Radiation Recovery + Port Removal + Future

Wow- it's been about 3 weeks since my last post.  Mainly because not much has happened since I finished radiation, other than SLOWLY recovering from radiation therapy.


Radiation:
I still have my mask, which I use to scare the shit out of little kids in my neighborhood:

 with fava beans

 just kidding... maybe

My hair is still recovering nicely... except for that radiation bald patch I have.  The doctor said it would take about two more weeks until it starts to grow back slowly.

  

the1980's are back

My skin held up fairly well to radiation, I'm STILL a bit "burnt" from it, but it's healing nicely.  I'm FINALLY able to taste things though.  For the first 2 1/2 weeks after I finished, I couldn't taste anything.  Sweet things tasted bitter, and my mouth was incredibly dry.  However my tastes have slowly started to come back- I can kind of taste sweet things again, and non-complex flavors.  Strangely, red wine tastes like nothing at all- like thick water, while beer tastes for the most part fine.  I did notice that if I ate any processed foods or non-naturally flavored things- I could only taste the artificial flavoring... phosphorus isn't a very appealing taste.  However for naturally flavored things, I can for the most part taste.  I should take about another month for most of my taste buds to come back- well technically grow back, as they were pretty much burnt off from the radiation.  For more complex flavors though, like dark chocolate and fine wines (and sadly that very nice Scotch I have)- will take 3 months to a year to fully return.

My neck muscles are still pretty inflamed, it basically feels like they've been over worked- all the time.  It's from the radiation, and should hopefully start to dissipate more in the next month.

Oh yes- I also started shaving again when my facial hair grew back... only to have most of it fall out because of the radiation.  So I have to shave my half moustache for a while now:

 at least it's a quick shave

My radiation recovery is happening a LOT slower than I had anticipated, but my still hopeful return to work will be mid to late June.

Port Removal:

I had my port flushed for the last time about a 3 weeks ago- and said goodbye to my oncology nurses (who I admittedly will miss).  It's supposed to be flushed once a month if not used- so rather than do that, I'm getting that sucker taken out.

My surgery is scheduled for this Monday May 6th.  Wendy is giving me a ride home after the procedure, and afterwards I'll probably crash for a few days and sleep- it wasn't particularly fun getting it in, and probably won't be getting it out.

I have to remember to ask them if I can have it once it's out (since I did pay for it and all).

Future:

In mid-June I have my FINAL treatment doctors appointment, with my regular oncologist and my radiation oncologist.  I'll get a CT scan, and see if everything went according to plan- which it already looks like so.  So from post port removal until then- I'm supposed to just relax and take it easy for the rest of my sickcation.

I'm getting tired of hanging out with you too cats