Life is short; seize the day

Never have these words meant more to me than in the past two weeks.

Sadly three people to whom I was connected in different ways have passed away during that time. I wrote about one of them, a former colleague who passed away at 91, here.

The other two, neither of whom I met in person, were in their 70s. My heart goes out to a friend who lost her mom and another friend who lost her soul mate.


May all three rest in peace.


~

I haven't posted lately; nothing like breaking a New Year's resolution.

But I think the reason I haven't been able to come up with anything to write is because the almost-daily medical appointments have stopped. My online cancer journal came to a halt.


But today that changed..I went for a bone density scan. That's gotta be the easiest medical test ever. And none of that pesky fasting beforehand!

It was a new machine and it was really fast. The woman administering the test said it used to take a half hour. This lasted five minutes.

I'll get the results in a few days from my primary care physician and then schedule an overdue physical with him. Last year with all that chemo and radiation (now just a memory) just didn't seem like the right time to have a physical.

So...I wanted to see if I could still write a blog post. It looks like I can.

Thoughts on being deported

For me and all the other cancer patients others who have had a chemo port implanted in their bodies, deportation is indeed a good thing.

And today was my day to be deported (get it? de-ported?).

Bad joke. But it's my blog and I can write what I want.

When the minor surgery was over and they brought me back to the room I scarfed down a huge breakfast. That's the reward for the fasting that's required.

Ralph ate his breakfast while he was waiting for me. Hope he enjoyed the morning television shows he had to endure while sitting there. ;-)

The procedure was a breeze. I was moderately sedated, they said. I remember nothing. I think the stuff they gave me made me have some crazy dreams this afternoon, but that's about it.

While I was taking a nap the Vera Bradley bag I ordered using money I received for my birthday arrived! That made me happy. It was half price! Even better.


I should take a photo of it but I don't feel like it at the moment. Being lazy, I guess.

This evening daughter Allegra is driving me to the support group. We only are going to meet once a month now, as opposed to every two weeks, so I'm looking forward to seeing the ladies there again. And of course I want to tell them that I was deported.

~

I was about to publish but then didn't want to post sans photo, so I looked up Power Port and found a photo. I'm pretty sure this is what was in there. I never actually saw it.

{Thanks for reading my online cancer journal.}

Happy, happy

It's a new year and soon to be a new me.

I found out yesterday that the chemo port can be removed! My collar bone area will be back to normal, except for a scar. 

The minor surgery is scheduled for next Thursday! Yay! 

And no, I won't post a photo of the port. It isn't pretty. 


 That's all I got for now.


{Thanks for reading my online cancer journey journal.}

New family activity...

Touching my soft, new hair that is growing back. It's fun, it's easy and it only takes a few seconds.

And it's bringing us together as a family. What's better than that? 

Comeback time

As quickly as they disappeared from my face, they are now coming back. My eyebrows, that is.

And yesterday I suddenly noticed my eyelashes are starting to reappear.

Woo hoo times two!

Viral, I went

Posting this for any of my friends who didn't see that I went "viral" on Facebook last night. ;-)

Yes, I'm tooting my own horn here. (toot, toot)

I was surprised the story link that one of my editors posted got several shares and many comments.

Yesterday I wrote a story about my experience at a "Look Good...Feel Better" session Thursday night and sent it to my editor. He put it in today's paper.

"Look Good...Feel Better" is an American Cancer Society program for women undergoing cancer treatment. I had written about it five years ago, as an observer. This week I was a participant.

Here's the link

Thanks for reading! My online cancer journal continues.

If I glow, it won't be from the radiation

I went to see the radiation oncologist yesterday for a consultation. She explained everything that will be happening with the upcoming radiation treatments and it didn't sound bad at all.

She said it's easier to take than chemo. I feel fortunate to have gotten through five months of that with nothing more than tiredness.  

I also had an unexpected CT scan. That wasn't on my agenda!

It turned out fine, but when I first saw the scanner (don't know correct name of it) I flashed back to my MRI experience in February when I freaked out. 

At that time Ralph had to bring me back another day with a medication inside me to get through the claustrophic feelings I was experiencing.

So now I wait to find out when I start the five-days a week radiation treatment. The nurse assured me I wouldn't be radioactive. So apparently I won't be glowing.

I don't mean to sound flip about any of these important procedures. I simply want to keep my sense of humor about all of this.  :D

{And so my online cancer journey journal doth continue ~ thanks for reading!}

I did it!

So happy I completed the 3.1-mile walk this morning.

It was amazing - as I was pulling out of the driveway the rain was letting up and the sun was breaking through the clouds. It ended up being a perfect, albeit steamy, morning for the event. There were so many participants. I'd say it was a huge success.

I was among friends. I saw two of my doctors, both oncology nurses, an extremely energetic and enthusiastic nutritionist and fitness expert named Samantha (who has been strongly suggesting to me that I get into an exercise routine), and several other hospital employees.

Samantha was at the finish line and gave me a big hug when I completed the walk. I think she was happier than I was.

Thanks to all my supporters. ;-) I must say I enjoyed the hugs and kisses and handshakes and all.

I also love the T-shirts they gave out. I didn't know they were going to be long-sleeved. Woo hoo!

Kemo brain kicks in

Methinks the kemo is kicking in big time. I feel like I can't keep up with anything.

I really could use a mental health day. 

Looks like I'll have to wait until Saturday ...

