Hi
Just painted my nails for the first time since last August!! I am losing my nails because of the chemo - and it looks like I have fake ones on and they are in need of a fill!! Oh well - they are red and in need of a fill!! lol
Just 9 more radiation treatments - 4 of the same and then 5 of a boost to the scar area - so I am getting there. Blistering a bit under the arm and pretty red - but not too much discomfort so far. I am driving myself to treatment every day, so happy I am able to do that.
I am very excited this week because I see fuzz!!! Yes, fuzz is appearing on my scalp and so I am hoping that my hair has now decided to come back. I was worried for a while, because there has been nothing for weeks other than the bits that didn`t fall out. Still waiting for my eyebrows to fill in and my eyelashes - they are pretty sparse. However, I am grateful that they didn`t fall out completely.
It has been a long journey when I think back - I feel like a bear, hibernating for the winter - and now that it is Spring, I am ready to come back to life; however - difficult to wear my clothes because I am unable to wear my bra because the radiated area is tender and the bra just `rubs`and I don`t want to irritate the area more than necessary. So my clothing doesn`t look right and shopping for clothes is just a waste of time. Another month or so and I should be close to healed and ready to face the world.
Wish the weather would warm up - can`t wait to sit on the deck and read and enjoy the garden - to be honest I haven`t really been out in the back garden yet - usually I have checked out the `back forty`before now, pulling the dead stuff from last year - energy isn`t quite there yet.
Hope everyone has a great week - can`t believe we are in May tomorrow.
Well - watching Dancing with the Stars, and so ready to sign off.
J
Monday, 30 April 2012
Sunday, 22 April 2012
It's the weekend!
Friday
Just having my coffee and preparing for my visit to the hospital - yeah, last one for the week, I get two days off just like everyone else!! (Sat and Sun)!!
As I was lying on the table yesterday listening to the music - yes they play music while you are being tortured - anyway, I was enjoying Johnny Cash - Burning Ring of Fire...... let it burn, burn, burn etc. and I thought how ironic it was that I was being burned with radiation in that very moment - I laughed to myself and when I mentioned it to the technicians they were mortified and thought perhaps that was not an appropriate song to play during this process!! I told them not to bother changing it - it was my favourite CD (they have a collection of different tunes) - I figured no-one but me would think about that song in that way. Anyway - thought I would share that little bit of a funny story. One has to entertain oneself while lying very still for those 10 minutes or so.
Friend picking me up today to take me to my appointment and then we are going shopping. Should be fun - nice to get out of the house and the sun is shining - bonus.:
Sunday evening
Busy weekend - wedding shower yesterday and spent the day with my daughter today - so must be feeling better.
I noticed today that the radiated area is now starting to blister up a bit - first time I have looked at it with my glasses on I think - 15 more sessions to go, so imagining the worst - it might look a mess before I am done, however, we shall wait and see. They told me to do a saline soak - warm washcloth soaked in salted water and laid over the chest - a few times a day. I shall be lucky to get it done once a day - but will try, if it helps.
Left arm is more swollen than it was - hurts and is heavy - so bothering me quite a bit. Therapist coming tomorrow for massage and to take the measurements for a compression sleeve - perhaps that will ease things for me.
Hair hasn't started to grow back yet - getting worried - perhaps I am rushing things. Some of the hair that didn't fall out is growing, but it is quite sparse on the top. Everyone tells me it will come back, but I think I am getting impatient.
Well - will sign off for now. Wishing all a great week ahead.
J
Just having my coffee and preparing for my visit to the hospital - yeah, last one for the week, I get two days off just like everyone else!! (Sat and Sun)!!
As I was lying on the table yesterday listening to the music - yes they play music while you are being tortured - anyway, I was enjoying Johnny Cash - Burning Ring of Fire...... let it burn, burn, burn etc. and I thought how ironic it was that I was being burned with radiation in that very moment - I laughed to myself and when I mentioned it to the technicians they were mortified and thought perhaps that was not an appropriate song to play during this process!! I told them not to bother changing it - it was my favourite CD (they have a collection of different tunes) - I figured no-one but me would think about that song in that way. Anyway - thought I would share that little bit of a funny story. One has to entertain oneself while lying very still for those 10 minutes or so.
Friend picking me up today to take me to my appointment and then we are going shopping. Should be fun - nice to get out of the house and the sun is shining - bonus.:
Sunday evening
Busy weekend - wedding shower yesterday and spent the day with my daughter today - so must be feeling better.
