Happy Days Are Here Again!

As I have just ended my breast cancer treatments - chemotherapy & radiation - I am filled with joy & thankfulness to my Heavenly Father!  Thanks again to all my family & friends who held my hand down the path of this journey. 

I was given an "End of Radiation Celebration" lunch yesterday at the fun Mellow Mushroom in Arlington yesterday by my high school girlfriends.  It was so much fun & such a happy time!  Here is a pic of the adorable invitation for the event:

Beautiful Lifelong Friends:

Delicious Fudge Cake (My Fav!):

Thanks again to everyone for all the support & prayers during my breast cancer treatment.  A friend sent me a copy of this devotional yesterday, which is so true about the power of prayer:

It is not true that "all we can do is pray." It is true that "all we need do is pray."

Are you in a situation where there is nothing you can do but pray? That's a good place to be. Our Lord promises those who cry to him that "before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).





Tears of Joy as Rads Are Over!!!

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Life is Good!

I have only one more rad treatment left on Monday & I have felt no ill effects of fatigue lately - praise the Lord!  Life is Good!  My best friend's daughter was married last night & it was a beautiful wedding.  They are family to us & it was a very heartwarming event.  My oldest 2 granddaughters attended the guest book & my next youngest granddaughter was a flower girl.  It sure makes you realize how quickly life passes - the bride, her sister (the Maid of Honor) & my 3 girls grew up together taking family trips to the beach, to the lake, & many times celebrating New Year's Eve together!  It was a blessed event & made me realize how lucky I am to be at the end of chemotherapy & radiation treatments & be able to feel so great & to have had such a wonderful time last night at this sweet wedding!!!  No matter what we go through, life is good, & God remains faithful & true.

BFF, the bride (BFF's daugher), & me in my newest wig!

It was a glorious evening!



"Only One Week of Rads to Go!"

Well, folks, I had my last "regular" radiation treatment today & now have 5 remaining treatments they call "boosts".  I think when I walk out of the Moncrief Radiation Oncology Center next Monday after the last treatment, I am going to fall on my knees & praise God!  These last 5 radiation "boosts" are aimed only at the scar area where they removed my cancer to nuke any cells that aren't welcome!  I think the main difference is that I will only be on the rad table for a couple of minutes - not the usual 10 minutes.  I don't know what the extra radiation will do the skin of the scar area - but whatever it takes to kill off any remaining bad boy cells!  I really wanted to use Hoda Kotb's "Bad A**" word here - ha!

I am a little tired & have semi-stopped all my extraneous running around so as to conserve energy for things I have to do.  I honestly think it has either made me a little fatigued or I am just plain milking it to have an excuse to be lazy around the house - ha!  I let the Maid Brigade go because I feel like I can handle the big chores now that I am ending treatments.  BUT, do not bring your white gloves next time you come to my house!!!

So, what does my radiated chest look like you say?  Well, can you say 10 times worse than any red, deep purple sunburn I ever experienced with my fair skin!  And, how does it feel you ask?  Like someone ironed my left chest & underarm area with a steam iron.  It burns, stings, feels tight, itches, is peeling & I cannot stand clothing to touch it.  Yes, I have temporarily given up wearing a bra!   But, this is par for the course of what you go through to kill off the big C!  So I'm explaining - not complaining!!! 

I couldn't do without these products:

This, too shall pass, & it is almost over!!!

INTERESTING NOTES:

Radiation therapy does not kill cancer cells right away. It takes days or weeks of treatment before cancer cells start to die. Then, cancer cells keep dying for weeks or months after radiation therapy ends.

As a general rule, the area that is being treated with radiation should NOT be exposed to much direct sunlight for up to a year after treatment. Sunscreen is highly advisable for these regions. Sunscreen should not be applied on treated area while undergoing treatment.

And Even More Fun!

I'm enjoying a radiation free weekend!  Had a fun, fun lunch today with high school friends at Grand Lux Cafe at the Galleria.   The Greek salad was delicious, as was the shared dessert - New Orleans beignets, served warm with three sauces.

One of us didn't get the memo to wear black & white!  LOL!

2/3 Done & Then Some Fun!

The Lunch Bunch

We used to eat in 30 minutes in a cramped teacher's lounge.  Nowadays, we pick a fun place for lunch & stay as long as we darn well please - as often as we can!  And our group grows each year!

As of today, I am 2/3 of the way through with my radiation treatments! Just a little red & itchy - but still have enough energy to go, go, go!  After my treatment today, I met my retired or "outta' there" teacher & staff friends from the elementary school that was my home campus as a speech pathologist the last few years before I retired. We met at the fun Bishop Arts District (BAD) in Dallas. We had a delicious lunch at Eno's Pizza then enjoyed eclectic shopping at places such as Fete-ish & Bishop Street Market. A couple of us bought tie-dyed hippie hoodies at Fete-ish!



We loved shopping at Fete-ish!!!

It was a fun day & our group has plans to go back to the BAD & try out several other fun eating establishments - like Veracruz, Oddfellows, & Tillmans.  Any other suggestions?  We've about worn out Hattie's - ha!  We've also eaten at Hunky's & Gloria's  - all good places!