TGIF, baby!

YAY for Fridays!  I love Friday because it means TWO WHOLE DAYS of no doctors, or surgeries or chemo or radiation starting tomorrow!!!  WOOHOOO!

Well, I saw the radiation oncologist (RO) today, and BOY is this going to be an adventure. :D

She tells me that one of the side effects of the radiation is hair loss.  At the site of the radiation.  Which is my chest.  Now, I don't know about the rest of you ladies, but... I don't HAVE any hair on my chest.  So, no worries there.  Next on the list of immdiate side effects?  Could be something like a slight tan to a sunburn.  Hmmm, my oldest brother used to call me Mayonnaise because I was as white as Best Foods REAL Mayonnaise.  I apparently got my skin tone DNA from my Irish-ish mother, and not my Mexican-ish father.  Yes, I am ... pale.  So, maybe I'll finally get some color, and how bad can that be? 

Ok, that's two side effects with which I can deal.  But of course, there has to be the actual serious ones, and those would be inflammation of the esophagus, a radiation related pnuemonitis, and possible heart injury.  Again, if we don't do this, I die... so really, is there a choice?  I'll takes my chances.

But don't think for a moment that I do not appreciate the candor of all the doctors with whom I'm working.  I'm a revoltingly happy person, but despite that, I do fully understand that I may not have another birthday.  So many complications can arise from any and all of the coming treatments, but I also know that WITHOUT them, I have no hope at all.

RO is going to consult with MO (medical oncologist) on Monday, and weigh the risk/benefit ratios and see where we go from here.  One option is to begin the chemo and see how that progresses before radiation begins.  In theory, that would lessen the radiation area of effect and limit the possibility of more damage to my lungs.

Yes, optimally, we would just get on with the chemo and radiation together, but as the RO says, she doesn't want me to end up on O2 24/7 because of the radiation.  Right now, I only use Oxygen in a bleed into my CPAP while I sleep.

So, I'm taking the weekend off.  I'm going to read, eat what I can, play World of Warcraft and sleep as much as possible, and I'll see you all on Monday. 

TGIF!