Much delayed update

I started this blog post back in October and low and behold it is already January!!! I got busy with hockey, my kids and life. I finished my 16 weeks (8 treatments) of chemothearpy on December 4th. It went by very fast. The last four treatments were a different chemo drug called taxol. It brought with it a whole different set of side effects which were easier to tolerate. The main side effects were bone, muscle and joint pain. This was managed well with percocet and advil. The side effects started on the 3rd day (Sunday), peaked on Monday and subsided gradually on Tues. and Wed. I have a pretty high pain tolerance so it went well. Also, the drug took longer to administer so I got a mini-hospital room with a bed. There was a TV with free movies. I actually enjoyed the 4 hours with Mark watching movies and snoozing. December 4th brought with it some strange feelings. You would think that I would have been happy and excited to be done. I walked out of there feeling strange. I wasn't really happy or excited. The treatments had become part of my routine and I knew what to expect. The nurses were so nice and enjoyable to be around. Now that it was over it was on to the next group of unknowns.

I have been told that my hair should start growing back approximately 2 months following chemothearpy which puts it at early February. (Thank goodness because I only have around 4 eyelashes left and am getting sick of drawing on my eyebrows!) I know this sounds strange but I am actually looking forward to having my eyelashes and my eyebrows back more than the hair on my head. I have gotten used to wearing my hat and not having to do my hair in the morning. I also kind of like it when Jeffrey sits with me and rubs my head. As I write this today, I have peach fuzz growing on my head. Soon I will no longer look like uncle Fester. (For the young set who may be reading this he was a character on the Addams Family who I have to say right now I resemble a little too closely!!) My eyelashes are starting to grow back as well. Not enough for mascara but I can feel them just the same.

I had my surgery on January 13th. We were ecstatic to learn that all pathology reports came back negative. The chemotherapy, prayers and positive thinking worked. No more cancer!!!! Also, LB had shrunk to 2mm when it was removed. LB is no more!!!!!

There is more crap in the coming weeks but I am feeling so positive about my future. There is so much living to do. God has blessed me with so much; 4 great kids, a wonderful husband, great friends, a wonderful world to enjoy and many more fish to catch!!