I just got home from radiation treatment number 20!  5 left to go!  Once those are completed, I will wait for six weeks before I get my MRI to check to see what effect the treatments have had.  Today's treatment went very smoothly and I still have no radiation burns, which is great!  It has been an up and down last few weeks, however.  On the difficult side, I have had an irritating cough that seems to start up in the late afternoon.  When I start coughing, pain shoots down my legs and hits a 10 on the pain scale!  The only way that I can control it is to sit quietly and not talk.  Good way to shut me up, I guess.  Another factor on the difficult side is that both of my legs are starting go swell up, often looking like tree trunks.  When this happens, again, the pain increases dramatically.  The final factor on the difficult side are issues involving the restroom.  I am either in there constantly or not there for days!  With that, we are experimenting with meds, since this is often a result of radiation treatments.  On the positive side, and it is a big positive, I was able to sit in the car facing forward all the way from my house to OHSU!  I did not have to be turned around in the seat, looking out the back!  Also thanks again for those of you that have driven me to OHSU the past month.  I hope you realize what a HUGE help that is for Kath and me!  Another check on the positive side is involving the medication that I am taking.  The doctors are cutting back on my steroids.  This is always a good sign!  I have been very active, trying to get out everyday.  I have had no change in my condition for the past two weeks, which is good.  I am just anxious to not be traveling to OHSU everyday.  I have worn out my chair at home that reclines to an angle that I can tolerate.  So after many trips with Barry, I have found one at Fred Meyer that works great.  So starting tomorrow, I will have a new chair at home to rest in!  I have also made Great Harvest on Commercial Street my regular stop after my daily radiation treatment.  The people there are wonderful and it helps lift my spirits after getting hit by radiation to start the day.  Just like teaching, it is all about building relationships!  This has become my socialization stop!  I not only know all the people that work there, I also constantly bump into people I know that stop by to get something to eat.  I really appreciate getting the chance to visit with people.  As long as I get out each day, get the chance to visit with people, and of course, eat, then my day was a success!