Journal entry by Janet Peterson —
20 radiation sessions complete, 8 to go, and I'm feeling it. Just this week I began to feel the fatigue, which the radiation oncologist did warn me about. Apparently it hits in week 2 for some people, so I consider myself lucky that I've felt good up until this week. Also,my skin is just fine--I was told it may get a sort of sunburn in the area of radiation, but it is doing really well. The people at the Durango Cancer Center who administer radiation, like the nurses in the chemo infusion room, are amazingly friendly and supportive. Overall, it has been a positive experience, and I really don't mind going there five days a week.
In the meantime, I am working full-time from home and getting out on my road or mountain bike at least 3 times a week, working toward 4. I've been able to do some pre-cancer-diagnosis mountain bike rides and have felt tired but good, so that feels like a huge win. I'm still trying to do yoga 2-3 time per week, but with work, radiation, biking, yard work, a non-credit class for faculty professional developers, and zoom happy hours with friends, I've been busy! Oh, I'm also in a virtual book club reading White Fragility: Why It's so Hard for White People to Talk about Racism and loving it! I highly recommend it for anyone who might be interested in such a topic.
My last day of radiation is July 9, and the following week, I'll travel to UCHealth in Denver for a couple of appointments, including one with my plastic surgeon to talk reconstruction. It has been a LONG journey, and I admit I'm weary of it, and I want to be DONE! But I still have a bit to go before I can "move on" from this experience. While I'm up there, I plan to see my kids, but I must admit I am hesitant because of the pandemic. I miss them terribly, and I might just ignore common sense and see them, regardless of what the right thing to do would be. Still thinking about what to do, honestly.
I hope you are all staying safe and well and having a good summer. Thank you for the love and support, all of you! I so much appreciate it!
Lots of love,
Janet
In the meantime, I am working full-time from home and getting out on my road or mountain bike at least 3 times a week, working toward 4. I've been able to do some pre-cancer-diagnosis mountain bike rides and have felt tired but good, so that feels like a huge win. I'm still trying to do yoga 2-3 time per week, but with work, radiation, biking, yard work, a non-credit class for faculty professional developers, and zoom happy hours with friends, I've been busy! Oh, I'm also in a virtual book club reading White Fragility: Why It's so Hard for White People to Talk about Racism and loving it! I highly recommend it for anyone who might be interested in such a topic.
My last day of radiation is July 9, and the following week, I'll travel to UCHealth in Denver for a couple of appointments, including one with my plastic surgeon to talk reconstruction. It has been a LONG journey, and I admit I'm weary of it, and I want to be DONE! But I still have a bit to go before I can "move on" from this experience. While I'm up there, I plan to see my kids, but I must admit I am hesitant because of the pandemic. I miss them terribly, and I might just ignore common sense and see them, regardless of what the right thing to do would be. Still thinking about what to do, honestly.
I hope you are all staying safe and well and having a good summer. Thank you for the love and support, all of you! I so much appreciate it!
Lots of love,
Janet
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