It has been 3 weeks since my last radiation, my skin has healed, with minor scars remaining.  Since radiation is over I will not need to go back to the radiologist, my care returns completely to my oncologist. 

My immunotherapy infusions are every 3 weeks, my final treatments will be on August 8th, making it a full year of treatment.  Everything I have been told about immunotherapy is that it is a breeze compared to chemotherapy.  Which is true in lots of ways but there are still side effects that effect my everyday life. 

Since the last time I made a journal entry my eye lashes all fell out, this is a delayed side effect of chemo, the eye lashes are the last to go, so while I have been celebrating my soft brown peach fuzz come in on my head, chemo had the last laugh at my loss of eyelashes.  Thank goodness for fake eyelashes that can be glued on.  And my lashes are growing back already and plenty thick, unlike the hair on my head which is taking it's sweet time.  

Neuropathy is a normal side effect of the chemo drugs I was on, I didn't have neuropathy show up during my treatment, but about a month ago my hands started to get tingly at night, then also during the day and then completely numb and painful at night.  I sent a message to my oncologist and she put my on a drug called gabapentin at night to combat the numbness, it has been helping which is great because I have been loosing a lot of sleep because the numbness would wake me up and it is alarming as well.

At my appointment yesterday, we talked more in depth about the neuropathy, which is not normal at this stage of treatment.  Because it is not normal my oncologist decided to skip the dose of Perjeta this infusion to see if that helps my hands.  She also increased my dose of gabapentin at night and told me to take it during the day as well.  Hopefully these efforts will help.  She also gave me referrals to the naturopathic oncologist and acupuncture oncologist they have at the cancer center.  Which I am very hopeful about.  

The last decision we made yesterday was about the hormone blockers.  As part of my treatment plan I will be on hormone blockers for 10 years, this is because my cancer is hormone dependent and by blocking the hormone production in my body that will significantly reduce the chance of a reoccurrence.  The 2 drugs that will be used to do this are called Goserelin(Zoladex) and Anastrozole, the goserelin is an injection and the anastrozole is a tablet.  By taking these drugs I will be put into early menopause, which means no more period but also comes with a whole bunch of other things.  I was supposed to start this phase of treatment yesterday but we decided to wait another 3 weeks because I am still in a "state of menopause" that was induced by chemo, meaning I am having hot flashes, body aches, joint paint etc and have been since December soooo since I am still in a menopause state annnd I am having neuropathy side effects we decided to put off hormone blockers because once I start that all my menopause symptoms will increase and potentially make me more uncomfortable.  Essentially we will be putting one fire out before we light another one, thank heavens.  

Thank you for all your love and support!