down and numbs things up. I do use a spray bottle when I urinate but it still hurts like hell. I am using just room temp. water, I should try the lukewarm, I guess. I have some kind of vaginal discharge that has cropped up and will be asking the dr. about that today. Well I am off to treatment #31.
Linda
Thanks for your support - 
Linda—
You are awesome! You did it! I’m so very proud of you—strong and courageous, that’s you! Now let the healing begin!
Love—
Martha
Yea you did it! Now the healing begins. Hang in there and as you said one day at a time. The bathroom issues do get better. Just make sure when you go out you know exactly where the bathroom is and try to stay close.
Hugs,
Eva
Congratulations! Yes, there is hope for getting to the end of treatment. “This will pass,” that’s what i keep telling myself. Thanks for the encouragement.
Hi Linda,
Let us know how things are going for you now. Is like getting back to a normal routine for you?
Hugs,
Theresa
I will admit the first couple of days after treatments ended were not very good. I had several days of uncontrolable diarrhea. Then depression came on hard. The “D” has gone and I am on meds for the depression. My skin is 98% normal. Everyday I feel a little better. It is very encouraging. However, I can not go to sleep without taking half an Ambien. Every night I think “this is the night I will fall asleep on my own”. I usally give myself at least 45 minutes to try to go to sleep. Before the Ambien there were many many nights were I was just awake all night. I have not been napping. I do not like having to take the Ambien and do not want to become dependent on it but my doctor says I need the sleep and she will not let me get hooked. I am now 2 weeks out of treatment. My medical leave ends 3/29. My plan is to continue to get stronger and return to work part-time when my leave ends. There will be a week of Spring Break (no school-I work in an elementary school library) and will return full time the following week. I worked in my backyard today some and it did tire me out but it felt wonderful to be in the sunshine and fresh air. I drove myself and my husband to McDonald’s tonight. I got a hamburger happy meal and it was yummy. It is the first fast food I have had since early December. So far so good. I am just coming off of the soft diet that I have been on for quite a while. Crossing my fingers it goes well.
I want to thank everyone who has supported me during this most difficult time in my life. God’s love and your love got me through. I do not know when I will have my first post treatment scan but I know I will be extremely nervous. I can’t wait to be told “there is no evidence of disease”.
Take care everyone and blessings to you all.
Love,
Linda