Last time I updated, I was pretty sore and still at home.  Now, I am still a little sore.  It’s more that the skin from about my elbow all the way over to my sternum is basically so tender like it is bruised.   That is really what is bothering me the most because it is tender to the touch.   The glue came off the incision on my arm, and it looks way better now. The one of my breast still has glue, but some of it is starting to come off. I am less bruised and moving around better now.  I asked the doctor about the tenderness and he said it isn’t normal but it’s also nothing to be concerned about. He recommended taking ibuprofen twice a day to see if it’s because it’s inflamed.  

I went back to work on Tuesday. It was three days before I was supposed to go back. It just costs me so much to get docked pay.  Tuesday I was hurting pretty bad. By Thursday I was much better which tells me I probably should’ve waited until the original day to go back to work but it is what it is.   I still can’t carry things comfortably on that side, or straighten my arm all the way above my head without it hurting.   

On Friday we met with the radiation oncologist for the second time. In a couple of days they are supposed to call me to make the appointment in which they will make the mold for radiation radiation should start the first or second week of October.   He confirmed that I will need to do 20 treatments. They will be Monday through Friday for the 20 sessions. He did say I don’t necessarily have to start on a Monday but regardless it’ll go 20 consecutive weekday sessions until 20 is over.  He anticipates it will go well and should be much easier than chemo. 

I had my first standalone Keytruda treatment on September 7. By the middle of last week my mouth was raw again. There are no mouth sores but my entire mouth, cheeks, tongue, and roof of my mouth are all raw.  They told me key Truda shouldn’t cause this, but when I looked on the website, it says mouth sores right there on the website. I’m feeling pretty defeated that I have to deal with this again because I after chemo I was excited to eat normally again.   I have been able to eat red sauce again. But I can’t have anything with any spice whatsoever at all or my tongue catches on fire it feels like.   I mean, I’m talking too much pepper hurts.   

On a positive note, my hair is growing back. When I wash it now, it actually feels like hair and not just my scalp. I can’t even grab it with my fingers.   That’s so super exciting.  Praying it continues to grow quickly.  

I have my next Keytruda treatment on October 2. It’s a little while past three weeks because I am moving it to Monday afternoons so that I can take a half day at work.   I should have eight of those treatments left and it will last until mid February. I am looking forward to just being done with all infusions.   

That’s all I can think of now.  

Ashley ❤️