Well, I got my blast of radiation on Thursday. So far, nothing too much out of the ordinary going on. I read somewhere that it is often a week or two before you have any side effects, so I’m not counting them out just yet.

I got an unexpected phone call on Tuesday from my dentist. I’d been in on Friday to have panoramic X-rays to make sure there are no openings in any of the teeth or gums that might cause problems with the one medication that is supposed to advance the growth of my bones so the cells that are being eaten by the cancer can be replaced as the cancer cells die. It seems if the gums and jaw bone are not all intact and well, this wonderful medicine can become extremely dangerous and actually kill the jawbone. Not a pretty thought! So, off to my favorite dentist to get checked out. He said, of course, that I was in desperate need of a good cleaning, but other than that, I looked ok.

Well, then he talked to the nurse at the cancer center, and since he couldn’t completely say that I don’t have any gum disease because the build up was really heavy, they decided I really should have my cleaning done right away so that it is nice and healed by the time I get my next dose of the medicine. So, I ended up at the dentist for a lengthy 1.5 hours getting my teeth cleaned Tuesday.

Then, I went in on Thursday to the hospital and had my radiation. They nudged and tugged and pushed and pulled until they got me in the exact line up that the wanted with the little red lines running exactly where they wanted them. They radiated the spinal area and the right femur, but not the pelvis areas. I’m not sure I agree with the DRs logic, but we will do it his way first.

He says that because the areas on the pelvis are much smaller, they will likely be taken care of by the chemo already in my system and the medications that I will be taking. That the risk to the bones is greater when it’s that small of areas, than waiting to see if the medications will take care of them. If they aren’t getting better in a couple months, then we will see about attacking them with the more aggressive radiation treatments. Like I said, we’ll try it his way first. And then we will re-discuss it if they aren’t better soon.

I’m not feeling too bad, I’m working with the DRs on getting my meds to try and get all the different pains under control, since in order to participate in the one drug study, my overall pain level has to be at a constant 3 (on a 1-10 scale). I think the research nurse is dreaming, as I just don’t think I will qualify for this study. The arthritis in my knee for starters, rarely gets down to 3, but we are working on it. I’m back on Celebrex in hopes of getting it under control, but that and this pain in my back just don’t want to give up and cooperate.

Well, I’m off to work on a photo album for my granddaughter & daughter, from birth to 6 months. Just got the 6 mo shots last week (a little late, as she was actually 6 mo on the first, but they were close I missed a whole set of shots, so I have to go back and work them in, and then I told her she needs to add the text if she wants it! Hahahahaha Walmart has a really nice photo album of 20 pgs and you can put up to 4 pics per page, so we can get a lot in there. I’m buying one for her since it’s less than $10, it’s a nice present. It’ll be an early birthday present for Karen, since her birthday is this month.

Hope everybody has a good holiday weekend.  Enjoy yourselves and find some time to relax. I’m hoping to.

Take care! Sherry