The final step in battling the cancer was radiation. This is to essentially pulverize any remaining cancer cells in the breast.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It affects cells only in the part of the body that is treated with the radiation. Breast cancer radiation therapy may be used to destroy any remaining mutated cells that remain in the breast or armpit area after surgery.
I found radiation to be relatively easy. It was more of a nuisance to have to go for 20 minutes every day to the oncology office Monday through Friday for 28 days. They provided me with a prescription burn cream to apply after radiation, as it is the equivalent of a really bad sunburn. Luckily, my skin was pretty receptive to the radiation and I did not burn too bad.
Many woman's skin (including myself) will hold a darker color after radiation that may be permanent. It also makes the skin on that breast tighter and tougher than the other breast. I have noticed that after reconstruction, my right breast (the breast with cancer) sits higher than the other. I would recommend having your surgeon over-expand the breast that received radiation if you would like it to sit even with the other breast. But of course, consult your surgeon first.
Toasting to the end of treatment!
