Selma isn’t actively trying to kill me right now.
Our lumpectomy was almost six weeks ago, and we landed in the hospital the next weekend with an acute bacterial infection. After being pumped with all the antibiotics, I developed a bad case of thrush, which I still have. I’m on the second medication to try to get rid of it.
Naturally, there’s been a lot of exhaustion and pain, and my IBS has been exacerbated by everything.
But we got all the cancer out. Now we need to make sure Selma doesn’t start growing it again.
Last Friday, I tried to do a radiation rehearsal, in which they put me in the radiation machine to make sure they can get Selma positioned correctly and to take scans.
Except the machine died with me inside it before we could do the scans, and getting me out was a whole thing.
We redid the rehearsal yesterday, and I start daily radiation next Tuesday, the 20th. The last session should be November 9th. After that, I’ll have to start hormone blockers, because my cancer loves estrogen. And then I’m going to try to fit in a couple of back surgeries before Winter term.
Radiation isn’t going to be fun. I have to switch to hippie deodorant and baby soap. Selma has to be kept moisturized, but she also has to stay dry, perspiration-wise. I have to air her out, but also wear a bra all the time. The nurse also said that since Selma’s bottom touches my torso, there’s a chance the friction will start to tear my damaged skin off.
The (good???) news is that the nerve pain might go away for a while, cause the radiation will burn them to death.
