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
chemo side effects
A week of well, body & spirit
Wellness has been a focus for me this week. I'm coming up on the one-year date of my breast cancer diagnosis, so that might be why I'm thinking more about my health. Plus, the weekly Sustainable Wellness group has me pointed toward that, too. As a part of my wellness "plan," I decided to have … Continue reading A week of well, body & spirit
Chemo’s last hurrah
I thought I pretty much had as many "side effects" of chemo as I could have. But then I developed a sty in my right eye last night. That eye is almost swollen shut. So many places on my body hurt now. I feel a little like Job, except I haven't lost everything and none … Continue reading Chemo’s last hurrah
Persevering through the last chemo
Tomorrow will be a week after my last chemo, and I'm still feeling pretty rotten. The side effects jumped on me sooner than the past rounds, and they're knocking me lower. I've had to let go of expectations yet again. A part of me wants the recovery to be a continuous uphill line on a … Continue reading Persevering through the last chemo
The End of the Litany of Chemo Side Effects Draws Near
A nosebleed this morning welcomed me to my day. Just one of the many chemo side effects I've experienced on this breast cancer healing journey. My last chemo is scheduled for Thursday, and though I do not look forward to this last round of side effects, I do look forward to no more chemo. The … Continue reading The End of the Litany of Chemo Side Effects Draws Near
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
Now’s eddy
I call this eddiesandcurrents because I've found that life flows along, interconnected in ways I often can't see, ways that take place under the water and through the water and in the water. My days are like those currents, sometimes seeming, on the surface, a smooth flow. Sometimes a little eddy that seems apart. But … Continue reading Now’s eddy
Good days, bad days
Just as the title of the scarf Claire made for me, I'm having good days, bad days. Yesterday was a good day. Today so far is a bad day. I'm nauseated and jittery and grouchy. No food is appealing. I don't want to drink anything, either, but I'm making myself both eat and drink a … Continue reading Good days, bad days
Expectations
This breast cancer treatment journey is forcing me to let go of expectations. Since the second chemo treatment last Thursday, I've been thinking that the days will get better. Well, the reality is that some days are a bit better and some are not. Saturday and Sunday were pretty rough, even rougher than the day … Continue reading Expectations
Chemo 2 hangover
I've had Chemo Round 2 and am now in its hangover period. Two lovely friends took care of me Thursday, with one taking me to chemo and another spending that night with me and taking me for my blood-count-boosting shot. This time I wasn't as nervous for the chemo, so I could actually feel some … Continue reading Chemo 2 hangover
eddies and currents 