Hi Everyone,
So now you all know why I don't have a "family" blog-I apologize for not updating this blog more often, things have been a little crazy the last little while.
I finished radiation therapy on February 11th and feel good, the only side effects that I got from radiation was being really tired, and the rough/itchy skin where the treatments actually happened.
The tumor in my armpit (I know it sounds sexy!) changes everyday it seems...sometimes I think it gets smaller, and other days it feels bigger. I occasionally get a little twinge of pain- but in my mind I am saying "die, die, die!" I have one more treatment of IPI scheduled for March 12th and then I have to wait a couple weeks for CT scans and MRI to see if the treatment is doing anything.
The worst part of IPI has been the IV's. I think my veins have anxiety. Everytime I think about the process, it makes my veins shrink and hide. When I get to HCI I have to go to the lab for blood work and to get the IV inserted. If you were to walk in and see me sitting there holding hands with purple surgical gloves, filled with hot water and my arms wrapped in warm towels...you would probably wonder what kind of weird dating show you had just walked in on. :) But we found that this is the best way to get my veins to relax and avoid being poked 8 times. The whole process takes about 30-45 minutes, then it is off to see the Dr to make sure my levels are good enough to handle the IPI treament.
The only side effect from IPI has been the rash, but it doesn't itch and compared to the itchy skin I had with IL2..this is NOTHING.
My hair is growing back...slowly, but it is starting to grey. But I know I shouldn't complain because it could be so different.
Thank you to all my friends, family and neighbors for treating me like I am normal, and that I am not a piece of China- that will break if you say the word Cancer. I can't lie, there are days that I have my own little pitty-party, but then I pick myself up and deal with it. I refuse to give in to the sadness and the "what-if's"-because they will consume you if you let them-and sadness is not good for the immune system.
JUST KEEP SWIMMING....JUST KEEP SWIMMING!
XOXO
So now you all know why I don't have a "family" blog-I apologize for not updating this blog more often, things have been a little crazy the last little while.
I finished radiation therapy on February 11th and feel good, the only side effects that I got from radiation was being really tired, and the rough/itchy skin where the treatments actually happened.
The tumor in my armpit (I know it sounds sexy!) changes everyday it seems...sometimes I think it gets smaller, and other days it feels bigger. I occasionally get a little twinge of pain- but in my mind I am saying "die, die, die!" I have one more treatment of IPI scheduled for March 12th and then I have to wait a couple weeks for CT scans and MRI to see if the treatment is doing anything.
The worst part of IPI has been the IV's. I think my veins have anxiety. Everytime I think about the process, it makes my veins shrink and hide. When I get to HCI I have to go to the lab for blood work and to get the IV inserted. If you were to walk in and see me sitting there holding hands with purple surgical gloves, filled with hot water and my arms wrapped in warm towels...you would probably wonder what kind of weird dating show you had just walked in on. :) But we found that this is the best way to get my veins to relax and avoid being poked 8 times. The whole process takes about 30-45 minutes, then it is off to see the Dr to make sure my levels are good enough to handle the IPI treament.
The only side effect from IPI has been the rash, but it doesn't itch and compared to the itchy skin I had with IL2..this is NOTHING.
My hair is growing back...slowly, but it is starting to grey. But I know I shouldn't complain because it could be so different.
Thank you to all my friends, family and neighbors for treating me like I am normal, and that I am not a piece of China- that will break if you say the word Cancer. I can't lie, there are days that I have my own little pitty-party, but then I pick myself up and deal with it. I refuse to give in to the sadness and the "what-if's"-because they will consume you if you let them-and sadness is not good for the immune system.
JUST KEEP SWIMMING....JUST KEEP SWIMMING!
XOXO
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