This morning I had radiation treatment #25 of 25. I’d like to say that the past five weeks have flown by…but they really haven’t. I won’t miss going to the GHS Cancer center every day, but I will give full credit to the radiation technicians and office staff who have made the experience as pleasant as possible.

I haven’t experienced any of the really horrible side effects of radiation — pain, skin irritation/burning, fatigue. I’m still battling the lower GI issues and have had to cut raw fruits and vegetables and most roughage from my diet for the time being, but that really is a minor inconvenience compared to what I see what my fellow patients are having to cope with.

So now that the external radiation treatments are done, I begin the final phase of my treatment: three HRD (high radiation dosage) sessions.

I will spare you the details, but the treatment involves inserting a piece of equipment about the size and shape of a corn dog up into my ladyparts to deliver radiation to the areas where those tricky cancer cells are most likely to re-form.

It is an extremely uncomfortable and unpleasant treatment, but if it attacks any hidden cancer cells, thereby significantly decreasing my chances of a relapse, my attitude is “KILL! KILL! KILL the MFers!”

I’m scheduled to have the treatments on Friday (Aug. 3), next Tuesday (Aug. 7) and next Friday (Aug. 10).  So by noon on Aug. 10 I can officially call myself a “cancer survivor.” And believe me, I will wear that banner proudly.

It’s been a good couple of weeks. We hosted old family friends last weekend as they traveled home to Iowa from a family trip to Louisiana, I took a hooky day on Thursday with my two quilting buddies to participate in a “shop hop” of quilt shops in western NC and the SC Upstate, and on Saturday I drove to Hendersonville, NC to meet up with my friend and former Nextel coworker, Laura.

I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to get out and about, and I’m really looking forward to this weekend, when my dear friend (and member of my loyal “gal posse”) Louise flies in for a visit. Looking forward to showing her around my new hometown.

Have a great week, everyone!