I noticed today that the radiated area is now starting to blister up a bit - first time I have looked at it with my glasses on I think - 15 more sessions to go, so imagining the worst - it might look a mess before I am done, however, we shall wait and see. They told me to do a saline soak - warm washcloth soaked in salted water and laid over the chest - a few times a day. I shall be lucky to get it done once a day - but will try, if it helps.
Left arm is more swollen than it was - hurts and is heavy - so bothering me quite a bit. Therapist coming tomorrow for massage and to take the measurements for a compression sleeve - perhaps that will ease things for me.
Hair hasn't started to grow back yet - getting worried - perhaps I am rushing things. Some of the hair that didn't fall out is growing, but it is quite sparse on the top. Everyone tells me it will come back, but I think I am getting impatient.
Well - will sign off for now. Wishing all a great week ahead.
J
Monday, 16 April 2012
Radiation update
Thought I would update you on how the rad. therapy is going. It is a pain going every day, but each day is one less to go - the therapist reminded me today that I am almost half way through. I am feeling no real discomfort yet - it is starting to get a little 'pink' and they target quite a large area - so under my arm, more to the side, is starting to get a little tender and tightens up at night - but I can't really complain. My stamina is still not what it should be and she keeps telling me to take it easy, that they are tiring me out - so I shouldn't be so hard on myself. I was late for my appointment today - thought it was 2:40 and when I checked it was 12:40 - so I had to call and apologize and then rush to get there as soon as I could. They are very easy going though I must say. A student was there this morning as well as the usual team - so I always warn the new people ahead of time before I take my wig off - don't want to scare them! I usually take it off when on the table because my head wiggles around until we get it into the right spot and I don't want it to become radioactive (just kidding)!!!
I usually sit in the waiting room for a few minutes afterwards just to pull myself together, I get a bit dizzy getting up from the table and so today, I picked up some of the knitting they have in the waiting room. They are looking for knitted panels - 10" wide and 40" long to make blankets for the chemo patients - a lot of patients feel cold - I know I did - so if you are a knitter and have spare wool - then get cracking and I will drop them off!!
I usually sit in the waiting room for a few minutes afterwards just to pull myself together, I get a bit dizzy getting up from the table and so today, I picked up some of the knitting they have in the waiting room. They are looking for knitted panels - 10" wide and 40" long to make blankets for the chemo patients - a lot of patients feel cold - I know I did - so if you are a knitter and have spare wool - then get cracking and I will drop them off!!
I drove downtown and spent the day with my daughter yesterday - so that was good. We went for lunch to our favourite French pastry place in the east end - sat outside (the heaters were on) - but it felt like Spring and was really good to get out and about. We did a little shopping in the Beaches and then she dragged me to Gerard Square - I managed the Winners quite well but was not prepared to walk around the mall - so I didn't - I sat while she shopped. Nicole had to pick up baby gifts for someone at her company who had just had a baby girl. So I was quite happy to sit and let her do the shopping.
Bought some pansies for the front of the house - now getting them planted is another thing - but nice to see some colour. I love this time of the year.
I brought Greek food home for supper so didn't have to cook when I got in and that was a good thing because I was tired.
So things are starting to look up - I can see the end in sight and hopefully this will be the last of it. They tell me that the last few radiation treatments are the worst and even a couple of weeks after - that you are very tired and can have some discomfort because that radiation - it just keeps going - like the energizer bunny!!!
So everyone - thanks for your prayers and support - keep it coming and before you know it I will be as good as new!!
Jeaninne
Jeaninne
Thursday, 5 April 2012
Very sad day
I lost a friend last night. She lost her battle with this dreaded disease after a valiant fight. She was too young and beautiful and it is very difficult for me to comprehend that she is gone.
We planned on getting together recently .... when I got my energy back, or when she wasn't going to radiation - it just didn't happen as we had hoped and I am so sad we were not able to sit down and have tea together.
Angela was ahead of me in her treatment - we had lunch a couple of times while she was going through her chemotherapy (on a good week of course) and she prepared me for what to expect when my time came. She didn't dwell on the rough spots - just very matter of fact about the treatment. She prepared me for the pic line in the arm for the chemo - and she prepared me for shaving my head when the hair started to fall out. She very proudly showed off her bald head and looked beautiful. We laughed, prayed and hugged and had such hope between us.
I learned that she had been admitted to the hospital on Monday of this week and I knew I had to see her. I hope I wasn't intruding when I visited her hospital room. I was able to hold her hand for a few seconds and told her I loved her, and she said 'I love you too'. I had no idea the end was so close.
My battle continues and I will remain positive and fight on on her behalf.
Angela was very much loved and will be remembered always. My sincere condolences go to her family and friends.
