Happy Holidays

I'm not feeling particularly festive this year, but I wish everyone happy holidays and good times with family and friends.

My eyes seem to be a little better on most days. It really depends on my naps and the light condition, but I've been able to do a little reading and actually finished a book recently. Score 1 for this book nerd!

I won't have another scan until January 25th. Until then we wait, and I still get infusions every 2 weeks. Some of my hair seems to be growing back in little fuzzies but I mostly just look ridiculous. This is me giving a shit...

Fight like hell.

Burning the Bitch to the Ground!

After starting my week with botched port accessing, almost passing out, an IV in my wrist joint, and Ryan’s wake... it sure was nice to get a good news call from my oncologist Monday evening. just as we were pulling into the funeral home parking lot, Dr. Robins called and told us that my MRI looked exactly as he had hoped it would. My scan showed no signs of recurrence or progression, which means that the radiation and Avastin infusions are working! Dr. Robins said my brain is healthier than it was on my last scan in September.

I will continue to receive immunotherapy infusions every two weeks, indefinitely. My next MRI Is scheduled for January 25^th. My eyes continue to heal, but I’m still limited in my reading. We had busy days this week, so I missed a few naps, and my eyes certainly let me know they were not pleased. I think I made up for it this afternoon with an epic actual cat nap. 

Also, I finally got the lidocaine to work today, so when I got stabbed in the chest twice to get my port accessed, I only felt it a little the second time [Small victories].

Fight like Hell.

P.S. KITTENS!!!

Same Old, Same Old

Nothing much has changed here. My eyes are slowly returning to normal, but I’m still having problems focusing in low light, on screens/books, and if something is back-lit.  I have a neuro ophthalmology appointment on Wednesday… But my oncologist has outlawed me from driving, indefinitely.

Boo. Hiss.

I don’t have an infusion this week, so I’m looking forward to not getting stabbed in the chest for another week. Though after the 2 cavities I had filled on Monday, I’d rather have my port accessed any day. [I'm So glad I had chemo last time, since it likely did nothing but make me vomit and destroy my enamel].

The radiation fatigue is still holding on pretty strongly. I need at least one nap every day to function. The kitties have really been enjoying the naps, since they get to cuddle on the couch with me.

N. had to shave my head again tonight. I had this crazy Friar Tuck look going on. I’d say 80% of my head is bald or balding. My sister also had to wax the sides of my face today. I’m pretty furry anyway – Germany & the Czech Republic should really give the women in my family a hair removal stipend – and then the devil steroids made my hair grow like crazy. Fun.

Fight like hell.

Halloween & TV

This year I’ll be dressing up as KJ with hair for Halloween.

Just kidding —I really don’t care who sees my bald head, but I thought it’d be nice to get a wig just in case I wanted to have hair at times. Otherwise, I’ll continue to rock the G.I. Jane look. Many thanks to the Friends of the UW Hospital who fund raise to provide wigs to cancer patients free of charge!

I’ll be dressed in my usual pirate costume to hand out candy. Thanks to my big ass brain surgery, I have a legit eye patch to complete my costume this year. Heh.

Yesterday, N. and I were interviewed by Channel 3 about my battle, our love of the Badgers, and to help promote the “Beat Cancer” buttons that the Carbone Cancer Center is selling to raise money for research and patient services. We’ll be on Channel 3 at 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. The interview will also be on the Channel 3000 website. I’ll post the link when it’s up.

tOMORROW IS MY LAST DAY OF RADIATION!      

Fight like hell.

No Hair, Don't Care!

The deed is done. No hair, don’t care!

Last time, I was so concerned about my hair. This time, I really don’t give a damn. I was so over pulling out handfuls of hair, and it had only been going on since Saturday. Off with the hair!

You can definitely tell where I have balding spots versus just shaved hair. The three surgery scars are very visible. Oh well, the hair will grow back in a few months.

My N. was very sweet and shaved his head with me. We gave the neighbors a show, shaving each other's heads in the driveway.  

12 days of crockpot radiation left!

Fight like hell.

It Has Begun

It has begun; the hair loss is upon us. It's like my hair hurts [because the follicles are irritated from the crockpot radiation]. My sister actually lint-rolled my head today to catch all the hair falling out.

I feel like the balding started sooner last time, but I could have just been more traumatized then, too. Seeing a pile of waist-length hair on the floor is a little more demoralizing than short hair. Plus, I really don't give a shit about my hair this time. No bald spots yet, but depending on my balding pattern, I may go #nohairdontcare.

Fight like hell.