LifeNow

If the only thing that I'm talking about is the radiation therapy, I can count myself almost done – only three sessions left. However, I'm also in the midst of six months of hormone therapy – and I'm only slightly better than halfway done with that therapy.

If I manage to stay on schedule, Wednesday will be the day Kate finally comes with me so she can photograph me ringing the bell used to celebrate the completion of one's therapy sessions. Although I considered four weeks of daily sessions a long time, when I checked Cancer.Net I learned that these sessions range between 3 and 9 weeks, five sessions during each week. I now have a deep appreciate for patients who have to put up more than twice the radiation therapy sessions I'm nearly done with.

I also learned that my hormone therapy, Lupron, is often twenty-four to thirty-six months long. Again, I'm glad I'm only putting up with six months of hormone therapy, especially given the cumulative side-effects I already experience – hot flashes, tiredness, occasional joint aches, upset stomach – all relatively mild for now, but I really sympathize with those who have to deal with the strength of such effects after several years of hormone therapy.

My main concern at the moment is the cold I think I caught from Kate. Her cold symptoms have been very strong, strong enough that she checked with an urgent care unit where she also was tested for covid (negative) even though we've both been vaccinated. So far, my symptoms have been mild enough that they wouldn't interfere with radiation therapy. Obviously, I hope that remains the case for the next five days.