Two More to Go...

Hi Friends,
We are getting so close to the end, and it won't come soon enough. The left side of my chest and neck are now raw and sore. I keep reminding myself that it just means that the radiation is working. The fatigue is interesting: it hits hard about an hour after the treatment and I have to sleep, then it eases up a bit. Each day it's a little harder to recover, not at all surprising. People getting treated down there are so tired, day after day. One man with whom I talk each day has a protocol of 20 days of radiation, with two treatments a day. He waits around and sleeps in various parts of the hospital between appointments. So when I feel draggy and sore, I just think of him. At least I get to come home when I'm done.
Tuesday I got a virus on my computer and it totally froze on me. It was one of those nasty ones that disguises itself as something else and I spent too much time and energy trying to get it to work. Yesterday we got it into the shop and then went down to the hospital for the day - doctors appointments, treatment, physio. In between we went to the brain cancer wing on the 18th floor where they have really nice comfy couches and where I could lie down. The physio was working on the fluid on my right side; she did a massage treatment and then taped my side. The skin lifts in four channels so that fluid can more easily drain to my back. I'm now practicing lymphatic massage while I meditate. I learned yesterday that the lymph system responds to both the sympathetic and para-sympathetic nervous system. So it moves more quickly when you have a raised heart rate as well as when you are in a meditative state. I'm working at meditating and massaging that side of my body back to health.
Last night my mother called to say that she's coming to Toronto tomorrow night. My brother is moving in with my father for the weekend, and my mother is coming here for a few days and my last treatment on Monday. It will be good to see her.
I suspect after these past eight months, it will be a teary reunion.
Much love,
Kip