Chemo Day # 3 April 2008

Hello again. It is still cold in Bend. We may have snow again. I am not happy. I want sun. Please send sun.!!!!

Well, I just had chemo # 3 and I am still able to carry on. Just don't feel so hot. But I am trying to ignore what I can and just carry on with life best I can.

Newest thing this week is a rash on the left arm on which I had my compression bandage for lympdema control. This is not good but doc thinks it may be a rash from the bandage so I am not to wear it for a week and I am to keep it dry. I think we had a couple of warm days and I sat out with sweater and maybe that act caused it. We will keep an eye on it and hope it goes away. I had been massaging my arms with lotion and then applying the band. I think it was too much lotion under the bandage and it was not drying before I put the band on it. It is not itching so think it is just a rash that will eventually go away.

I took my camera to the infusion center and took a picture of me with ,Buddy, the bear my friend Carol sent from Maryland. I will take pics of other things folks have sent as time goes on. Buddy has been with me in hospital and helped on nights I could not sleep after surgery. It helped to hug buddy and relieve some pressure from under my arm. So Buddy will go first since he came first to my house. Others will follow.

I would like to acknowledge the cards with angels, crosses, appliqued flower, and just good wishes from Linda Jamison, Ala.; Kathy Peterson, Mo, with info from my old Alma mater, my sister, Mary with a nice card, Susan Shepard,Kansas, Joann Bayone ,Washington. and from far away Australia, a post card from Colleen Eskridge. Most of these ladies are internet friends of Cathi's which makes this very special.

Thanks to all who continue to pray and know that I miss you all and hold you all deep in my heart.

Have a good week. Hope it is one filled with love and laughter.

I am beginning to look more like Dad

Well, I have had my ups and downs. Today is a better day than yesterday. Monday was a good day I ate well. Then Tuesday came and I spent the day running to the bathroom. So, I am still not sure how this will work. Seems that each round of chemo may be harder to come back from at least the first 4 of the AC which are very toxic to the sytem.

My friend, and the gal who cuts my hair, Linda, came by on Monday to shave my head. The hair was falling into my mouth and into my food and getting knotted up...so off it went.

I got on the Internet today for the first time in awhile with Cathi and the girls in Ireland. They wanted to see my bald head so I showed them. Aine, 5, the oldest said it looked like a grandpa head. The youngest just stared and run away and came back and forth to demand I take my hat off and show her my bald head.

They are of course the delight of my life. I will post some pics of them along with my bald head and a pic of our half inch snow fall we were greeted with Tuesday morning. I am very unhappy with the weather. I think we are amongst the coldest places in America right now. It was 14 on Saturday morning....14!!!!

I just have to hang in there and try to weather this storm. I am hoping it all goes quickly. I can't wait to be finished with chemo!!!

I hope you have a warm week. We are still looking for Spring to arrive here. If you see it, send it our way.

Thanks to those who are sending cards. They mean a lot to me. Cathi, my daughter, has friends from all over sending cards. This week I have had cards from England , South Africa, and Holland. Keep the prayers coming. Will write again in a few days.

Scary Hairy

Well, this week was not so good. I had a harder time getting through the effects of chemo. It is Saturday and I am just starting to turn the corner I think. Really felt punk all week. Hair is looking scary. I have lots of hats and will have the head shaved shortly but it is still a shock. The AC treatment is really rough. I hope they come up with new treatments that can just focus on the cancer cells and leave the healthy cells alone. Hopefully, in my life time this will be a reality. I hope to be able to put more links on this blog in the future plus add some other things going on here in Bend. Keep the prayers coming. Keep the cards coming. And when I am up to it I hope to see some of you for a visit.

Hair is falling on my sofa

Hi,

Well the 2nd chemo has passed. And almost on schedule, the hair is falling in greater numbers. I n the shower, on the pillow, in my mouth. Ugh.

Bobby made it to the west coast and back. Cathi is back into her routine in Ireland and I am back itno my routine of docs, ports, shots. etc. A small but necessary world. Not many new cards but calls this week from lots of Marylanders, Jeanne, Lucille, KP (StLouis), Jean (Maryland). So it was good go hear from you or in some cases made a birthday call ....when I still remember though it may be days away from the actual event.

I took Cathi's Raggedy Ann angel doll to chemo this week took Nancy's little pink breast cancer doll last week. Each week it will be another doll or angel sent by someone. I asked permission to bring a camera last week. They said okay if I just aimed at my self....not the others in the room so I will do that.

Weather is cool again....even snow flurries ugh....

I am hoping to rest more this time around. I am still not a great sleeper but hope to rest at least .

I will try to show you some of the things folks sent later in the post. Still making it do what I want the post to do so hang in there with me. This is a model of one of the chemo hats Cathi made with Aine (5) as the model.

Hope you have a good week. Will write more later this week.

Easy as Sunday morning

I think that title is the name of an old 60s or 70s song. I hear songs in my head all the time. I love to sing and think I remember the words to songs easily. Ask me about other things I should remember ....like your name....well, that is another issue. Chemo brain I hear is a real thing so don't be offended if I do not remember your name or respond to an email in a timely fashion.

Went to church today. I will try to make it on days that I feel well. Today is a good day and the weather is glorious. We sat next to a nun who left the parish to retire (at 76). She was back for a visit. She was in our bible study group and is a very good person and fun to be with actually. Nuns these days are not like the ones who taught us in the 50s. These nuns drink and sometimes cuss and are surely in tune with the world. I salute those ladies who are still out there every day doing God's work in a very difficult time. Sr. Mary Perkins, if you read this I am very happy to call you friend and hope you continue your good work in Illinois. God Bless You.

I hope that you are having a good Sunday. Thanks to those who have written me today (emails)

I am heading into the 2ND chemo session in good spirits. I will write more during the week. I will try to add some links soon ( I am still learning how to do this blog thing). Happy Spring!!!

A bit of history

Well, I guess most of you who have been reading this blog know the history. I moved from the east coast in August of 2006. Waited til the fall of 2007 to see a doc here for check up. Many tests were done including a mammogram ( I was past due). They saw something they were concerned about. They sent back east for old films of last mammogram ( 2005). They compared it said yes we have a problem. Called me I went for ultrasound, then got a referral to breast surgeon and the rest is history. Biopsy showed cancer. The MRI and Ultra sound confirmed it. The MRI saw two nodes involved. When they went in for the lumpectomy they saw more cancer than they had thought ( they were thinking 2 cm.). They also found 7 of 23 lymph nodes involved. It was early Stage 3 cancer. I was in shock for a good long while. Eventually, I came around and I educated myself on the whole subject of breast cancer. I knew I had a battle in front of me. One I fully expect to win but a battle none the less. I had a mastectomy of the left breast in February 2008. Spent another 3 weeks or so healing. Chemo started on the 31st of March. I had a rough first week after chemo, but the second week has been a better. I am almost feeling "normal" again. They took some blood levels on Wednesday and all were in normal range so it will be a go for the 2nd Chemo session on Monday, the 14th of April. I am not looking forward to it but know it has to happen for my healing to take place. I will pack my bag for chemo tomorrow with teddy bears, angels, a book, an ipod, some mints etc.

The Journey begins

I am starting my journey with cancer. I have had two surgeries and I am now in the chemo treatment phase. I will use this blog to share with you some things that happen along the way.

The many cards I have received have been overwhelming. Cathi , my daughter, was here this week from Ireland and helped me organize all these cards!

Thank you all so much for your prayers and thoughtfulness.