Yikes -- I haven't updated this blog in a while!  Sorry - but consider "no news is good news".  I have completed my chemo treatments - Hip Hip Hooray!!  They went fairly smooth but I am glad to be done with that chapter.

I have started Radiation treatments, they are everyday Monday - Friday at noon.  It doesn't take very long once I am there, but I wish they weren't in the middle of the day.  They are going well so far -- I get "nap time" tired but not even sure if that's due to the radiation or just due to me liking naps :D.  There hasn't really been any "sunburn" feeling to speak of but I haven't had a full week yet (started on a wednesday....the following monday was a holiday) so we will see how that goes.  I have aloe in the fridge if necessary.

The sunflowers in my garden are growing faster than my hair, but I have noticed that I have a pretty good stubble going, and in the right light with a magnifying mirror I can see some eyelashes.  I can't wait until I have to use a comb!

Almost done -- Ready for a regular life.

I had my second to last treatment on the 3rd of this month.  There is a definite difference in my reaction to this chemo compared to the first medicine.  I do not have any nausea but the body aches are there.  The weekend after tends to be the worst with it lessening as the week progresses.  I would say that I feel this chemo in areas that I know have had injuries or arthritis.  The aches in those places are much worse than they used to be.  The bottoms of my feet feel like they're asleep all the time, hopefully this is a temporary reaction and the feeling will come back.  Overall, I feel pretty good and the affects are less than what I anticipated!... One more to go!!!!
I have decided that I am good enough to travel so I am headed to San Diego the day after my next treatment.....a celebration of sorts!

I have received many cards, emails, texts and words of encouragement as I go through this process and I appreciate all of you who have me in your thoughts and prayers.  One such card really touched me.  Our friend's 6th grade daughter, Isabel,  who is living my dream childhood, in the country, horses etc.. handed me a card the other day, as I was leaving her house.  Such a kind, thoughtful gesture from a sweet friend and I wanted to share it with her permission!

Thank you Isabel!!

My first treatment of Taxol was a loooong one.  I knew it would be longer than usual because they need to give it a little at a time to make sure there is no reaction to it.  I, however, managed to have one of my connectors in my IV come apart so part of my chemo went all over the floor, creating a little hazmat....ooops.  Chemo isn't premade.  They mix it up specifically for the patient at the time the patient arrives for treatment, so I had to get more specially made chemo - hence the delay.  I was at UCD Cancer Center from a little before 10am until 7:30pm....like I said...looooong time.  My reaction to the Chemo however has been pretty good.  I barely took the anti nausea meds, was off of them in about 2 days and didn't take nearly as much as with the first type of Chemo.  However, I was told I would have muscle aches at about the 3rd or 4th day after treatment, well, second day in my little finger and outer side of my right hand hurt like crazy.  I have some arthritis and can only say it was worse than when the weather changes.....ouch.  It seems to be getting better though and other than a little soreness -- which I don't know if it is from the treatments or from being a couch potato -- I am feeling pretty good.  I must say...I am beginning to miss hair -- heads get cold!!!  

Well, I am done with my 4 treatments of Adriamycin and halfway to done with Chemo!! Yay!  Next treatment will be my first of 4 treatments of Taxol.  I meet with my medical oncologist Dr. Christensen on Valentine's Day to go over how my past treatments were and what to expect with the next round.  I am hoping to get off some if not all of the other pills I take for nausea, we shall see.  This last round has gone fairly well so far, I am tired as usual but feeling OK.  Onward....

I had the third treatment last week.  I would have to say if there is a trick to feeling "OK", it would be to drink lots of water the day before and the day of treatment.  I have the usual heartburn and tummy issues but not nearly as bad as the couple of days after treatment 2 and that's all I can think of that's different.  I am a little more tired, I think, but not too bad.  One more of this kind of treatment and then I am 1) half way thru...Yay and 2) on to a different kind of chemo....which is suppose to not make me queasy so hopefully I don't have to take all these pills anymore.  Time is flying by...will be back to my normal self in no time!

My sister and daughters have started a team for The American Cancer Society Relay for Life.  Here is the link if you would like to join the team or would consider sponsoring!
https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=RFL_FY13_participant_center&fr_id=48882&pc2_view=report-team

Thanks!!