80% done, 20% to go.
That's where I am as of today's radiation therapy. Today I also got blood tests taken and my second – and last – Lupron pellet was inserted for the final three months of hormone therapy. Just before posting, when I checked the MSK portal, I saw that my PSA had dropped to zero – as expected, but nice to see!
In this week's consultation with my radiation oncologist, I learned that side effects will peak during the two weeks or so following the last radiation session. Since the last session is scheduled for Wednesday, August 11, I take that to mean the last half of August will be my lowest period, with slow recovery in September and October. The hormone pellet lasts through October, so I should probably not expect anything like a complete return to normal until the year's end.
Based on my conversation with Dr. Shasha on Wednesday, I now consider that returning to normal will be when I can drink a cup of coffee with no digestive impact. Dr. Shasha recommended not trying any coffee for two to three weeks; his assistant has actually previously recommended holding off for a month. It's not that I'm a big coffee drinker – usually only one cup a day and not even every day – but coffee was the one thing I was told to absolutely avoid. Apparently the digestive impact of coffee during radiation therapy is not just the caffeine, as I am able to drink a small diet Pepsi, for example, with no impact even though it does have some caffeine.
I'll also be pleased when I can safely return to eating fresh vegetables and fruits. As of now, only bananas are allowed – all the rest are apparently a bit too difficult for my radiation-irritated digestive system. Also, at some point, I hope to return to being able to make it through a day without needing a nap.
Despite all the effects I just mentioned, daily life is still well worth living – I'm still able to eat many of my favorite foods, eat out occasionally at a restaurant, walk through the park and, often, even able to read or watch TV without falling to sleep. So life does go one, just a bit more slowly than usual...