I took this picture last Friday, when I was feeling pretty cocky about how I got through  fifteen rounds of radiation without suffering too much.

I had been warned that after the fifteen sessions on my chest (which you see in the photo), the worst of the rash and pain would come.  That doesn’t make sense, does it.  But it’s true.  It is so true that I am beyond miserable, with open sores and itching and pain that won’t stop.

Today is the last day for all of the radiation, the end of the daily trips to Providence.  I will complete the five “boosts”, given to the previously unradiated skin around my incision.  So far my skin has survived the onslaught.  Which is something to be thankful for.

I am bringing the radiation team (there are a bunch of them) a giant box of Sweenor’s chocolates as a thank you gift.  They were all so kind.

I will also meet with my oncologist and get my prescription for the endocrine therapy drug that will prevent the cancer from returning.  I think there’s a bone scan scheduled.

Monday I bought Banjo Man a “radiation present”.  I’d heard an ad on the radio for a store that was having a Labor Day special:  buy a tv, get one free.  So I told Banjo Man that after radiation we should go to that store and maybe get an inexpensive television for the exercise room, since we were planning on doing that eventually (sometime in September).

Well, Banjo Man has been trying to convince me that a much larger television would be perfect for the basement living area.  I have disagreed.  But surrounded by big screen televisions and an excited, wistful husband I realized the man should have any damn television he wants.

He’s been through a lot, my husband has.  These past four months have been excruciating in so many, many ways.  “We” have had cancer, not just me.

So Banjo Man (bless his happy little heart) left the store with a 55″ tv for himself— and a “free” 49″ tv for the new exercise area.

We got to spin the wheel and won 20 tickets to Friday’s raffle.  If we win a tv I don’t know where we’ll put it!

We celebrated his Radiation Present with pumpkin pancakes at Denny’s.  And then we headed home.  It was time for my daily 2-hour nap.

So wish me luck today.  I’ve been looking forward to this day since radiation began, on July 30.  It went by much faster than we thought it would.  I’ve been told it will take a few weeks to feel like myself again.  In the meantime, I’m getting all of my pumpkin decorations out to celebrate the end of this horrible summer.

I send my love to you all.  Thank you for everything.