Jews, Blues, News & Re/Views

The last week or more has been a whirlwind. Someone said the day is long but the weeks are fast. Boy is that true. My fourth week is over!! I am more than half way finished.

When I started I had a lot of angst about coming into the Jewish holidays and how I was going to handle them. I do not drive and was worried about what I would do. Can I miss treatment? I had to wait for appointments with the surgeon I wanted. I had to wait to start radiation treatment since you have to be healed from surgery. My anxiety level kept rising and rising. Dr Marisa Weiss said I could not miss radiation even though I observe the  holidays and do not drive or do business as usual. Too bad. This has to be the exception!! So I consulted with my rabbinic authority and found that I could come to treatment as needed by pre- arranging rides with non- Jewish drivers. Thanks to Christine Stoughton, Pat Mancini and Priscilla Bohlen who know that they cannot call me if there is a problem, someone just shows up at 8:30 AM on the designated days and drives me to the hospital and takes me home. I am so grateful to them for this help.

The treatment moves along but I am feeling “fuzzy brain,”” I call  it, a combination of fatigue and a diminished sharpness. I would not be able to compete  in a debate about anything. I couldn’t sell myself, or win a point, I am just not that into to it for one and 2, I might lose the train of thought if it is too complicated. Maybe not, but I wouldn’t bet on me. Earlier in the day, I am better. It does get me down and make me feel sad… blue, a little depressed even. I know it is temporary, but it doesn’t feel good for now.

I also have a serious sunburn where the sun never shines!! The radiation gives me a bright pinkish red sunburn. I use 2 prescription creams to alleviate the burn and Dr Weiss is adamant about keeping my arm up and away from skin on skin but the burn is there. It does not hurt but is is getting pinker. I still hate the idea of radiation, even though I know it is doing a medicinal job. I hate that the healthy cells are suffering because of the chance of cancerous cells which I hope they got taken out through surgery.

I have been reading so many articles lately about breast cancer: Some say there are too many mammograms, some say mammograms are good, some say mammograms for young women with the BRCA gene is not good. I say, you should keep reading the latest research and keep informed. Speak to your doctor and talk about your individual case. But for women over 40 or women with family history, statistically annual mammograms save lives! Schedule yours now if you are due to get one!!!