Happy November!

Getting a little better every day. My hair continues to grow. It's not at all even. I get a laugh when I look at it because I have a teeny tiny Mohawk. My hair is longer on top in the middle of my head than the top sides.
My eczema is out of control. Prednisone didn't clear it up this time. I saw the dermatologist and she suggested some product changes. I go from $2 body wash to $4 bar of soap. When I get to using more shampoo, it'll be expensive too. For now, the samples she gave me will be plenty. So, why am I having this trouble? Dr. Anderson thinks one possibility is that my immune system came back with a vengeance after chemo. Another possibility is that I'm having trouble because my job is to work with the very things to which I am allergic. Bummer. How many people can honestly say they are allergic to their job?
I'm having shoulder pain. I'll go back to the orthopedic doctor soon.
Wow...this all sounds horrible. I'm actually feeling generally well.
Now I just need to come up with better ways to spend my non-work time.
My journey is coming to an end. I'm so grateful. You know how people sit around the table on Thanksgiving and tell what they're thankful for? Well, I'm thankful that I got through this. I'm thankful for all of the wonderful people I have in my life. People who saw to it that I got through this.

Italics

I thought it would be fun to type in italics. I was right.
My eyelashes are long enough that I'm using mascara again. Oddly, the left ones are longer than the right. I'm sure everything will even out.
My hair always grew quickly and it looks like that has not changed. It's not nearly ready to be styled or even exposed but I think I'll be able to take off the wig sooner than I originally expected.
I've stopped losing weight and even put back on a pound. This does not make me happy. I'm on prednisone for my eczema so I'm always hungry. I'm hoping I can keep the gain to this one pound and concentrating on losing the last 8-10 when I'm off of steroids.
My sense of taste is returning gradually. I still don't love chocolate though.
Oh, and remember the dreaded neuropathy? Not so bad now. I occasionally have the "itchy" symptom and a couple of localized numbish spots but it's mostly gone.
I think it may be time to stop thinking of myself as being sick.  YAY
I've been out dancing and tonight will be the first time out being Patrick's only dance partner. This means I'll dance a lot more. I believe I am ready!!!!
On my list of things to do:
lose a little more weight
increase exercise to increase energy
work towards returning to the racquetball court by the first of the year
learn to make twisters (perhaps not compatible with #1)

Wedding and eyelashes and hair...oh my

It's been quite some time since I've written. Since then, I have been helping with dance class, usually twice a week and working (of course) My energy has been slowly increasing. MY DAUGHTER GOT MARRIED! I prepared and hosted the rehearsal dinner (dinner for 29) The ceremony was beautiful. I danced and danced and danced at the reception. That convinced me that I was ready to go out. Last Friday I went dancing at Jim & Jacks. It was fun.
I HAVE EYELASHES!! My eyelashes are not quit long enough to consider curling yet but they are certainly getting there. My head has a bit of hair - sort of like a fuzzy baby duckling. It's gray. :(  I hear all of these great stories about people whose hair grew back in a beautiful color, curly, all sorts of great differences from their norm. It looks as if mine will be straight and gray - just like before cancer. Oh well, you can't have everything and I feel a little better every day. And that's a good thing.

CANCER FREE!!

Friday I had an appointment with my oncologist to review the CT scan from the week before. The scan showed no evidence of cancer. There's still granuloma in my lungs but that's not cancer.
Now I get to concentrate on getting my energy back.
I hope my hair grows back quickly and full of body (which I never had before)
I have had so much support through all of this, I need to send out a big "Thank You" to everyone!!!!

unwelcome surprise

Today, 3 weeks and a day after my last chemo, I have mild bone pain. It's not as bad as my post chemo weekends (yet) but it's here and it's annoying. I couldn't find any medical articles addressing this issue but I found more than one site where other people say that they experienced the same thing. Some of them said it went on for several months after finishing chemo when Taxol was one of the poisons. I hope that's not how my story goes. If it doesn't get any worse than it is today, it won't be too horrible but I really just wanted to start recovering!!!!
It's just one thing after another...

scan

I was scanned today. I did OK with drinking the "smoothie". I got to work on time too!
Now more waiting. We see the doctor to review results and discuss my future a week from tomorrow. Hopefully next weekend I'll have great things to post.
Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety. I'm sure Ativan will be utilized in this upcoming week.

anxiety

I'm really nervous. There is not reason to be nervous but I am. I'm nervous about the scan. First, there is the scan itself. I scheduled it at 7am so I could go right to work. After scheduling, I discover that I need to take a steroid 4 hours prior to the scan and drink a disgusting contrast "smoothie" beginning 90 minutes prior to the scan.
But mostly I'm anxious about the results. I know that the surgeon got all of the cancer out and that all surrounding tissue and fluid was negative for cancer. I know that the lung biopsy was also negative. I know that my CA125 is fine. I know all of these things, but there is a little, teenie, tiny part of my brain that keeps imagining the worst. I can't stop it.
Other than that, I'm doing ok. My appetite is mostly back. My sense of taste is still off. My energy level is low but improving.
So I'm clicking my heals together and chanting "It's almost over...it's almost over...it's almost over."