Radiation – End of Days

I haven’t been very good about updating during radiation. The fact is, for the first three weeks, everything was gravy. I got up in the morning, got the kid off to school, read the paper, did the crossword, played games on my phone for a while, then drove the hospital, got zapped, drove home. NBD.

Then, suddenly, after the 16th session, I noticed that I had a wound under my boob. Turns out that poor area–that hadn’t seen sunlight in decades–was the first to get burned. And I, unknowingly, was scratching it in my sleep. I’d actually scratched myself raw before I noticed it. That’s when daily wound care with Nurse Rad started.

After the underboob, the armpit went, and finally the nipple. I tell ya, you haven’t lived until you’ve had your nipple skin peel off. It’s gross to look at, and it’s REALLY painful. It’s Vicodin painful. Here’s some grody photos I took along the way. I tried not to make them too “booby.”

Anyway, I was pretty proud of myself for being so tough about radiation, but it turns out I just hadn’t really been tested yet. I was tired as fuck. I’d go to radiation, get my wounds soaked and salved and wrapped, then I’d go Christmas shopping for a while and finally come home and collapse. I often fell asleep before dinner.

My conclusion about radiation: It’s true what they say. Your skin will burn and then peel and you will be massively tired.

I have one session left. I’m smiling, and healing.