3 weeks post chemo....so far so good!

It's been 3 weeks since my last chemo and I can report I am starting to feel better.  It's hard for me to believe that in 1 more week all of the chemo will be out of my system.  I know that I am hoping for this electric type shock that zaps me back into a normal pre-cancerous body.....but I know that won't happen, but I can at least wish for it!

I get more hair growth each day...sure it's only less than a mm at a time....but it's growing.  It really needs to fill in the bald spots on top....they are a bit choppy and it looks like I had ringworm in those spots...yuck!  But my sideburns are coming to the tops of my ears, and I can almost comb them....yes I said COMB them!  I have gone without scarves and hats a few times but with my glasses on I look like the singer Moby and I decided to wait for a bit more hair growth. 

So if you are just starting the process of a breast cancer diagnosis...please read this blog.  It really does get better...you CAN make it, and you WILL laugh and cry about yourself along the way.  On August 9th I will see both my plastic surgeon and my cancer doctor to see what is next for me.  I will probably schedule my breast implant surgery in the next few weeks, and the oncologist will let me know if I am good for another 3 months or not.  I am hoping I am!!  Then I am going to go get a pedicure cuz my feet are nasty!

My Life so far....without chemo

Well it hasn't quite been 2 weeks since I finished chemo.....my last one was July 5th, but I am noticing some improvement in some areas and then kind of  "withdrawl" like symptoms in other areas.  Who knew you could become addicted to chemo right???  That's why it's called a "drug" :)      My headaches have remarkably improved and I don't feel quite as yucky as I use to.  I still have the bad fatigue and muscle weakness, but hopefully that will get better with time.  I am still walking like an 80 year old woman!  No I take that back, 80 year olds walk faster than me!! LOL    I read that the recovery time takes about as long as the treatment time....so as I figure the time from diagnosis to end of treatment, that is 7 months.  So by next year I should be feeling better.  I am not a patient person so that seems endless, but at least I am not on chemo!!  I do get my surgery here in a few more weeks to take out the expander in my right breast and put in the implant. I can't wait to have NEW boobs!!!  Finally a perk (no pun intended)!

Ok, I promised a pic of myself at some point.  Here is my new hair growth.  Am I a true blonde??  (I think it's the light reflecting off the white/gray hairs.)

They let me FINISH chemo as of yesterday....!

I had 9 treatments total, and because I am feeling some numbness in my left hand (and I fell out of Mike's truck because I could not hold onto the handle with my numb hand....bruised A$$!) the doctor decided to stop my treatment yesterday and told me I am finished....just like that.  I was elated and frightened at the same time.  Elated cuz let's face it....NO MORE CHEMO.  But frightened and anxious because I only completed 9 treatments...we were suppose to do 12.....did we get it all??????  But the doctor tried to reassure me that 8 -12 treatments is what they consider a "full dose" so I am well within the limits to stop.  Plus I don't want a numb left hand for the rest of my life.  My typing would take a huge nose-dive.

Thank you to my friend Karen for driving me...we had a great time.  She reminded me of some of the stupid things I did when I was younger. I, of course did not remember some of them and had to laugh cuz I really was a little shit at times!!   

"Lash" Worthy.......

Since I barely have an eyelash on each eye, I have been using false eyelashes....cuz let's face it, Laurie without eyelashes is a little creepy!!  Not stylish at all!  But the false eyelashes are getting to be expensive.  I have been re-using them (by soaking them in eye make-up remover....yes, you are welcome for that little money saving tid-bit) but using them a 2nd or 3rd time even, I start to look like Tammy Faye, and I just don't want that.  So I have to make decisions on whether or not an event I am going to is "lash" worthy..which means putting on a pair of NEW false eyelashes so that I can look FABULOUS!  As far as work goes, while I love everyone there, it's just not lash worthy....my co-workers and my family have seen me at my worst so they could care less if I have eyelashes or not.  Going to the grocery store, not lash worthy since I don't have the wardrobe to support it (I wear sweats and a t-shirt to the grocery store). So I mainly save my lashes for holidays and special evening outings and of course shopping and chemo....cuz you never know who you are going to run into!!  Yes I wear my falseys to chemo.....if I look fabulous I feel fabulous...that is the key to getting through this whole thing!!!!

Taxol Chemo - Round 9

Only 3 more chemos to go!!  I am so excited.  I can see light at the end of the tunnel and I am starting to make PLANS again!!  That's a great feeling.  As I reflect on the past few months there have been some really bad days and some not so bad days and some pretty good days.  So I feel like it's been a long haul, but not a bad one.  Please find that as encouragement for anyone else just starting this journey...you can make it and be ok.  It gets really old at times...but you can do it!!

I am very anxious to get my strength and stamina back. I literally come up from downstairs in the basement and huff and puff dripping in sweat from carrying a laundry basket.....that is sooooo sad!  I have some MAJOR exercising to do if I am going to get back to a size that doesn't repulse me, so I certainly hope the complete fatigue gets better.  I am going to ask me doctor if he recommends any supplements.  He's a good drug pusher!! LOL -- just kidding!

A big thank you goes out to all my drivers that have taken me to chemo.  What a great help all of you are as I really don't think I can drive there and back by myself, especially not during this last chemo of Taxol....the Benadryl makes me too sleepy!  A big shout out goes to my mom and Al, Sandy Trampe, my hubby Mike, Dianna Haywood, my sister Christy Porter, Stacy Peden, Kristi Myers, Angie Klaver & Karen Hammers (who takes me next week and I cannot wait!!  too see her that is, not the chemo - I am not too excited about that, other than getting thru it!) 

Hope everyone had a safe 4th. I saw the fireworks and didn't swelter too badly. Hadley loved them!  Missing my son Palmer though, he will be home in less than a month!!  Yay!!

My hair is starting to grow back!

I have about 1 cm in hair growth....I know, I know....pretty soon I will look like a Beatle, maybe Ringo.....I can't wait to have hair back.  I know I will have to start with a pixy cut but I would love to quit wearing scarves, hats and wigs.  Especially since we have been having tropical, humid days this week....ughh!  The color of my hair is a white, gray, yellow, black.....like all my hair died and it's trying to come back to life....wait, that's EXACTLY what happened.  It still hasn't decided on a pigment yet, but I sure hope it doesn't choose gray!  Yikes!  I will have to spike it and get my hair colored brown and tips highlighted blonde....I will look like a dude...but I don't care!

Here is my baby at the pool....she's a cool bathing beauty!