By request I am posting a history of my hair from the effects of chemotherapy. I decided not to post the original bald head because that was not a memory I would like to keep.
I was so surprised that my first hair growth came in grey! I was so happy to have hair, but the grey was really hard to get used to. Don’t be shocked at the picture. …
It was a surprise to me that chemotherapy has gifts that keep on giving…and giving…and giving! Did you know… …
I have meant to create this updated post for a couple of weeks, but I was in the midst of a heavy deadline in getting our latest magazine completed, so everything else was set aside. I praise God that I am gaining strength daily and am able to get into a work schedule again even though it is a modified one. I no longer have a need to nap during the day unless I don’t sleep well at night. If is so wonderful to feel strength coming back. Richard is taking me for walks up the mountain and even though I feel like I am going to die, pressing myself on to complete a goal has been very good for getting some muscle back. I still have nerve damage in my legs, so walking to gain muscle back is very important.
My brain still has a ways to go to get out from the fog leftover from chemotherapy. The lingering fog could last as along as a year, or sometimes longer, but I trust that my short term memory loss and my inability to remember words in conversation will continue to come back. One major change that I have noticed is that I can multi-task again which is something that was pretty much impossible during my six months of treatments. My hair is starting to grow back and I am pleased that I am getting some added warmth back to my head! My hair hasn’t grown very much yet, but it is getting thick as more hairs are coming in daily. I am not totally sure what colour it will be when it is grown out, and for now it is mostly light brown. Where did the red go that is my question! I do know that often hair can change drastically after chemo and the colour, texture or curl can be a big change when it grows back. I am waiting to see what colour it will finally be when I have a few inches of growth back.
My finger nails are growing back quite nicely after they all fell out from the chemo. It might not be too long before I can pick small things up or scratch myself. I never knew how much I would miss my finger nails! The toe nails are another matter. All ten of them also fell out but they are really slow at coming back. I am so thankful that I have no pain as I heard that losing one’s toe nails could be very painful.
I knew that this whole cancer journey was a roller coaster ride, but the last corner and last loop of this ride surprised and really blessed me. We are going for the cure again! Here is what happened…
It has been some time since I have given an update on my health, and since I just received the pathology report from my surgery, this is a good time to post. …
On January 24th my surgeon requested that I get a CT scan. He really did not want to take out my lymph nodes so he thought that if my lymph nodes showed up as the exact same size as they were in the original CT scan last August, he could do the mastectomy and not put me through the nerve pain and possible arm swelling. So I got a CT scan that was otherwise would not have been scheduled. Today I saw my doctor for a follow up and the CT scan could be a game changer. It showed two things. …
I finished my last chemotherapy and then spent most of the last week in bed sick from the chemo and exhaustion. My bones hurt a lot this time and my legs have been weak and giving out on me. The pink eye I had during the Christmas season came back in both eyes, just as my doctor said it would. When your body is put into a weakened state (this chemo has brought my immunity down to zero), any recent or long term infections and weaknesses can easily come back.
This cycle I also experienced the next set of side effects. …
My last chemo treatment went well today as I was medicated with steroids that kept away any adverse reactions. And…I got to ring the chemo bell announcing my last chemo treatment. But there is still the roller coaster ride that was unexpected.
My last chemo is this Thursday, January 16th, 2014. The tradition is that when you finish your last chemo, you get to ring the bell. I will be ringing the bell for good, God-willing.
My surgery is tentatively scheduled for February 11th. It will be a mastectomy. I am looking forward to getting back to normal!
With all of the side effects of chemotherapy, my view concerning one of the side effects has changed dramatically.
I have developed hand and foot syndrome from the docetaxel chemotherapy. At the beginning it was just painful with feet so enflamed and red on my heels that I could hardly walk, but then it became just plain ugly. From what I am reading, the peeling is a fairly rare symptom and even my own internist at the hospital had to look it up on the internet because he had apparently not seen it before. Once the red started to go down on my heels, here is a picture of how they started to peel. …
We were able to travel to the coast to see our children and grandchildren and that was a real treat. Unfortunately I did not get nearly enough time to spend with the family as I had chemotherapy the day before we left, and much of the week I spent in bed sleeping off the exhaustion. I thought it would be easier to handle, but being bed ridden at home is not the same as out like a light at my daughter’s house. I felt sad that I missed so much, yet really blessed to be with family during the time that I was awake.
Lately, I have been recouping at home as I came down with pink eye the day before we left to come home. My daughter Misty took really good care of me as it was nearly impossible to find a clinic open or one that would allow me to come in. They were filled with sick patients, which is a huge problem for a chemo patient with a compromised immune system. Misty contacted her doctor and he was able to get me the medicine I needed. I still feel tired, but I am slowly getting better. I just have to get rid of the pink eye so I can have my last chemo session next week Thursday. They won’t treat me if I am still infected.
Below is a picture of my daughter Misty who was a tremendous host and fantastic turkey soup maker! …