OH YEAH...RADIATION IS OVER!!!! A good question arises!!

[djairmoses]

As of today, I am done with Radiation. I have my check up with my surgeon on Dec 1 that will see my first chest xrays, cat scan, and blood work.

So I got a good question:

What did you guys do to celebrate the finishing of Chemo and/or Radiation milestone????

Joey

[ssavino]

We are planning a party for my husband but he has not started radiation yet. How did it go? Were you able to work? Do you have kids? Did you function normally?

He starts in a few weeks but he has your exact scenario.

S

Congrats!!!!

[dadmo]

If it were my radiation party I would have nothing but microwave prepared food.

[rjs]

CONGRATULATIONS on reaching this point! Soon you will get your energy back and the nausea will leave. At the end of my treatment, I went out for a nice big dinner. I had really limited my going out for nice meals during treatment since I really did not feel well and I was always concerned I would "lose my lunch", though I never did. So to celebrate I went out with friends and enjoyed the moment while looking forward to the future. I hope you do the same!

[djairmoses]

RE: OH YEAH RADIATION IS OVER!!!! A good question arises!!

Thanks RJS and guys/gals. Yeah, I never have been happier to get away from that IX Machine. Yeah the nausea and fatigue are still here but man I need to celebrate. It’s been busy around the household to prepare for Turkey day (Ironically I am not going to eat that much) so it hasn’t set in yet. I was thinking about getting a gadget or two (I am a gadget guy) but the friends and family said no to that (xmas I guess). The word ‘pub’ just make my stomach yucky. So I have no idea what to do.

And ssavino, this is how it went:

First 5 treatments: “What, please no problems…this is radiation? Bring it!!”

Next 5 treatments: “Wow, I little light headed…but ok....wow, I just realize I have not been hungry all day…and sick to my stomach…stomach outside is a little dry, xclar lotion, a good friend and keep the area dry…man its 8pm? I am a little tired, *snore*”

Next 5 treatments: “WHOA, Not liking being tired...it feels like about an extra 100 pounds on my shoulders, and I am forcing small snacks down into the stomach, fruit smoothies are the best (If you are constipated)…and I hate to be the guy to bring this up but it could be diarrhea or constipation, very bipolar…better get the Metamucil and/or immonium ready…its 7pm…*snore*”

Last 5 treatments: “Sick of it!!!...there is 150 Pounds on my shoulders! I WANT TO EAT NORMAL!! Crabby...snacks here or there...I lost 15 pounds...really?? That’s not good...its 6pm? Really? *snore*

Haha…sorry but that was my mentality. I had a full modified 40 hour schedule (started work at 7am and end around 3pm, treatments was at 3:15pm) with about 4 days I took off. I hate to say this but there where days I did not want to leave the bed or want to move. Nausea and fatigue are the two BIG things. Zolfran help BIG TIME with the nausea except it does taste like licking dry milk on the side of a three month expired container. I am a ‘man’ so I thought I could take it, I tried without zolfran a couple times. Nope, puke about 5 times during the whole treatment period. I took it right after treatment and first thing in the morning. That helps. And the fatigue...It’s like getting the flu and not having it. Restless and all…I still feeling ALL these the affects today...the doc said it will get better but it will take up to 4 to 6 weeks after the last day of treatment to feel ‘normal’ again.

I have no kids…I had to freeze some of my buddies just in case. That costs A LOT. And I do function normally, surprisingly. In some sick way, I function a lot better. I could tell the cancer was inside me for sometime and had made things bad over a period of time. The one thing I can say was the toughest is the mental thing. This is a lot to take over a short time. He will be crabby, depressed and down right sad. I know because I am all that RIGHT NOW. I know everyone has been saying it’s going to get better and sometimes you don’t want to hear it because you have to go through all of this...Surgery, radiation, surveillance, bloodwork, blah blah, blah...but I am a nerd, so I been comparing this to the Lord of the Rings Movie trilogy. Froto has to go on this journey that he does not want to; but has to. Thank god for his friends and family, like mine. It just is like that. I don’t want to do this but I have to get better. I can feel it. I feel better. I am not there yet but I feel better. Wow I just realize the journey so far. Wow...

So I hope all the best for him. He is in my prayers and tell him its all going to get better. Realize it’s going to suck, but it will get better...this is for a good thing. Living life and knowing you got some other things to do on earth.

And DADMO: Wheres that drum snare when you need it!!

Joey

[cbuysse]

So glad it is over for you Joey! I had all those same side effects but they went away after about two weeks, not the full 4-6. So hopefully you will be back to 100% in a couple weeks. Make sure when they do your blood work they check your Hepatic function(liver) before you start drinking again. My AST and ALT liver enzymes were real high after treatment and the Rad Oncologist and my Urologist told me not to drink for a year. I said listen pal I am married with 4 kids and now one nut you can't tell me I can't have 3 beers on a Sunday afternoon watching football. He laughed and said Ok I see no harm in 3 on Sunday, so that is my new routine. Best of Luck to you, it all gets better real fast the physical and the mental part.

[ssavino]

Just curious how you explained things to your kids and how able you were to interact with them and care for them during treatment? How old are they? We have three who are 4.5, 3 and 10 months.
Husband is still recovering from surgery and has not been able to lift them or hang with them too much.
S

[Scott]

...but I am a nerd, so I been comparing this to the Lord of the Rings Movie trilogy.

You're in good company. I've quoted Gandalf in these forums before:

Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me, Gandalf.
Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for us to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.