YaaaaaaYhoooooooooooo! I finished my last chemo yesterday, now I just have a week for feeling miserable from this stuff one last time, and hopefully it won't happen again! Anyway knowing that this step is over at last, will make it go quicker and part of me will be shining through and maybe not feeling so bad.
I do have some residual effects going on like the nerve pain called neuropathy. My lower legs, feet, and my fingers are numb most of the time now and feel at times like someone is sticking me with tiny little needles at the most inopportune times. This too will go away. I try to walk, and squeeze a rubber ball to combat it which sometimes works and sometimes does not work. My fingernails have stripes on them going across the nail and they have thinned alot, and are very tender. My toenails are ugly but they were before anyway. Hey they didn't fall off! Yippie!
I also have some weird memory problems, like forgetting what I am doing, or saying in the middle of a sentence. I use to multitask quite well and now I can't but I am told this will not last forever a year at the most.
Then there is the fear of wondering if this will manifest it's ugly face again in the same, or other part of my body. I try to think positive, but know I have to be aware of changes in my body and get regular check ups which is not one of my strong points. I never went to doctors before this, I ministered myself and this is where I landed. I don't want this fear to take over but believe me it has a mind of it's own and is always there pecking and nagging me. As I said before, it is not the fear of dying but more of the fear of what I would have to go through. It sort of chips away at your spirit being pumped full of drugs, changing your usual way of life, and all the other crap you go through. Not to mention the look in my precious children and grandchildren and my pets who still need me. Of course I know all my relatives love and want me around but they don't need me. So all of this wrapped into a big ball causes the fear.
In a week or two I get to start radiation that will bring me to the New Year. It is scary to me to know that I will first be tattooed, manipulated into impossible positions, and get a beam of radiation to whatever parts necessarily. I asked the reason for this and was told that it will get the stragglers. The tiny cancer seeds that don't die or escape that I undoubtedly have because I have an aggressive metastatic brand of cancer. So if I wish to continue on with body parts that I don't want to loose I will do this. It will make me tired, and all of the stuff I have heard is very rare. Tiredness is the top complaint, burning on sensitive skin that has never seen the sun is another. So OK I can do this! The whole process of this daily activity will take about 15 minutes total, from undress to treatment to re dress and out the door. It will me a mild inconvenience to have to go everyday but at least it is really just a short drive down the street.
I was told that I will have to keep my port in place for about a year. The infusion center is happy about that, because then they get to see me once a month for flushing the port. Ha ha didn't know I was so loved. They are a really great group of professionals and they liked me because I didn't sit there and whine. I yelled once but with good reason lol. I like to ride the wave of benadryl they give me rather than sleep it off. Yesterday they got me though, my daughter didn't go with me this time and they gave me 50mgs of benadryl instead of the usual 25 - 35 mg and it finally got me and I hope I didn't snore.
Well that's it for now, keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Hope I could help some of you who may be going through this. Oh yes I almost forgot my hair is growing! My Onc Dr. McDreamy Funnyman said it will start growing really fast now that chemo is done. Wonder if he just said that to uplift my spirit?
Friday, September 26, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Update on stuff
Sorry I haven't posted in a while for those interested. I haven't had a big presence on the Internet lately including my groups.
I am tired! just not feeling the love of Internet right now, in part because I feel like I am really fighting within right now with this monster and in part because I am just plain tired from all the chemo. This too shall pass. I am not down in spirit just blah.
Had some bad news of late. My daughter in law's father has received news that he has terminal lung and liver cancer. They offered him treatment that would extend his life for 12 to 18 months, the other option is that he do nothing and has 3 to 6 months. He chooses to do nothing. I have to respect his individual decision, however it angers me that a person will not at least try to live. But as I said it is his decision. Hospice arrived at his house last Friday and set up so I think he will not be with us long. Sad for my daughter in law and her children and of course her Mother so I pray for their peace.
Second my Mother In Law passed away last Sunday morning. She was 96 yrs old. By the time I got to her, one hour later to say goodbye she was already gone. She was a good woman, always taking care of others and will be sadly missed by all of her family. She passed of old age, she had osteoporosis and degenerative disc and spine disease that became infected and infiltrated her kidneys she was in great pain for two weeks. I am glad she no longer suffers. She was cremated today and shipped to Jamestown NY her home town.
Lastly a long time acquaintance of mine who also had breast cancer passed this past weekend. She leaves behind her son, age 25 and her daughter, age 23. Judy was a strong woman, courageous, and very down to earth. I met her in 1990 when she came to work at WalMart. Her husband passed away that Christmas, and we became friends. Four years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was devastated but decided to fight for her life. Her cancer was removed and she went through treatment and it metastasized to her ovaries, which were promptly removed along with all the other parts, then it spread to her bones, liver and etc. She undergone various treatment each time loosing hair, teeth, weight, gaining weight all the stuff that happens. I am angry that her last day on earth was spent working at friggin WalMart! but I am glad she no longer suffers. Rest in peace girlfriend.
So if you all want to pray for all of these souls and their families you would be doing me a great service because I can use all the help I can get. I don't care what religion, color, orientation etc you are, I am sure that God listens to us all.
I am tired! just not feeling the love of Internet right now, in part because I feel like I am really fighting within right now with this monster and in part because I am just plain tired from all the chemo. This too shall pass. I am not down in spirit just blah.
Had some bad news of late. My daughter in law's father has received news that he has terminal lung and liver cancer. They offered him treatment that would extend his life for 12 to 18 months, the other option is that he do nothing and has 3 to 6 months. He chooses to do nothing. I have to respect his individual decision, however it angers me that a person will not at least try to live. But as I said it is his decision. Hospice arrived at his house last Friday and set up so I think he will not be with us long. Sad for my daughter in law and her children and of course her Mother so I pray for their peace.
Second my Mother In Law passed away last Sunday morning. She was 96 yrs old. By the time I got to her, one hour later to say goodbye she was already gone. She was a good woman, always taking care of others and will be sadly missed by all of her family. She passed of old age, she had osteoporosis and degenerative disc and spine disease that became infected and infiltrated her kidneys she was in great pain for two weeks. I am glad she no longer suffers. She was cremated today and shipped to Jamestown NY her home town.
Lastly a long time acquaintance of mine who also had breast cancer passed this past weekend. She leaves behind her son, age 25 and her daughter, age 23. Judy was a strong woman, courageous, and very down to earth. I met her in 1990 when she came to work at WalMart. Her husband passed away that Christmas, and we became friends. Four years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was devastated but decided to fight for her life. Her cancer was removed and she went through treatment and it metastasized to her ovaries, which were promptly removed along with all the other parts, then it spread to her bones, liver and etc. She undergone various treatment each time loosing hair, teeth, weight, gaining weight all the stuff that happens. I am angry that her last day on earth was spent working at friggin WalMart! but I am glad she no longer suffers. Rest in peace girlfriend.
So if you all want to pray for all of these souls and their families you would be doing me a great service because I can use all the help I can get. I don't care what religion, color, orientation etc you are, I am sure that God listens to us all.
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