Do Something New
Mood:  chatty
Topic: July 2005
Well, today's entry isn't so much about cancer, treatments, blah, blah, but I suppose, it is sorta related.

Yesterday as I was sewing my first bathing suit, with excitement; I went downstairs to show DH (and for those of you that have been asking "DH" = "Darling Husband" although the "darling" can be interchanged with other words as my mood dictates); and he was, as usual, awed at my creation. He asked, "How do you go from shirts to bathing suits, to all the things you make; how do you know." And I told him, "one sentence at a time". I.e., I just read the instructions and do it one step at a time.

And that's how I try to live my life, accomplishing new things, one "sentence" at a time; going through cancer, one appointment at a time. And, if you approach most things like that, you'll be amazed at what you can do!

Don't read the entire instructions (I know,
that's what all the instructions say, "read complete instructions first"), well, I say don't - just take it one step at a time, if you get stuck, put it aside, think about something else, or ponder what your end result should be, make a few changes, and wa-la - your back tackeling it again and another step is completed.

So, here's my idea for you, learn something new this summer, challenge yourself.

And my bathing suit turned out nice, and fits! Yahoo, now to get back to the beach and wear it!

Chemo??
Mood:  happy
Topic: July 2005
Some of you out there think that chemo is bad and I should not have chemo. That the effects of chemo are worse then the cancer. All I can say is that I have to trust my doctors! I believe that most doctors want to cure and treat and make their patients better and they do this with the best information available at the time. Yes, maybe it will not be viewed the "best" 40+ years from now, but it is the best that is available now.

I can understand the concerns. Believe me, I have them too. Heck, I was recently reading some of the recent controversy surrounding the once much applauded lobotomy! That whole ice pick thing still has me squeemish!

I am not by any means an expert on chemotherapy or radiation; but I was told that my survival rate WITH chemo is 30% better. Well, that's a HUGE increase. And I think that if you were me: young (ok - per the docs); pre-menopausal (i.e., all those hormones cancer feeds on haven't erupted); previous history of cancer; and that 30%, you may reconsider.

Muga
Topic: July 2005
I had the MUGA scan this morning. It was uneventful. Went in, got a shot of something that would "highlight" my red blood cells then 20 mins later got a shot of something else. I layed down on a table, was told not to move and they took 3 pictures. I think I ended up falling asleep. It was a cushy table with a sheet and a pillow, not some thin board that I felt like I was balancing on.
So, that's it for now. Not feeling very talkative today.

Tic... Toc.... Tic.... Toc
Topic: July 2005
Well, for pete's sake, are we there yet? I'm feeling like my life is in neutral, waiting for the "treatments". Will I feel sick, will I feel "normal", will I be tired, will I lose my taste ... let's get this over with already! I got things to do. Now I know why Martha Stewart just went to jail to get it over with! This waiting is for the birds!

This week I go for my MUGA scan (yea, you heard that before, I know).

Whenever I say the word "treatments"; I think of the I Love Lucy episode where she's going to a "fee-so-key-a-tryst (that's Ricky's pronunciation) and when he gets mad at her, she says "treatments Ricky, treatments". Well, guess you had to be there.

Self Exam Reminder
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: July 2005
Nothing new or old to write or whine about, so I'm going to use this moment to remind all you out there to do your breast exams TODAY. It only takes a minute or so.