My second brachytherapy on Friday went just as planned. It really is amazing how far technology has come. After I got a PIV placed, and had some Dilaudid on board, it was off to the treatment room where my Rad/Onc team placed the ring and tandem. Next I was taken for a short CT scan and then back to a room to rest while the Rad/Onc team reviewed the treatment planning. During this down time, I rested and was visited by the research nurse to have another session of reflexology. Before I new it the nurse was ready to take me to the treatment room and I had the second session of brachytherapy. Overall it was a shorter treatment day, about 5 hours, and by 1:30pm I was on my home to rest.
As week 5 comes to an end, I am definitely feeling the many side effects of treatment. The cystitis, caused by radiation, has gotten slightly worse but with the help of medications I am able to get through the day. I've become pretty good at managing the GI side effects of radiation with diet and medication. This week I have really struggled with food not tasting good (a side effect of chemo). Food just doesn't taste right to me and many times there isn't any food that "sounds good to me". I have to give Nathan a lot of credit for making sure that I eat and stay hydrated. He always has lots of food and drink options to offer me and has been taking really good care of me! But what has really caught up with me this week has been the fatigue. Each week it just keeps becoming more and more difficult to do activities. So this weekend I have spent a lot of time resting and trying to mentally prepare for this last week of treatment!
Week 6 Schedule:
- Monday: external radiation and my last chemo infusion
- Tuesday: external radiation
- Wednesday: 3rd brachytherapy treatment
- Thursday: last external radiation
- Friday: Last brachytherapy treatment
So happy to hear that brachytherapy went just as planned on Friday. I can only imagine how difficult it is to know you need to eat and stay hydrated but nothing tastes good! It sounds like Nathan is taking such great care of you!! Props to him for keeping so many options for you, what a great hubby!! I see that your Week 6 schedule contains many 'last' treatments. What does this mean Jaimee? Does it mean no more radiation and chemo treatments at all...are you all done with the treatment plan? As always, sending all of the positive vibes I have and of course, all of my love and prayers are with you!
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