Jeaninne
We planned on getting together recently .... when I got my energy back, or when she wasn't going to radiation - it just didn't happen as we had hoped and I am so sad we were not able to sit down and have tea together.
Angela was ahead of me in her treatment - we had lunch a couple of times while she was going through her chemotherapy (on a good week of course) and she prepared me for what to expect when my time came. She didn't dwell on the rough spots - just very matter of fact about the treatment. She prepared me for the pic line in the arm for the chemo - and she prepared me for shaving my head when the hair started to fall out. She very proudly showed off her bald head and looked beautiful. We laughed, prayed and hugged and had such hope between us.
I learned that she had been admitted to the hospital on Monday of this week and I knew I had to see her. I hope I wasn't intruding when I visited her hospital room. I was able to hold her hand for a few seconds and told her I loved her, and she said 'I love you too'. I had no idea the end was so close.
My battle continues and I will remain positive and fight on on her behalf.
Angela was very much loved and will be remembered always. My sincere condolences go to her family and friends.
Jeaninne
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
It is Tuesday morning - lovely day outside - sun is shining at least, but not sure what the temperature is.
I am feeling so much better than I did - welcoming each improvement. I am more my old self - much to George's delight!!! (Delight might be a bit of a stretch - but you know what I mean)!!
Radiation is going ok so far - it only only lasts about 15-20 mins and that includes making sure I am set up in the same spot each time - it has been in the same room, with the same technicians - so it is becoming a routine. 4 down, 26 to go!! They are usually quite prompt and so not much waiting around. Appointments are all over the place though - today's is at 5:10! I will probably be the last patient, so they had better not be too tired!! lol. I met a few people yesterday and it is interesting chatting with them and learning their stories - much similar to my own. I know the radiated spot is going to get burned, but for now, no outward signs. The lady I spoke with yesterday was saying that it heals and you get through it. Not looking forward to it, plus the fatigue that everyone says happens - but I am talking weeks now and not months, all being well. At the moment I can drive myself, so that is good - it is a fair walk for me from the parking garage and so I have to rest in between, but it is good for me to do the walking.
I mostly have my appetite back now and so can enjoy eating again. There are still a few things I can't get excited about, but at least I am eating and drinking. I am even enjoying a small glass of wine and I couldn't stand the smell just a couple of weeks ago.
Jason came to the house and worked on my arm yesterday - nice gentle massage to try and reduce the lymphatic fluid - he measured the arm before and after and the numbers did come down. The arm is bothersome - I am best to keep busy then I don't dwell on it - but it is a bit painful at times - the fingertips are numb - not sure if that is from the swelling or the chemo - probably a bit of both. (But as you can see I can still type!!!)
Hope you are all enjoying the fact that winter is over, I know it has been a little cooler, but the warm weather will come and we will be complaining about the heat before we know it!! I can't wait!!
Talk to you soon.
Love Jeaninne
I am feeling so much better than I did - welcoming each improvement. I am more my old self - much to George's delight!!! (Delight might be a bit of a stretch - but you know what I mean)!!
Radiation is going ok so far - it only only lasts about 15-20 mins and that includes making sure I am set up in the same spot each time - it has been in the same room, with the same technicians - so it is becoming a routine. 4 down, 26 to go!! They are usually quite prompt and so not much waiting around. Appointments are all over the place though - today's is at 5:10! I will probably be the last patient, so they had better not be too tired!! lol. I met a few people yesterday and it is interesting chatting with them and learning their stories - much similar to my own. I know the radiated spot is going to get burned, but for now, no outward signs. The lady I spoke with yesterday was saying that it heals and you get through it. Not looking forward to it, plus the fatigue that everyone says happens - but I am talking weeks now and not months, all being well. At the moment I can drive myself, so that is good - it is a fair walk for me from the parking garage and so I have to rest in between, but it is good for me to do the walking.
I mostly have my appetite back now and so can enjoy eating again. There are still a few things I can't get excited about, but at least I am eating and drinking. I am even enjoying a small glass of wine and I couldn't stand the smell just a couple of weeks ago.
Jason came to the house and worked on my arm yesterday - nice gentle massage to try and reduce the lymphatic fluid - he measured the arm before and after and the numbers did come down. The arm is bothersome - I am best to keep busy then I don't dwell on it - but it is a bit painful at times - the fingertips are numb - not sure if that is from the swelling or the chemo - probably a bit of both. (But as you can see I can still type!!!)
Hope you are all enjoying the fact that winter is over, I know it has been a little cooler, but the warm weather will come and we will be complaining about the heat before we know it!! I can't wait!!
Talk to you soon.
Love Jeaninne
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