Hello people and yes, it is damn cold here. These -18 below zero temps definitely test your nerve and how far can your body drop before you yell I'M FROZEN!
But even more fun is the friggin wind chill which seems stuck at -35 degrees. Definitely need to cover up the skin when going outside. Now to make things really interesting, we are also in a - get ready for this - a flood warning!
I know sounds crazy but all this ice build up, pushes water and ice about and man, when it finds a waterway, it moves swiftly and crashes over banks, etc. Great fun.
And how is your weather -- I'm so looking forward to Florida in April.
Okay, as of December 2nd I was done with Chemo, that was my last treatment and although my doctor does not like the term "remission,"he was okay with "disease free at this time." So I am disease free or in my book, in remission!
Then I took December off before I began radiation treatments. The photo on the right is the linear accelerator where I lay every damn day, 5-days a week for 6 weeks. It's painless but just a drag having to go in each day. This is like insurance, as this targets the boob and gets any cancer cell chemo may have missed due to surgery. This all began on Jan 7th, after a simulation scan and set up process, where they measure, poke and eventually tattoo you to get the correct spots. Ya, after all these years, I finally got a tattoo, make that three, but there tiny little dots and no, you can't see them - ever!
I'm also on a hormone pill for the next five years and guess what, I get to do menopause again. Hell, I didn't like it the first time around, so this is just thrilling! So far the pill is not causing any major issues other than a slight constipation problem but I'm taking a vegetable laxative to solve that issue (ya more info than you needed, huh?).
My next big challenge was to get the port removed. I was under the impression this would be done, much like the insertion, in the hospital with me in a lovely twilight sleep. NOT! Seems this would be done in the doctor's office! I was as nervous as a porcupine in a balloon shop!
I was given an anti-anxiety pill, used lidocaine to numb the area so I would not feel the needle and the doctor would use that needle to numb the area around the incision, then cut along it, probe around and pull out not only the port but the tube. He would stitch me up (I'll be back in a week to have them removed) and advised using an ice pack and taking either Tylenol or ibuprofen for pain. For all my worries and freaking out (I was all for giving me a script for a case of beer), this was quite painless and was over in 30 minutes. Yes, I am sore but its the damn dressing that is itchy and annoying. After my workout this morning, I shall remove this crap, have a shower and apply a huge band aid and call it a day. I did come home and sleep tho and I suspect I will sleep again today -- a few restless nights worrying about this demands rest now.
Now if you want to bake and have things look like the photos, engage a 3 year old and things will look lovely. Clint just loves to bake and we have a good time. Of course, once its over, and baking, he is ready for a tubby (bath) and then, why he's ready to test his cupcakes. He is something else -- busy and fun.
So folks, I am doing fine and Feb 15 will be the end of radiation and then, it's follow up appointments which won't be too bad, usually 3 or 4 months in-between. At the moment I am so looking forward to heading to Florida and warm weather, seeing my sister and my Nam buddy and her friend and just relaxing totally. My biggest concern, which is silly is how in the hell a toque will look in Florida? You see I did lose my hair and regardless of what people claim, bald is not beautiful. However mine is starting to come back and while some claim its blonde, others say black and some say white, I say its hair who the hell cares.
So you all have a lovely day and I'll try to do better about updating this blog. I'm really into Facebook these days but hey, I can do both..chemo brain will allow that, I think. Keep smiling
