Next Up: Radiotherapy

Hey...what's this new sensation? It's...wow, I think I'm feeling good today. I've done my morning errands and I don't feel the need to take a nap afterwards. I've got the kids with me a lot more during the summer, and it helps to have their company. I rejoined the gym Saturday, adding Geoffrey too, so he can get in shape for the beginning of high school this fall. Plus it's more motivating for both of us to go together sometimes. I'm starting out slowly because these days of feeling good are too precious to jeopardize, but I'm still trying to go 5 days a week.

I just got my radiation schedule set up this morning: I have late morning appointments 5 days a week for 6 1/2 weeks, the last 1 1/2 weeks more intensive treatment. A week or so after I'm done, I get some tests done including tumor markers (!), and I meet with my oncologist to discuss/begin hormone-blocking treatment.

I just received my insurance denial by certified mail today. I didn't appreciate that dramatic touch. So far my PPO insurance has covered almost everything once I'd paid my annual deductible. But the Cancer Center isn't contracted with my insurer, and in spite of them being the only place in town to provide radiation treatment, my insurer won't agree to pay for it at the PPO level. Meaning, they'll pay about 50% until I've paid $10,000 to that provider, and then they'll pay the rest. I guess they expect me to travel out of town on a daily basis (if I can find a contracted provider), which would be particularly difficult once the side effects of radiation start kicking in (yes, fatigue again). I think I'm just going to go ahead with it locally, since it's tiring enough to go to all these appointments, without adding in a couple of hours of daily driving. I've had several meetings with the radiation oncologist and I'm confident that I will receive excellent treatment.

My hair's coming in in patches, and appears to be my natural auburn (yay!), but my temples are still white. There's not enough hair to wear in public yet, but at least there's progress. So far it's not curly, as others have predicted.

Next week I plan to return to my weekly weight loss classes. It's nice to be getting closer to resuming the life I had before this cancer interrupted.