8 Weeks Post-Surgery

So here I am now 8 weeks post surgery, and everything seems to be healing as it should be.  The incision site is not as itchy, and doesn't pull as often when I get up and down.  I actually found myself sitting cross-legged on the bed and it didn't hurt, but I still have to watch out for full-on belly laughs and sneezing.  Sneezing is the worst, and I have developed a technique that doesn't pull from the bottom of my abdomen but sounds like some wild animal caught in a trap.  Healing is a slow process, and I remind myself it was major surgery.  I try to take my own advice, be kind to yourself.  I'm doing just that and enjoying many lazy-days.

Surgery would not be my only cancer treatment.  I am expecting to have radiation/chemo treatments to start after 8 weeks post surgery.  I have been meeting with my oncologist doctors by phone and OTN video to prepare for the next stage of treatment.  Two trips to Sudbury to complete the radiation planning scan.  Unfortunately, the first time my bowel was too full to do the scan, so the scan was aborted for another day.  I got my tattoos which are three little dots on each of my hips, and one on the belly to line me up for the scan machine that will administer the radiation treatments.  I'm now living like a rebel, just full of warrior wounds and tattoos.  The second scan was a success.  I also had my second physical exam.  My gynecology oncologist confirmed that some of the cervix was missed during surgery, due to the way the tumour was lodged into this area.  This will complicate the inside radiation treatments, but that's ok.  It means that I will have to go to London Cancer Centre for more specialized inside radiation treatments.  Just the description of this treatment makes me wonder if I will ever walk again.  BUT... all this is to ensure that the cancer cells are gone.  I also met with the chemo doctor, so 6 chemo treatments mixed in with 25 outside and 3 inside radiation will round out my cancer treatments.

In the next couple weeks, I expect to have a start date for the radiation/chemo treatments.  I can't say that I'm excited, but I am glad to be moving forward with it.  I am not sure how I will do through this period of 5 weeks and beyond.  I have to basically move to Sudbury to have treatments, and then a week's stay in London, and from talking to others I can expect to be tired, very very tired.  Good news though, the chemo doctor said I shouldn't loose my hair.  I don't think I am even concerned with my hair these days, but I would miss twirling the long strands that seem to help my anxiety as I sit and look out beyond all this, and wonder where and what the hell happened to my "life!"

Of course, the second radiation planning scan had to fall on my husband, Michael's 59th birthday.  It was a much better day for me, so we celebrated with seafood at Red Lobster.  It was so delicious, and with an empty bowel I could really fill it up again.  This would be one of the perks of having to go to Sudbury for cancer treatments.