Yay!

Caught this on the news today.  I LOVE Mexican food.

Mexican Diet May Cut Breast Cancer Risk

The “Western” diet (fast food) was associated with the largest breast cancer risk.  I suppose that’s not surprising. 

I’m good.

Just a quickie.  Everything looks good, normal EKG, no clots.  We’ll find out about the MUGA in a couple weeks.  Apparently, it’s really common for people at this point in their chemo to have shortness of breath and even chest pain.  Always worth checking out though.  I’m going to go rest now.  I’m tired.

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Look good, feel better :)

I went to my Look Good, Feel Better class today and it was pretty fun.  Got lots of makeup tips (which I sorely need since I feel dressed up when I wear blush).  Amusingly enough, the makeup artists all wanted to wax my eyebrows.  Since it’s the only hair I have left, I’ll have to think about that one.  🙂

I’ve got tests scheduled for tomorrow.  A MUGA which checks my heart function and an EKG which also checks out my heart.  I’ve been short of breath today so the onc also wants a CT Angiogram to rule out a blood clot in my lungs.  Could use some good thoughts that a ways.  Really don’t need a lung blood clot.  Those things can kill you.  🙂

Interesting article: Are Modern Kids Coddled?

I caught this article today and it really got me thinking.  Which mom am I?  I’d like to think I’m a happy medium though I’ve been saying for a long time that I really don’t think the world is any more dangerous today than it was 30 years ago.  And I will also say that while I was teaching I definitely noticed a trend in children not having any experience being responsible for themselves, whether it be for their actions or their actual physical well being.   That said, I’m glad my kids are little enough for me to put off thinking about for a bit.  Heh.

Still here.

Felt like crap.  Watched TV.  BAD TV.  Is it too much to ask the the Sci Fi network run a Dr. Who marathon or something on my bad day?  Instead it was really bad made for SciFi movie day.  Larva.  And something with a giant snake.  Come on.  Another giant snake?  Seriously. 

At least this was my last A/C and Neulasta (knock on wood).  I think it hits me harder than the chemo does.  Stupid cancer.

Round 4. Bleah.

I’m headed out for Round 4 today of the Adriamycin/Cytoxan.  Last one!  Then on to “chemo light”.  Or so they say.  Based on how I felt last week, I have some serious chemo dread today, but I’m also glad I’ll be done with this part.

I leave you with yet another funny position Agent J fell asleep in. I’m going to have a great collage for that boy when he graduates from high school.

Frighteningly accurate.

Stole this from Kari.

You Are An ESFJ

The CaregiverYou are sympathetic and caring, putting friends and family first. A creature of habit, you prefer routines and have trouble with change. You love being in groups – whether you’re helping people or working on a project. You are good at listening, laughing, and bringing out the best in people. In love, you value harmony and mutual understanding. You will apologize or give someone the benefit of the doubt, if it means getting over a fight sooner. At work, you are good at building relationships and connecting with people. You would make a great nurse, social worker, or teacher. How you see yourself: Organized, dependable, co-operative When other people don’t get you, they see you as: Opinionated, critical, and know-it-all

What’s Your Personality Type?

Martha’s Gone Green!

I have been using (when I remember) my own bags when I go to the grocery store.  The other day I received the Martha Stewart email (yes I know.  Leave me alone.  I think her crafts are cool.) with a pattern for making grocery bags out of old tee shirts.  If they hold up, I think this is brilliant.  I have a million concert tees that I’ll never wear again that are just screaming for a new use.

Link to Martha’s pattern.

Cool, huh?

 

FFU!

It’s the third Friday of the month and time for your Friendly Friday Feel Up!  I suppose that would be FFFU.  Heh.  80 percent of breast cancer patients have NO family history, so even if you think you aren’t at risk, do it anyway.  In fact, the biggest risk factor for breast cancer is simply being a woman.  Lucky us, huh?

Poignant Post

I’ve had a philosophical, cancer sucks, yet life affirming sort of post rolling around in my head this past week.  Unfortunately, when you’re on chemo you have to write things down immediately.  Or they’re gone.  Like my post. Darn it.

While I was sick this week I definitely went to a negative place, which for me is not common.  I got angry with cancer again.  It feels like it just keeps on taking some days. 

Things cancer has taken away from me :

1.  Well first, there’s the obvious.  I miss lefty.  And I miss my hair.

2.  I miss coffee.  Can’t stand the smell or taste of it right now.

3.  The pleasure of really good food.  I’m so afraid to eat anything I might like because of chemo aversion.  And even when I do eat, the nausea and heartburn are always there.  It’s like being pregnant without any of the perks.

4.  Along with that is the pleasure of cooking.  I have a hard time with smells.  It’s all I can do sometimes to brown hamburger.  Woo.

5.  The general anonymity of being a stay at home mom.  I love being L and J’s mom.  Now I’m the mom with cancer.  I’m especially visible now that I have chemo head.  I’ve never minded being in the spotlight but it’s always been on my own terms.  When I go to the grocery store with J, I get “the look”.  It’s not a bad look and I’ve probably given it myself a time or two.  I appreciate people’s empathy but sometimes I want to shout “I’m not dead yet” in my best Monty Pythonesque voice, “I’m getting better!”  I’m actually thinking of getting a wig just to escape from being cancer mommy, if only for a little while.  Maybe a puple one.  or blue.  I always wanted to dye my hair blue.

6.  I’ve always believed that in order to stay sane as a parent, you have to have a general sense of well being; that everything is going to be OK.  Mine has been shaken.  Don’t get me wrong.  I absolutely believe that I’m going to beat this cancer and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure it doesn’t come back.  I just miss the innocence of not having cancer.  Of not waking up every morning and thinking about it.  I miss that.

Since I’ve always been more of a Pollyanna than a Scrooge, I will leave you on a positive note.

Things I am learning from having cancer:

1.  Lots of people love me.  I don’t mean this in a narcississtic way.  It’s just amazing how many people have come to me and my family and given us their love, support and prayers.  Sometimes as a SAHM, you feel like an island.  I’ve learned that I’m no island.

2.  There is a sisterhood to breast cancer.  Whenever you meet someone who has been through it they immediately bring you into the fold.  It’s like this club that none of us applied for membership for, but a club none the less.  I have met so many amazing ladies and their first statement is always, “We are ok.  You are going to be ok, too.”

3.  When you don’t have any hair, you save lots of water in the shower.  And money on haircare products.  You also lose the motivation to shower everyday, thus saving even more water.  Perhaps alopecia is the answer the world’s clean water shortage.  Be green.  Go bald.

There are more things that I will blog about another day.  If I remember.