Sunday, December 16, 2012

Sad, Discouraging Times

I spoke too soon when I went on and on about how easy radiation therapy is.  Turns out it wipes me out as much as chemo did.  I come home from treatments each day about noon, sit down in my recliner, and sometimes that's about as far as I get.  Watery eyes have prevented me from reading much, so I nap and nap and eventually crawl out of the chair to get supper or go to bed. This is very discouraging.

However, my treatment Tuesday will put me halfway through the 22 treatments I'm to have.  That will lift my spirits for sure.  At least the tiredness is the only side effect of this part of my fight against cancer and for that I am very grateful.  I'm even getting my sense of taste back, after months of everything tasting like cardboard.  Since Dave's cousin sent me a box of See's chocolates, that's a very good thing.  He spoils me awfully, having sent chocolates and flowers earlier.

I suppose this weekend, especially today, I'm just generally sad because it's dreary and rainy here which makes my grief over the victims of the school shooting in Connecticut so much worse.  I have lived in Connecticut, not far from Newtown.  That little town is a Christmas-card pretty New England town where you think of involved, loving parents and their beautiful children.  It's a small town haven from the cities and people live there particularly in order to give their children the best possible childhood.  Now of course people will think of this tragedy when they think of Newtown, but those parents whose children survived the horror will be especially loving and again strive to give the kids the best possible childhood.  I wish them the best.

4 comments:

  1. Barbara, when my brother was going through chemo and radiation, the radiation wore him out more as well. Thank goodness its half over.

    I am watching the president speak now to the people of Newtown (1.5 hours from where I live). So very tragic and not easy to comprehend.

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  2. I'm trying to catch up reading other people's posts, so I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier.

    Radiotherapy made me very tired too. I just felt whacked out, so I suppose that's 'normal'. The sad thing is after I'd finished my 20 sessions it was a slow recovery period, but at least it was moving the right way. Even now, 6 months later I still get very tired if I do too much. Take care.

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  3. My Mum was very tired when she was having radiotherapy too but soon bounced back once it was over. And you're nearly half way there too - so light at the end of the tunnel.

    I think everyone here was stunned beyond belief about the shooting - terrible tragedy.

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  4. I'm impressed with your attitude evident in this post. I know what you're going through is exhasting but you are focusing on the positive of half-way through. Good for you Barbara. I'll bet you've always been a fighter. Keep fighting.

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