Going in, I felt that it was going to feel rather anti-climactic, because hey, all I did for radiation was go in and lie on a table for 5 min or so every day, and really, that wasn't hard. My skin didn't even suffer very much. Chemo, now, that was hard. But at the end of that, you've just had a 3 hour treatment, you feel dippy, and you know the crappy days are ahead, so finishing doesn't feel like something to celebrate, even though that was the hard part.
I got up a little earlier than usual to be sure I'd have enough time to finish all my make-up, lashes included, so I could go without a wig. I dressed in my hot-pink shirt, and wore my sparkly sequined shoes to mark the occasion.
When I got there, they're playing my usual mix of alternative music. I get on the table, they get me into position, put the gel-pack on my chest (really thin, flat - I hear it helps to keep the skin irritation to a minimum), and then, as they leave the room to start the treatment, the music changes to "Celebration"!
This has me almost laughing, which would probably not be good for the radiation field they just lined up, so I hold myself in check while the machine buzzes and delivers my last dose of radiation.
When it's done, they all come in to congratulate me, hugs all around. I get a bottle of sparkling cider and a certificate of completion (so cute!).
And, man, I am so glad to be done!
When I go in to change out of the hospital gown, I peel off all the stickers and slather lotion on any which way I want to, smearing the ink that I'll get to completely wash off later.
It felt AWESOME.
After that, I went to work.
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