From Alvadeer Update: another spot of bother!

@Alva

You're strong as nails and will kick cancer's a$$. The media back in the day used to call Margaret Thatcher the 'Iron Lady'. It's you. I'm sending you healing vibes and praying for you (for what it's worth) every day.

UPDATE from ALVA:
Tomorrow is my 16th and last radiation treatment. As St Lawrence said when they burned him on the rack: "Turn me over; I'm done on this side".

Other than my usual whacky anxiety, this truly has gone so easily. Every day I would be up, enjoy the garden, shower, brief nap with Frieda and then off we would all go to Oyster Point and Kaiser's state of the art radiation facilities. EVERYONE there treats you as though you are their favorite family member dropping in for a visit. The place has plants everywhere, and baskets of knitted caps and beanies that the Knitting Club (open to staff and families and patients and families and former patients) free for the taking. I chose two! We KNOW how greedy I am.
You are talked through everything, and honestly it just goes one-two-three once you know the drill and they know you.
While I had treatment Neil drove the 1/4 mile down to the Marina and Ferries where he and Frieda enjoyed the waterfront, geese and goslings. Then they were back to collect me in about one half hour from letting me off. Frieda came to love the routine of all this. She is so OCD and loves routine; I never know which of us is the more dingy and in need of a support animal! So we support one another.

This old white-woman skin has held up well, and I think it is more RealyReal's suggestion of emu oil and a cream called Jean's Cream that a woman receiving radiation created herself. Both expensive, and both worth bathing in with their good effects. I slathered them all over my face as well as my chest and fancy I look 15 years younger.
Apparently one keeps cooking for a while so Ivcan expect a bit more toasty skin, perhaps a peel and a bit of tiredness for a few weeks. I will stack up the library books.

As you all know, this is a triple negative breast cancer; stats aren't good on them at all, and this one was sending satellites (as they so charmingly call them) to the skin like a Cali wild fire. I didn't have them take nodes with mastectomy as I intended no chemo but Doc snagged one and it is micro positive (as opposed to MACRO positive). Can expect this to spread and if some other old age thing doesn't get me first, this may catch me when it decides to.
The radiation was to prevent, if I can, any open sores to the breast. I have received a few private notes that lets me know more than a few of you are aware of how odious those can be.

Other than ALL of the diagnosis/prognosis/ realities, etc. I do remain (despite Kaiser being on my tail about it all the time) opposed to chemo. What time I have left, while I am active, happy and feeling well, I would like to spend being active, happy and feeling well. So we will play all this as it lies. For today I am, as one flattie on my favorite FB breast cancer site says, "ON THIS SIDE OF THE GRASS".
If the Alien rears her ugly head I will let you all know. Meanwhile, I thank you for your heartfelt support here. Getting up to AC and my coffee all carmel color from the cream remains a high point in my days. I am just now past the 5 year anniversary of my brother's death, and it was his diagnosis of Lewy's that brought me wailing for help to this site. I am very thankful for it. And for all of you!

DrivingDaisy's recent run-through with getting hubby into care and treated shows us all the uncertainty of our lives day to day. So I can only say, live each and every one of your days with as much joy as you can pull kicking and screaming from it.

Alva congrats on making it to #16 with your humor intact! What would this site be without you? That's a rhetorical question. The information, no-nonsense support and wisdom you've provided are so valuable. Here's to you enjoying the rest of your "baking" time -- and beyond. Blessings to you!

Dear Alva!

Gentle (((((hugs)))), Alva and a big well done for getting through this treatment so well, and making the decisions that make sense to you in the light of the realities of your situation. Dd has said if her cancer returns she will not do chemo again. I admire you ladies. Hope you will celebrate this milestone.

Alva, I am happy that the emu oil and jeans cream is working well for you.

Jeans cream looks like a great product. I love vit e and aloe vera, I just have to be careful with whole leaf, if they don't drain the natural latex, I get eczema from it, grrr.

I totally agree, live the best life you can everyday because none of us are promised tomorrow. I am happy that you are doing so well.

Yay! for the last of the sunburns. Well done and back to full time life enjoyment. Appreciate your update and good words about remembering to enjoy each day

That's for sure Alva, everyday we have is precious.

I'm so glad is over, for you and it wasn't too awful bad.

Thank You from the bottom of my heart, for all you did for me!! 💗 🥲

Glad that this portion of your treatment is about over and that you seemed to have tolerated it well.
Your candidness and openness about what you've been through has been inspiring to us on this forum and I wish you only God's best going forward.

Alva, glad to hear this. I am smiling thinking of you with your cup of coffee as you help people on this site. Here’s to you, your health, and all that you do for the friends and family around you AND people around the world you don’t even know! ☕️😄🌎💕

Alva

Thanks for the update.

Wishing you complete recovery from the radiation with no residual discomfort that Frieda and N can’t make all better. 🎈

Alva,
Just read your update. Well done! Hope all will be well!
You are such amazing person and good example for all of us how to face adversity and your sense of humour is unparalleled!

Like Evamar, I just read the update. Somehow, I lost track of this thread. I have NO idea how that happened, but it did. Alva, as you know, I'm a fan! I'm SO glad to hear that you're done with radiation and it went (reasonably) well. Y-a-a-y for you! I'm in agreement with you on chemo. At my age (88) I would almost certainly opt not to undergo major invasive treatment for anything.

Elizabeth, I was just asking someone about you recently. I am glad you are still here on AC!

Alva, your description of your day is inspiring and comforting. (Except for the toasting part.) I realize this sounds odd in light of the treatment you sre describing, but you really put a bright spin on it. All those positive vibes do count in fighting disease. I’m pretty sure there’s a study about it or if not, there should be. I understand your decision for treatment completely. You are certainly busy with many enjoyable activities and it seems will continue to do so. And, I’ll see you at AC for clever advice and witty observations.

I lost track of it all myself, but somehow, deep down...I wasn't worried. I'm stunned to see 14 sessions of radiation already? Damn, where do you get such energy? I hate how getting older makes the time fly so fast.

Sometimes there are special people on Earth who are incredible in so many ways...and you are one of them. Your wisdom and honesty helps so many others.

I want to be like you when I grow up!

Take it from me, when Alva talks , we need too listen. 🥰🥰🥰

Great update, Alva! I also decided to stay on this forum because of your "tough love" and straight forward answers, without ever being rude or hurtful. I have gained a whole other perspective in regards to my relationship with and responsibility to my mother from reading your advice to me and others.

Alva, I have been quietly just hoping & hoping this oreal would be tolerable for you. I am so glad this chapter is done! And that you found some lovely lotions. Treat yourself!

If you can get MooGoo where you live, I'd suggest their MSM or double cream moisuriser too.

Glad to hear the treatments are behind you . Hope you don’t keep cooking or burn too much . As always you are an inspiration !!