Unexpected trip to the Doctor

Tues. Nov. 20, 2012

This afternoon I went in to see Dr. Clark, the radiation oncologist. I’ve had some difficulty taking deep breaths the last few weeks and the past 4 days have gotten worse. I even avoided going running/walking because I was concerned that something was wrong with my lungs. I’ve experienced increased fatigue and have been feeling feel wiped out. As I spoke with the doctor, he asked if I was also experiencing a dry cough. Yes I have! He sent me right over to the AF Hospital to have a CT scan of my chest and then I walked back to his office.

He took a look at the image and said, “That’s what I thought. You’ve got Radiation Pnuemonitis.” He explained it’s like pneumonia, but not. The radiation treatments caused some inflammation going on in my left lung and it’s making it more difficult for me to breath. He has put me on Prednisone, a steroid, for about 4-6 weeks to help my lungs heal and that should clear things up. I was so relieved! I thought that the cancer was back in my lungs and maybe that’s why I was having such a hard time breathing. What an emotional roller coaster one’s health challenges can be at times. I’m just grateful that everything is going to be fine. He told me I’ll feel an increase of energy in 2 days or so and then I’ll slowly heal. I can go out and exercise as much as my body feels able to do. Yay! Now I can enjoy Thanksgiving.