Radiotherapy is done and in the bag. After 15 sessions I was hoping to emerge with Bruce Banner-style radiation superpowers but sadly SuperKaz does not have Bionic Boobies, just sore ones.
So how was it? Well radiotherapy was a walk in the park compared to chemo. It’s been time-consuming going to Malaga every day for my 5pm slot and I missed one thanks to the torrential rain storm which hit us the other week bringing the hospital to a standstill due to flooding – but they tagged that on to the end so I finished up yesterday.
Treatment time is about 10 minutes and it runs to schedule reasonably well. I won’t dwell on the four days when the machines underwent ‘maintenance’ so only one of the two was up and running for a few days causing a big backlog and a two-hour wait.
Side effects are minimal. I am left with slight inflammation in my throat, and some tightness in the area radiated. Nothing a bit of exercise and stretching won’t sort out. Boob has suffered the most and is red and rashy, but compared to some photos I have seen (stop googling Kaz) it’s got off lightly.
So in theory the cancer has left the building. From what the chemo reduced, and the operation removed, to any residue the radiotherapy has hopefully eradicated, means I am on the homeward stretch to recovery.
It feels a little surreal. The radiotherapy doctor asked me yesterday if I had any allergies and if I was fit and healthy as he dished out some lotions and potions for sore boob/throat. “No health issues. Well apart from cancer.” I joked.
“But that’s technically gone.” he said with a confused look.
But has it? Personally I’d like to see a scan which proves this theory as otherwise it feels like I’ve seen my numbers come up on the lottery, but I can’t find my ticket.
So next steps.
An appointment with the lovely Dr Kildare in a couple of weeks to review and start the eight sessions of immunotherapy which will be administered via IV (back to the depressing chemo room) every three weeks.
The problem with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is not only is it a fast-growing and aggressive form of breast cancer but it is more likely to return after treatment compared to other kinds of breast cancer.
Apparently around 40 per cent of those with stage 1 to 3 TNBC will have recurrence usually coming back within the first three to five years. The immunotherapy is the recommended treatment to help prevent this. So we accept it. Believe it will do its job. And hope we are one of the 60% skipping into the future cancer free.
Breast cancer is a devious bugger to fight. Like other forms of cancer, it begins as one malignant cell which then divides to become two bad cells. This divides again to become four and so on. Breast cancer cells need to divide 30 times before a tumour can be felt by either you or a doctor!
Each cell division takes between one and two months so tumours could take two to five years to develop into a noticeable tumour, meaning cancer has been growing inside you for years before you even detect it! Hence why screenings are important as these in theory will find the evil beastie early on giving you a better chance at treating it.
By the time women often feel the lump it is usually about a third of the size of golf ball. It has also had the chance to spread and as TNBC develops more quickly it is often stage 3 or 4 (ie: spread to the lymph or elsewhere) before it is discovered. A study found TNBC tumours increased in size by 1% per day compared to 0.8% for other hormone receptor-positive tumours.
So with step 3 (radiation) over I feel like I am out of the woods but still have a trek through some prickly shrubs and nettles to tackle before I get to the pub at the end of the hike for a welcome pint and a packet of peanuts. This journey has been arduous and tiresome and emotionally and physically draining. But it’s also made me accept that ‘shit happens’ and all you can do is deal with it and be grateful for all the good stuff because life is precious.
One lady on a cancer group forum said if the statistics are right and one in eight women get breast cancer then she was viewing her cancer battle as having “taken one for the team.” And I like that.
two steps freelance 