Done with radiation!

It's over! Thank goodness this chapter of radiation is over and I can move on. The drive was tiring and a daily drain on my time. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. The pain of the 33 treatments is setting in. My skin is raw & peeling in areas. It hurts. I hope the healing goes quickly because I just don't have time for this.....I have races to run, boats to row, canyons to hike and children to play with.

I saw a cardiologist on Friday. She wants to do a stress echo test to get a clear assess of my heart. It's scheduled for December 8. Wish it was sooner, but that's how it goes. She also wants me to wear a hear rate monitor for 24hrs to see what my heart does over the course of a typical day. So, until we have results of these tests and a plan, I won't start back on Herceptin. Part of me is disappointed this processes isn't moving faster, but another part of me welcomes the delay and a break from dr appts....especially during the busy holidays.

I debuted my new look this week. At my MOMS monthly meeting on Wednesday night, everyone agreed I no longer needed to cover my head. My hair is growing fast. I was beginning to feel I was ready for this step, but needed the encouragement to go for it. Thanks to the kind and supportive words of the fabulous women in my MOMS group, I am no longer wearing scarves. It feels incredibly liberating. I love it!!! My hair is so soft. If you feel the need to reach out and touch it....go for it! I don't mind.

Rowing continues to be the highlight of my weeks. We hope to get out of the barge and into the shells this coming week. Can't wait! After Thursday's rowing lesson, most of us went to lunch to celebrate my last day of radiation & a friend's birthday. Little did I know that there was a surprise baked into the lunch date. Several dear friends have been working on a DVD of photos from the Tri for the Cure last April. I was surprised with a showing of the DVD & other friends joined us for lunch, too. It was a magical afternoon.........superb food, comfortable weather, love of friends, tears of joy and delicious desserts. It was a wonderful celebration. Thank you to all who made it possible.

Tomorrow I run a 5K at the Iron Girl race. I'll be slow & steady.....and praying the burn on my chest isn't too painful. It's suppose to be 44 degrees at 8am when the race kicks off. Brrrr! I'm so whimpy compared to all my relatives in Minnesota & Ohio who are probably laughing at me right now! Ha! More tomorrow. Love, srb