My sister started a new job - yeah Katie! My dad scheduled hip replacement surgeryfor the week before Christmas. My mom started radiation. Griffin had his tonsils and adenoids removed and is no longer snoring - yippee! My sister-in-law lost her dear sweet grandmother. And I have finished 7 of 8 chemo cycles.
I love chemo!
I love chemo because it is helping me fight the good fight. A fight which I cannot do alone.
I love chemo because it is going to give me a much better chance at seeing all my kiddos grow up.
I love chemo because it will give me a much better chance of learning more about my husband and loving him more.
I love chemo because it will give me a better chance of raising my children with my husband so that he doesn't go completely insane ;)
I love chemo because it has taught me some important lessons. Like how much I can endure and how impatient I am when I don't feel well. It has also taught me the importance of a "Village" - and how lucky I am to have such a wonderful support system.
I love chemo - but I DO NOT like chemo!! Or at least the side effects of chemo...
Actually, I have to say that losing my hair hasn't bothered me at all. I know it is very upsetting to most people but I have actually found it kind of interesting.
The first 4 rounds of chemo - the AC rounds weren't much fun. Honestly, I hate feeling like I'm hungover all the time and I HATE feeling nauseous. I have to admit feeling like that makes me wimpy and whiney.
This second 4 rounds are a drug called Taxol (Paclitaxil). I just completed round 3 and I'm starting to get really frustrated with this nonsense. In the first two rounds I experienced a lot of joint and muscle pain. No fun but I can deal with pain better then sick. So far with the 3rd round I am itching to the point of feeling a bit crazy and I can't find anything that helps ;( I think I prefer the pain which should start in another day or two.
Then there are the two super annoying side effects - the first is the insomnia. I don't understand how you can be totally and completely exhausted and not be able to sleep (although, right now, I'm pretty sure it has a lot to do with the crazy itching.) Of course being a narcoleptic who can fall asleep at the drop of a hat anywhere, any time - I'm sure makes it harder to comprehend.
The second is something I did not know - the treatments for breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer tend to cause weight gain instead of loss. It has to do with the effects on your hormones or something (and the decrease in activity certainly isn't helping). I am a bit overweight to begin with so this is just adding insult to injury.
So I am a little cranky this morning. Considering that it is 4:30 a.m. And I have been awake since midnight - and itching like crazy - I suppose I'm entitled.
The good news is only one more chemo to go. Yippee! Yeah! Woo Hoo! And that is where I will try to focus my energy. Right?!
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