Sunday 5th August 

Weekend! Woo hoo!

I have to remember to moisturize myself as I’m not in the ‘habit’ on a weekend.  I have to learn to sleep in too!

I was so shattered after Thursday’s hectic day, I dragged myself through Friday at work and didn’t feel like going out Friday night, but we had a fun night with our friends at an awesome local Thai place. Probably just the tonic I needed.

Hubby woke at 3.30am Saturday!! His steroids are really causing him some problems with his sleeping.  Hope he can get off them soon.  I woke at 6am. Lay in bed and listened to the 10,000m at the Olympics on the radio. I think I’m great if I get through a 10km in under 60 mins these days. Saturday morning I went to check out ‘radiation bras’ Didn’t see ones I’d seen online, and the imported brands mentioned looked fairly thin and still had the hook fronts, so I just got a bigger size in the same as I have. I notice I’m getting a bit red in the crease under my breast. I’m not sure, but I think it’s more the dampness in a confined space and the moisturizer on it. I’ll ask this week what I can do about it and get them to keep an eye on it. I think sweat from exercising might add to that.

In the afternoon I had a nap, dragged myself out of sleep and went to the gym. I was sluggish at first, but did 28 mins on the cross trainer and some floor and leg work (abs, of course!) I came home rejuvenated. I cleaned the bathroom, loos, dusted and swept and washed the floors. Hopefully this won’t become a permanent side effect of treatment!!  Seriously, it was good to have the energy and motivation.

It’s been a lazier weekend, thank goodness. Good to see our son and his girl back from Greece. Had brunch with our daughter today which was lovely. I like trying new places. Skyped with our daughter in the USA and went for a walk with my running partner – hoping the weather would hold. It did, just. We did some short runs too – about 7 x 45 secs and only on the flats though. It’s good to feel active.

Oh, and I loved watching the triathlon at the Olympics. Having done about 25 triathlons since I was 40 I have a soft spot for the sport.

A roast is cooking in the slow cooker, Mum and Dad are coming for dinner (I hope it cooks in time!) and hubby is napping. I better get through the shower and organized. I always think roasts are easy, but I’m left ‘phaffing’ around at the last minute. Making up some dessert with poached pears, blueberries and thick yoghurt and those biscotti stick things.

Looking forward to a quieter week this week. I promise. Honest.

Tuesday 7th August

One positive out of today – I’m a third of the way there!! Can’t believe it. Everyone says it goes fast and they are right. Also the breast has settled down with the pain/discomfort. Gone braless the last two nights – might have helped. Hubby likes to think so!

The rest of the day was busy.  Hubby had a 11am appointment at a city hospital for his back.  Still feel like they are postponing any action for his back and he’s not improving.  Another scan in a month and they will review it  Frustration does not even begin to describe it.

Thursday 9th August 

Much calmer couple of days, which is a blessing. Though yesterday I got really tired mid afternoon. (Might have had something to do with getting up at 4.30am to watch Sally Pearson at the Olympics…) I went down like a wind up toy and could barely get up the stairs and fall into bed. Had a lovely hours sleep and dragged myself out of the slumber at 5pm. Still managed to sleep well last night and had to drag myself out of sleep at 7.30am. Is it going to be like this from now on?  Most people say they get exhausted towards the end of treatment.

Off for treatment, more new staff and changing patients – two I’d got to know finished a couple of days ago. The staff were running very late today, it must be hard for them. Didn’t get in till 9.30am for a 9.10am appointment. Then off to the Oncologist. Another long wait. Got accosted by the volunteer who circulates among the patients. I was quite happy reading my book, but humoured her by asking her questions and stuff. Some people probably really value someone to talk to.

I didn’t end up seeing my oncologist Dr even though she was there, but a registrar. She was lovely, bright and cheery. Nothing to report, had a look, tiny bit red under the breast but she said they’d keep a very close eye on it and a slight pink tinge (seems to settle later) and a bit of oedema and slightly swollen.

Tried to walk with my walking partner after that, but light rain struck – it’s a feral winter day here today, though the sun is shining as I type (as it would) We went out for a quick lunch and I was fading fast again…uh oh. Tried to sleep, had about 20 mins and then got up and went to the gym. 25 mins cross trainer was all I could muster the energy for.

Beef casserole cooking in the slow cooker and I made a big pot full of minestrone with a lamb shank last night. Best way to eat vegies and soup made with the bone is so healthy – it’s in the marrow apparently.

Got the new computer (Macbook Air) up and running, well hubby did. I like having an admin assistant for all those technical, complicated things!  So it’s fun to be playing on it and loving the Mountain Lion system and iCloud. Looking forward to a relaxing evening and hoping I can get through work tomorrow after treatment. It will be interesting to see. Better get to bed early. Being distracted helps sometimes though.

Monday 13th August

It was so nice to have a weekend, a quiet one with no radiotherapy! Didn’t sleep well Friday night, but had a very lazy Saturday and we had breakfast in Brunswick Street and then went looking for Mali elephant statues in the gardens for a little while. There have been 50 made and they are scattered around the city.  There is even an app you can get and tick them off as you find them!  Such a nice morning. Saturday night was take away gourmet pizza and we phoned ahead, but they forgot to put the order in, so gave hubby a glass of wine while he waited, then didn’t charge him for it and also send home a piece of tiramisu ‘for the lady’. What a great place.

Yesterday was a day of cruising and my walking partner and I had an easy and enjoyable 7km walk along the river – heaps of wattles out and a hint of spring in the air. I find I appreciate these simple things so much more now.  Obviously I don’t get hay fever!

Today I took my Mum to my treatment. I asked if she’d like to come, to show her it’s not scary and she said she’d wanted to ask to come, but didn’t like to ask. She was impressed with ‘how quiet it seemed’ at the clinic (must have been expecting a busy hospital) and appreciated how the staff explained everything to her. She asked me if I got anxious waiting for treatment. I reassured her it was no deal, at all. She asked afterwards if the machine made a noise, and had bright lights and if I felt anything. It was good to reassure her how simple it was.

My brother had rads about 2 years ago for prostate cancer and when she told him she was coming with me he laughed and said, “What do you want to do that for? It’s just in and out. It’s no big deal and why did they take a photo of the machine for you? It’s just a bit of machinery.”

I guess we all view these things in a different way and maybe in hindsight it will seem no big deal to me. Anyway, it was important to Mum and I’m glad she came. We had coffee afterwards which was lovely and bless her, she gave me two frozen containers of pea and ham soup (she knows I love it!) and two frozen meals she’d cooked. She wishes they could help with the housework (she is almost 87 and Dad is 90!) I’m blessed to have them.

I haven’t needed a rest today (other than on the couch now with my legs under a blanket while I type this) and I felt SO tempted to get out on my bike this afternoon as the weather was gorgeous.I figured it wasn’t wise to lift the bike in and out of the car and I can’t really ride from home without encountering lots of traffic, so I went for another walk instead. 6km this time and so lovely and peaceful again. We really live close to so many great paths and trails in such scenic locations.

Nothing to report on the rads front really. The body is coping OK. And if I get enough sleep I’m OK.

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