Happy Halloween. Yay Noles - we won. Had to get up early to take my son to school. He had to work the FSU game today for ROTC. Came home and watched pre-football shows. I was doing ok but I was still a bit sore. My neck looked a lot better and seems to be healing. The skin is starting to grow in and close up. However that makes it hurt a little when I have to turn my head. The skin stretches some just like any kind of sore that heals. The middle chest area seems to be trying to heal as it has skin scabbing and flaking off. It is not quite the raw skin underneath as my underarm. I watched the FSU game and about 1/2 time I had to take the bandages off under my arm. Ok, that was painful. Even though I had ointment on, the bandages were sticking a little and it hurt like a bitch. Of course, it also make little spots that were bleeding. As I sat on the couch to let it dry out a bit - I ended up in tears again. I could feel the heat from my arm and as the air was hitting it, it was stinging and hurting. I had to put something back on it. So more ointment and I found some non-stick bandages that I cut the sticky part off of to see if maybe that would help. If it works, I'll have to pick up more of those. Some areas under my arm look like either new skin is coming in or that it is drying around the edges. That's a good sign, I just hope I can handle it until the rest heals a bit more. It was good that I had a bit of a rest for 3 days from treatment. But that means I have 3 more next week. Needless to say I have not been in much of a Halloween mood today and getting up and down can sometimes be a bit of a challenge - so I did not do anything for halloween. My son is off at his friend's and I feel bad that I have sat in the dark watching tv not answering the door for trick-r-treaters. I just don't feel like it. Sorry little kiddies. Next time. Well, I'll be off to bed soon. I even get an extra hour to sleep in in the morning. Don't forget to change the clocks back.

Today started out a little better. I got up and got ready for work. Managed to do okay the early part of the day. They called me again today and cancelled my appt due to the machine still being down. It gives my skin a break but it also delays my treatment. I still have 3 left, which means I won't finish until next Wednesday. I was able to go to lunch with the girls today, which was a nice change. By about 3:00 it was time for me to co home and rest my arm It was getting a bit irritated and difficult to continue to work. Came home and took nap. Took the dressing off my arm and it was really sore. It is doing a little better this evening. I am just ready for this part to be over. Till tomorrow - hope it's a little better.

First let me say thanks for the encouraging comments. Today was not a whole lot better. I realized when I woke up this morning that going to work was not really going to be an option. I called in sick (something I have not done in a long time) and went back to bed. I just couldn't see trying to wear clothes, work and not be in some kind of discomfort. I didn't have anything that was urgent that had to be done, so I took the day for me. I still had to go to treatment today and had to wait. The machine was still down so they were behind. My appt time is usually 1:20 and I didn't even get called back until 1:50. Came home and fell asleep. My son and I went to pick up his new glasses, got something to eat and came home and watched tv. I started to feel a little bit better. I didn't seem to be hurting quite as much (but I also took some pain meds). I should be okay to go to work tomorrow even if it is only 1/2 day. About 10 treatments ago, I thought I was doing so well and that I would be okay. Well, I am ok, I mean the skin reaction. Things can change basically overnight. At least the weekend is upon me and I will have two days repreive. I can only hope that the healing comes quickly and without too much pain and discomfort. Thanks for the prayers and support.

Today was not a very good day. It started out with my son's glasses having broken. Fortunately he had a spare pair. Took him to school and got to work. My underarm was really sore and uncomfortable today. I put neosporin and gauze on it. It was still quite sore all day. I got a little bit of good news when radiology called and had to cancel my appointment today. The machine was broken and insted of putting me on the other machine they decided to give me a break for today. Which on the other hand means that I still have to make it up and finish on Tuesday next week instead of Monday. As the day went on, I felt like I was getting more sore. My son had a dentist appt at 3:00 so I left work, went to the dentist, then the eye glass place to see about his glasses. Of course they couldn't be fixed so I had to spend the money to buy him a new pair. Then off to the bank, something to eat and then TCBY for a treat. They were doing a share night for scouts so a donation of sales are going to be donated to Nick's scout troop. Then home to nurse my sores. It was pretty bad when I took the gauze off. There were tiny spots of bleeding. I have been sitting on the couch trying to let the air get to it a little bit. I even took one of the pain pills the doctor gave me. And not too long ago I finally broke down in tears. I've got a sore on my neck that hurts, my underarm is painful and I just can't move easily without something hurting. I know I only have 4 more to go and they are not zapping the spots that are hurting, but what has been zapped is really starting to take it's toll. I did not think it would get this bad. All this time I have been so very fortunate not to have many side effects or issues and now, at the end I am in pain. Wish I knew how long it will take for this to clear up. I remember feeling this way back when I had the drain tubes and wondering when I would be able to get them out because they were so bothersome. I guess this is kind of the same thing. I just hope it doesn't take 2 weeks to clear up. I don't know that I can take it that long. I guess having one breakdown in all this time isn't that bad.

Tuesday, Tuesday. Wrong day or wrong song. Not a bad day. A bit tired all day but managed to make it. Met with the radiologist today. He could see my discomfort with my arm. We talked about different things I could do to try to make it feel better. I also have skin peeling from a few other areas that are making small sores. Bottom line is I can use neosprin, since it does not sting on open wounds like the creams I have do, with some gauze to cover it. Some areas are itchy still and I can see the skin starting to dry and get ready to peel. Once again, I'd have to say the radiation is the worst of things. Good news is I only have 4 left. He also said that this is what we want the skin to day. Research shows that the more reaction the less likey to have a re-occurance in that area. He could give me a dose that would not cause much reaction but that is not what we want. Yay me. So I guess a bit of good news in that regard. I can't help but think that I am doing the right things all the way around to beat this the best way possible. That, along with the trust in my doctors, prayers and support from my friends, and the belief that this will soon be a thing in the past and I can move on with my life. Attitude is 1/2 the battle.

You never know what Monday will bring. Even thought I had something covering my underarm, it is still quite icky and moist. Didn't sleep very well, tossed and turned. Got up on time and had a hard time getting Nick up. I finally had to drop water on his face and he wasn't happy. Got some work done but I have full day ahead of me tomorrow. Had my radiation treatment, which went quick. Then off to chemo. I was there a little early and of course it was end of lunch time so I had to wait. Doctor wasn't there but they took me back to get me going with the normal visit stuff. We went ahead and started blood work, and wouldn't you know, the port was not working today. Figures. So they ended up taking it from the arm. Went back to the room to wait on the doctor. She was amazed at how great my blood work looked. She said it looked like someone not on chemo. I hope that is a good thing. She was excited that I only had 2 more treatments after today and said she would miss me, but that I should come visit - and bring cookies. Off to Chemo and finished with no problems. Moved my band and went home. Slept on the couch for about 2 hoursl I was supposed to go to Nick's school for some Freshmen chat - but missed it. Wasn't too worried about it. Ready for bed a little early tonight - so till tomorrow. Good night, sleep tight - sweet dreams.

Good day. Got to sleep in again. Chilled out and started some laundry. Went shopping a little and had lunch. Watched football - no good games on. Did some more laundry. Made some Stuffed Cabbage Soup. My arm was basically itchy most of the day. Didn't get much of a nap today. Did some more laundry - ok, well only 5 loads today. My arm is still itchy underneath. I really hope that means it's healing. The start of my last 6 treatments tomorrow and the last of 3 chemos. It will soon be ready to party. Let's bring on the week.