Chicken Wings

Today was day 5 of XRT and I am now 15% done. Every 5th appointment is xrays to make sure they are hitting the spot and not my lungs (thank you) and a follow up with the radiation oncologist. To fully appreciate this story, however lets back up to the weekend.

Saturday I went to the gym for about 2 hours (including walking home) and while there decided it would be a good day to try triceps dips. Well, it took "feel the burn" to an entire new level. It felt like my skin was being pinched by my sports bra, but it really wasn't. I felt like I was just working through the scar tissue from having my lymph nodes removed and did 3 sets of 12. Later, because I am sick in the head, I was bragging to my mother about what I did. She was not impressed and began to question if I should be doing everything at the gym. Last night we had a conversation that went like this:

Mom: "Do you really think you should be lifting weights? I mean you could be changing the area they are treating."
Me: "Yay ok Mom (in my best check this crazy lady out tone)"
Mom: "I'm serious. I think you should ask the doctor before you keep lifting"
Me: "Fine" [what a brat]

Today at my appointment after the doctor had checked my skin (and was happy to see no burning or issues yet-thanks Jean's cream) she asked if I had any questions. Me and my smug self sighed and said "Yes, my mother wants me to check if I should be weight lifting" knowing that of course the doctor would say yes, totally fine. However, to my surprise she responded "Absolutely not. You have had surgery on the axilla,  you cannot be doing that. How much weight have you been lifting?" Me: "Light, between 10 and 50 pounds". Doctor: "No. You can lift 3 pounds". Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! Then I decided that this piece of information would change her mind. "But, I was a competitive runner before all of this" "You can still lift weights with your legs". How being an athlete was going to change the need for radiation to occur on the same spot every time and for me to not change the landscape I am not sure but I was willing to throw it out there.

So for now I'll keep my skinny chicken wing arms and just run, lift legs and keep working the core. Running is getting better and I actually got into 8:30 minute mile pace for awhile during today's run. Progress.

For those of you keeping score that would be Mom: 1,397 Sara: 3