P.S. I spelled chemo wrong just because I could. ;-) 

{And so my online cancer journey journal continues.} 

Chemo light #7 turned out to be #8

Time sure flies when one is having fun! Looks like I lost track of time.

Yesterday I wrote here that it was day number 7 - glad to learn that it was number 8! One less to go until I get to the magic number 12. 

The chemo kinda messes with my sleep, but I much prefer that side effect to others I won't bother mentioning.

I came home exhausted yesterday afternoon and slept for more than two hours to recuperate. Then this morning I woke up after a less than full-night's sleep. :- (

Maybe it's because I skipped a week, and my body has to get used to it again.

{Thanks for reading my online cancer journey journal}

Back to chemoland today

I missed a treatment last week because the doctor was on vacation and the other oncologist in the office is not authorized by my insurance or some such thing,

I was given the option to see a different oncologist in the medical group in another city, if I didn't want to miss a treatment. 

But they said it would be OK to take a week off, so I did.

I believe this is number 7, but who's counting?

I feel fine, and for that I am grateful. 

{Thanks for reading the continuing saga of my cancer journey.}

It's almost worse than losing one's hair

Eyebrows. 
I never thought much about them until I didn't have any. : (


I realize there are worse things.
And I know there are artificial ones I could get, or I could use eyebrow pencil. 

But I prefer the real kind.

And they're not there any more. 

At least with my head I can find a variety of chapeaux and scarves to cover up the few remaining strands of hair I have. And the wig option is still there.

But eyebrows and for that matter eyelashes (they are mostly gone too) are so visible, unless one wears large sunglasses to cover the blank areas.


Oh me, oh my. 

OK, done whining for today.

{My online journal about my cancer journey continues.}

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood

This is how the courtyard outside the area where I get chemo looked at noon today. It's a beautiful setting. 

This was taken through the window. Unfortunately we can't go out and play in the courtyard. 

Today is Chemo Day again...the weeks fly by

Gimme a c - C!

Gimme an h -H!

Gimme an e - E!

Gimme an m - M!

Gimme an o - O!

And what does that spell?  Exhaustion.  

Well at least it's 'chemo light,' as I prefer to call it.



Must be Monday.  ;-)


{And my online cancer journal continues..}

Building up a tolerance? Could be

Yesterday was "chemo light" day number 4, and miraculously when I got home I was not ready to go to sleep.
I actually stayed up for two and a half hours and worked before taking a nap.

When I told Ralph he said I must be getting used to it.

Maybe my body is building up a tolerance to it or something.

All I know is eight more treatments to go! Or as the doctor said, I'm one-third of the way there. The weeks are flying by.

~ ~ ~

My online cancer journey journal doth continue...

Thanks for reading!

Surreal is one way of describing the process..

My friend Linda said in a comment on my blog May 3 that she was wondering how I felt when I went for chemotherapy.
Well, I've had a lot of treatments since then and her question continues to stick in my head.

The first time I was escorted by the doctor into the spacious room (overlooking a beautiful healing garden and waterfall) where they hook you up to an IV I felt like I was part of a new club - the chemo club - that has a membership list a mile long.

It was kinda like when I became a mother for the first time...you are instantly a member of a club that you never leave.

I suppose I'd describe the feeling as surreal - you know of people throughout your life who have gone through various forms of cancer surgeries and treatments, and you only imagine what it must be like.
But when it actually happens, all anyone can do is take it one treatment, one procedure at a time.
I wasn't scared, but rather grateful that I was getting the medical care I need.

I feel fine, just tired. I've had no nausea, and for that I also am incredibly grateful!

Tomorrow morning I return for 'chemo light' number 4.
Thanks for reading my online cancer journal.

To be continued...

A day later than usual

My usual Monday chemo light appointment got postponed until today.

I just got up from a nap and feel a bit less tired than I did when I got home. I found out what is knocking me out is a dose of Benadryl. It must be a large dose or maybe as one of the nurses said, I'm a cheap drunk.

And I thought it was the chemo light. Silly me.

Dang, it's raining now and we were thinking of going to a free outdoor concert tonight. I figured I have enough energy to sit there and listen.
I guess it will be postponed until tomorrow.

And so my not-too-scintillating online journal of my cancer journey continues...

OK, it's another Monday morning

...and time for some more "chemo light." That's what I've decided to call it.

Woo hoo!

Happy August to all my blog friends.

Steroids and 'chemo light' ~ cancer journal continues

I had my first Taxol treatment/injection yesterday, but not before lots of steroids got pumped into me.
I had to take five tablets the night before then got more steroids through the IV, along with Benadryl to help a possible allergic reaction to prep me for the chemo drug.
They say this drug won't affect me as much as the previous "A and C" cocktail, so I've decided to call it "chemo light." haha

The steroids give me an appetite and today I have that Taxol glow. Pink cheeks. They also seemed to keep me awake last night. Not good. Time for some coffee.
When we were leaving the Griffin Hospital Center for Cancer Care I took a quick photo through a window of the healing garden built into a rock outcropping and situated between the chemotherapy side and the radiation side of the building.

It's a beautiful facility, that's for sure. I'm fortunate to live so close to such a wonderful place.
When it was dedicated in late 2008 I never thought I'd be making use of it.
It just goes to show you never do know what the future holds.

Not sure which is worse!

Feeling exhausted from this last chemo treatment I had Monday or...

having to go through almost two hours with no Internet this morning. Yikes.

It was frustrating. It must have been the heavy rain we had earlier that caused a "disruption in service."

Glad that's over.