I see that I've been letting friends on Facebook know how the cancer battle goes, but haven't filled in Blogger friends for some time.
The good news is that I've finished chemotherapy. I didn't have the awful time of it that many others do, but still it's definitely not fun. I absolutely despised the bad taste in the mouth, the painful mouth, the "chemo brain" that made me feel like I only had half a brain, the draining fatigue, my dying fingernails, and the occasional nausea and vomiting. Nearly all of that is gone except for the fatigue and the yucky fingernail thing.
One VERY annoying side effect for the past month has been watery eyes. When I try to read, it looks like the words are doing the breast stroke across the page. I can't even see the players well at our basketball games. I'll be overjoyed when this is gone.
However, radiation is going well. It actually takes longer to undress, put on the gown, and then get dressed again than it does to have the treatment. After having 4 dots tattooed on my chest and sides, I fail to see why anyone would elect to have a tattoo. Ouch! The treatment itself is painless, nothing touches me except the tech who positions me on the table, and I'm back out of there in minutes.
It's so nice to begin to feel like myself again. As the drugs leave my system, I can think and I don't sort of space out every once in a while. I can figure things out. It's great. Now to get my physical strength back. I'm tired of being weak and judging whether I can walk far enough to go into a store with Dave. I'm tired of having him doing things for me; I actually want to go grocery shopping for myself! As much as I've always hated grocery shopping, this is a big thing. :)
I won't be done by the end of the year but it will be close. Then I'm planning for a happy, healthy 2013 as a cancer survivor.
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It sounds like you're progressing well!! I'm so glad to hear the good news!
ReplyDeleteIf this was on Facebook, I'd 'like' this post! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that your treatment is going well and that 2013 looks like a better for you. All the very best.
Yay, sounds like the best New Year's resolution ever!!!
ReplyDeleteCancer survivor! Those are beautiful words and a worthy goal! I am a cancer survivor myself. 23 years now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update and continued prayers for you!
I'm so glad to read this - I've been wondering how you are! And I'm so pleased you're beginning to feel like your self again.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely about the radiotherapy (I didn't have chemo)- it took me three hours travelling (to the hospital and back) for just a few minutes of painless treatment. And yes, the tattoos did hurt just as much as I thought they would. I wince each time I see anyone with tattoos - how could they!
But I did find by the end of the treatment that I had very little energy and it took months for me to get back to normal, so take care of yourself - my Dave was a great help and it sounds as though your Dave is too.
Thanks for your comments and good thoughts. It's people like you who have kept me cheerful and positive (well, most of the time). Normal life in just a few months sounds heavenly.
ReplyDeleteOh Barbara, thank you for updating us. I am glad to see you post and that you are doing fairly well. Take care.
ReplyDeleteGlad you've got the chemo out of the way. My friend Annette had breast cancer last year and has just been given the all clear, but she found the chemo very draining. Hope the worst part is now over for you and your 2013 is much, much better x
ReplyDeleteMeant to say, If you want to send me your Facebook details my page is at http://www.facebook.com/bee.jackson.18
ReplyDelete