Paris is Burning

Full day at work today . . . .hit the tired wall about 4 pm, but kept plugging along until 5 pm. Nausea is slight so that is no problem. The problem, though, is the neuropathy. I’ll call the doc tomorrow to see if there is anything that can be done about it other than riding it out. I also haven’t been taking as much glutamine as I was right after chemo. Maybe I’ll kick that back up to 30 grams.

I can feel my fingernails trying to lift. They hurt, but I am babying them so they don’t. I’ve been using the sides of the fingers to pick up items. I’ve also cut the nails pretty short so they don’t extend beyond the finger tips. The finger pads hurt and they are very dry – I can see cracking lines forming. Again, I’m doing everything to keep the cracks from forming – using Bag Balm. Stinkiest stuff around, but this is what was recommended by the oncology nurses.

I also have to use the Bag Balm each evening on the toes . . .they hurt as well . . burning and tingling. I am so glad that chemo treatments have ended. Not sure what would have happened to these body parts with more chemo.

I can tell the difference in the level of "chemo brain" this time. It has increased. Words don't come easily when speaking, I am having challenges spelling, and I can't read my novel by Catherine Coulter . . . can't remember what I read the last time the book was open. Now we get to see what the long-term effects will be. . .how long will the tiredness or chemo fog last? This is scary.

We meet with the radiation oncologist, Dr. B, on Vic’s birthday, December 26. We had met him initially in July right after the diagnosis. But since that meeting was pre-surgery and before we knew about the cancer type and size, it was a short visit.

I had hoped to have the radiation at our local hospital – which happens to be across the street from my work! I wasn’t comfortable with the local radiation oncologists, so decided to go with Dr. B. What this means is driving to Federal Way (5 miles west of our town) on my lunch break for daily radiation, Monday through Friday. I’m hoping that I can get in and out and back to work within that one hour. We’ll find out how many radiations I need. I am hoping for the 3-week Canadian study. That would be a dream. But it has to be sufficient quantity to assure me that we have done all we can for TNBC.

Regarding hair. . . on the head it is still growing. I noticed today that the eyebrows are getting thinner . . .had to fill them in a bit with pencil.

I have heard of women who lost their eyebrows and eyelashes while on chemo, had them grow back after chemo only to fall out later. Keeping my fingers crossed that I get to be unique . . just let them grow!

Vic is doing well on the groin tumor. He says that the core needle biopsy actually hurts worse than the tumor! He spoke with a neuropathologist at his job today and worked into the conversation his (Vic’s) condition. The neuropatholgoist gave Vic a name of a surgeon who he would trust doing this surgery. So that’s Vic task tomorrow . . .get an appointment!

Looking forward to a quiet weekend, praying that we get the snow the weather forecasters are predicting.

For those of you who live in snow country, you probably think I'm crazy. I am. We lived in Eastern Washington (46" snow average each year) and I actually miss having snow. The only problem with Seattle receiving snow - no one knows how to drive in it! They will leave their cars on the side of the freeways because the cars are rear wheel drive or they don't have chains. We found it pretty funny the first time we saw this. . .I'm sure those who left their cars didn't.

A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry. (Proverbs 17:22). Let's go see a comedy!