Daisypath Anniversary tickers

Daisypath Anniversary tickers

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Joy and Hugs

A little celebratory music! First, a song to dance to... and second, music to hug to... Both things I feel like doing today (before my chemo crash this weekend -- but it's my last bad one -- and remember, that's good news!) (please be sure to read the post below this one for the good news!)

In the infamous words of Simon and Garfunkel's 59th St. Bridge Song....



Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin' groovy.

Hello lamppost,
What cha knowing?
I've come to watch your flowers growing.
Ain't cha got no rhymes for me?
Doot-in' doo-doo,
Feelin' groovy.

Got no deeds to do,
No promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you,
All is groovy.

Now go out and hug someone!

Good News...

...she says, cautiously....

...but JOYFULLY!



 
Last Taxol was yesterday!  The oncologist says I've (the cancer) responded so well to the chemo that there's no need to tack that skipped Taxol onto next week.  That means no more chemo for the foreseeable future!

That's good news!

I had decided yesterday morning that if they wanted to add the skipped Taxol on next week, I could get through the pain, fatigue, and nausea... wouldn't like it, it would've been hard, but I could've done it.

But I don't need it.

That's good news!

I'll still have Herceptin for most of the next year, which is given like chemo (through my port) and used to fight cancer, but isn't chemo.  It's biological instead of chemical (if you don't know the difference, go back to 7th grade science class!) and doesn't have all the nasty kick-you-in-the-butt side effects that some chemos have.  Like Taxol has.

Which I'm DONE WITH!

And that's good news!

I'll have surgery (undetermined what kind yet) in the next few months.  Will know more, but not all, after some tests are run in the next few weeks.

Tests will be a piece of cake after this durn Taxol.

Which I'm DONE WITH!

And, yes:  that's good news!

Of course, I still have one really crappy, painful weekend ahead, but after I get through Monday, I'll be on the uphill swing and won't have to face these nasty side effects again.

Have you heard?  That's good news!

My neuropathy will start to heal instead of get worse.  My hair will continue to grow.  My energy will return -- maybe slowly, but it will be good!  My taste buds might even start to recognize food as something other than "ick."

All.... good news!!

And I don't want to get my hopes too high or assume anything, so I'm celebrating just what I know -- and what I know is good news.

No.

Not good news.

Great news.

Thank you, everyone, for helping me get this far, with your support and love.

Having you all on my team is the best news of all.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Some days the pain just kicks me around a little too much. Sundays are usually bad but yesterday was worse than usual -- probably, as with a few weeks ago, from not enough rest Saturday. I slept 14 hours straight Saturday night after only a relatively short nap that afternoon. I guess my body needs those longer Saturday naps. I have general body aches all over and can't get comfortable. As for the neuropathy, my right foot is very painful and all my fingers hurt, enough to make me cry on several occasions. I'll be glad when the chemo is done. I'm not sure, given how much pain I've been in this week, that they'll be able to tack the skipped chemo on next week -- will hopefully sort all that out this Wednesday. I want to think I'm strong enough to take the extra chemo but since every week is worse than the week before I'm just not sure. I'm reaching my limit for neuropathy pain especially.

Friday, September 18, 2009


Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature's peace will flow into you
as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you,
and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.

John Muir



I'm still hanging in and hanging on. Nothing really new: still dealing with daily fatigue and daily pain from neuropathy. I'm also having nausea, which I thought I was past. But all side effects are tolerable although some days are more demanding of me than others. One or two more chemos and then onward and upward to the next steps. Hard to believe I'm at this stage after six months of being pumped full of helpful poisons!

In the meantime, I dream of the day I'll climb the mountains again and get their good tidings... and until I can do that, I find nature's peace everywhere, and let it flow into me...


Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Short Brief

I'm hanging in and hanging on.

No significant changes.

Neuropathy progresses but only slowly instead of with giant steps -- that's good.

Fatigue is also worse each weekend (and I pay with pain and more fatigue when I try to ignore it) but I can get through that.

The fun thing is watching my hair grow back in white. It's slow but even growth and I'm still getting a kick out of seeing what it's doing. White hair will be great!

I'm also enjoying the incredible fall weather we're having -- warm but not hot, dry air, cool nights, wonderful breezes... leaves showing the first color. It's lovely!



Happy almost autumn, everyone!