The short answer to my title question? It depends. Yeah, that's not the answer I want, either. What I've found after two surgeries this year and cancer treatment (two rounds of chemo, surgery, radiation) six years ago is that the doctors will give you the best-case scenario. But they will also say, "It depends. Everyone … Continue reading So . . . how long does surgery or cancer treatment recovery take?
cancer treatment
An Upcoming “Birth”day: Three Years After Cancer Treatments
April 24th is a kind of birthday for me. It's the day I completed breast cancer treatments. And fittingly, this year's local Relay for Life is on April 25th. So I'm looking at this year's Relay event as a "birthday" celebration of my third year as a cancer-free person. But I'm not only feeling celebration … Continue reading An Upcoming “Birth”day: Three Years After Cancer Treatments
Endings and births: Goodbye 2012, Welcome 2013
I'm ending this year so tired, really tired, very tired, but in a lovely way. Not in the so-tired-and-weak way of February right after the end of chemo when I didn't have the energy to walk to the mailbox. No, a different tired. One that says I'm still not recovered from eight weeks of chemo … Continue reading Endings and births: Goodbye 2012, Welcome 2013
Waiting
"Waiting" is an appropriate title this time, don't you think? I've not posted in almost two weeks. So "waiting" seems apt. That's what I've been doing. Waiting. Our society isn't much for waiting. We of drive-through fast food. We of the time-is-money attitude. We of no time to wait for anything anywhere. We're people of … Continue reading Waiting
Broken
This weekend, I feel broken. When I think on the last year, I know I am broken. I am not who I was last August. My upcoming mammogram tomorrow along with the reminders of this season are all making me reflect on this past year. What I feel now is brokenness. When I look in … Continue reading Broken
Terrible and Wonderful: Chapter 2
"Who am I?" is a question we all consider, especially at the crisis times of our lives. It's certainly one that comes up a lot when you've been diagnosed with cancer and are undergoing treatments. We have been considering that question in our Sustainable Wellness group offered by Cancer Navigators in Rome, Georgia. I'm revisiting … Continue reading Terrible and Wonderful: Chapter 2
Acupuncture and chemo
After my morning chemo treatment on Thursday, I went to be acupunctured for the first time ever. It was the gift of a dear friend. I'd read that acupuncture can help with chemo side effects, so I didn't hesitate in saying yes to the offer. Yes, acupuncture involves needles (thus the "puncture" part), and I … Continue reading Acupuncture and chemo
Prednisone-induced ramblings
I had the second Taxotere chemo infusion yesterday, and the prednisone that came with it kept me up last night and has me eating voraciously. I don't know how long it will last. Such is the cancer-treatment roller coaster. I was discouraged and resentful on Wednesday, did well with the treatment yesterday and had a … Continue reading Prednisone-induced ramblings
Shrunk tumor and lumpectomy
I saw my surgeon today in preparation for my surgery on Monday. He could hardly find the tumor because it has shrunk so much. He was excited that the chemo has done so well in shrinking the tumor that was chestnut-sized in September. I told him it was chemo working with lots of prayers and … Continue reading Shrunk tumor and lumpectomy
Seeing docs & last chemo of this round
The first of the good news is that I had my last chemo of this round and am feeling better this morning. I had a power surge at 5:30 AM and couldn't sleep, so I finally got up. It's unpredictable as to how each chemo affects me, other than every evening after the chemo I … Continue reading Seeing docs & last chemo of this round
eddies and currents 