Happy post 4th of July to everyone. I am finally done with all of my treatments!! Hurray!!
My last radiation treatment was on Monday, 7/2 and everything went well. I definitely have a "sunburn" area on my chest and continue to apply aloe vera gel to my skin, but that's a small price to pay for peace of mind.
I had a check up with my oncologist last week and he said I was doing "fabulous". He's a very nice man who does a great job of providing information in easy to understand language. He's a rather formal guy though, who always greets me with a handshake. He said that I should be fine and don't need to see him again for 3 months. When my appointment was over, he gave me a big hug before saying good-bye. I was quite surprised by his move as we usually just shake hands. I assumed it wasn't the Corleone Hug-of-Death but a true show of affection. I had to laugh, although his behavior is usually formal, he has been examining and touching my breast for over 6 months, so we've definitely moved past the formal stage of our relationship.
This will be my final entry to the blog as there's not much else to write. Once again, my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has provided me with support during this ordeal. You have no idea how much it means to me to know there are so many friends and family out there who cheered me on. It may take a village to raise a child, but it also takes a community of loving friends and family to support people with challenges. Thanks so much!!
I love you all!!
Jean
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
Radiation Therapy Begins
Hi all: Yes, the 2nd phase of my treatment began on Monday, May 21st as I started radiation therapy. I've had the first 5 out of 30 treatments (6 weeks X 5 treatments). So far, it's been a breeze. Side effects are skin burns (apply 100% aloe gel 3 times a day) and fatigue (take a nap).
The preparation before the radiation therapy was interesting. Once again, I exposed my breast to a whole new crowd of strangers but at this point, my modesty is totally thrown out the window.
On one of my initial visits, the radiation therapists and nurses took X-rays to determine where the radiation beams should be aimed to avoid hitting my organs, such as my heart and lungs. A good idea!! After they determined the correct beam path, the nurse tattooed 4 little dots on my chest to line up the rays. But before she applied the tattooes, she made a bunch of measurements with a ruler and drew lines on my chest. Now mind you, I was lying on my back with my hospital gown open in the front, so I couldn't see what she was doing. When I got home I took of my shirt and was shocked to see what she had drawn. There were about 15 lines criss-crossed across my chest. I looked like some kind of victim on the TV show "CSI", but instead of a psychopathic killer attacking me with a knife, it looked like a crazed 3-year old had attacked me with a purple felt pen.
There's a waiting room just for the radiation patients and we all sit around in our hospital gowns and chat. There's a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle that people work on while waiting. I'm the only one in our morning group who works on the puzzle, but every day there's more and more pieces completed, so there must be other fellow puzzlers working on it when I'm not around.
The actual treatment only lasts 2-3 minutes. I just lie there with my arm raised and this giant round X-ray machine rotates and zaps me with radiation. It's really very easy. No skin burn so far and the fatigue shouldn't hit for a couple of weeks.
Red Mountain Spa
Our trip to the spa was fabulous. Red Mountain Spa is in southern Utah just above the Arizona border. It's in the middle of No-wheresville. It's the high desert (over 3,000 feet altitude) with incredibly clean air and warm weather.
Annette and I utilized as many of the activities as we could in 4 days -- exercise classes (yoga, stretch and Pilates), cooking demonstrations, massages, horse back riding, delicious meals, educational seminars (meditation, self-discovery, lymphatic system) and just hanging out in their hammocks. Annette also took a 3-hour morning trek in the mountains as she's a total stud muffin.
We met guests who came from all over -- Oklahoma, New Jersey, Boston, Vancouver, Salt Lake City, LA, and Washington DC. The place is fabulous that accommodates only 190 guests so it's not too big. The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgable. After you've been there a couple of days, they start to know you by name.
They claim to have 60% return rate from their guests and I believe it. Annette and I had such a great time, we signed up to go again in May 2008.
The preparation before the radiation therapy was interesting. Once again, I exposed my breast to a whole new crowd of strangers but at this point, my modesty is totally thrown out the window.
On one of my initial visits, the radiation therapists and nurses took X-rays to determine where the radiation beams should be aimed to avoid hitting my organs, such as my heart and lungs. A good idea!! After they determined the correct beam path, the nurse tattooed 4 little dots on my chest to line up the rays. But before she applied the tattooes, she made a bunch of measurements with a ruler and drew lines on my chest. Now mind you, I was lying on my back with my hospital gown open in the front, so I couldn't see what she was doing. When I got home I took of my shirt and was shocked to see what she had drawn. There were about 15 lines criss-crossed across my chest. I looked like some kind of victim on the TV show "CSI", but instead of a psychopathic killer attacking me with a knife, it looked like a crazed 3-year old had attacked me with a purple felt pen.
There's a waiting room just for the radiation patients and we all sit around in our hospital gowns and chat. There's a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle that people work on while waiting. I'm the only one in our morning group who works on the puzzle, but every day there's more and more pieces completed, so there must be other fellow puzzlers working on it when I'm not around.
The actual treatment only lasts 2-3 minutes. I just lie there with my arm raised and this giant round X-ray machine rotates and zaps me with radiation. It's really very easy. No skin burn so far and the fatigue shouldn't hit for a couple of weeks.
Red Mountain Spa
Our trip to the spa was fabulous. Red Mountain Spa is in southern Utah just above the Arizona border. It's in the middle of No-wheresville. It's the high desert (over 3,000 feet altitude) with incredibly clean air and warm weather.
Annette and I utilized as many of the activities as we could in 4 days -- exercise classes (yoga, stretch and Pilates), cooking demonstrations, massages, horse back riding, delicious meals, educational seminars (meditation, self-discovery, lymphatic system) and just hanging out in their hammocks. Annette also took a 3-hour morning trek in the mountains as she's a total stud muffin.
We met guests who came from all over -- Oklahoma, New Jersey, Boston, Vancouver, Salt Lake City, LA, and Washington DC. The place is fabulous that accommodates only 190 guests so it's not too big. The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgable. After you've been there a couple of days, they start to know you by name.
They claim to have 60% return rate from their guests and I believe it. Annette and I had such a great time, we signed up to go again in May 2008.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Chemo No More
My wonderful world of chemo is over!! My last treatment was on April 18th and as I told the nurses, "Although I like you, I hope to never see you again." The treatment itself went as before. But that night, at about 7:30pm, my arms became itchy. I looked in the mirror and my whole torso and face were red and swollen. I called my oncologist and he said that I was probably having an allergic reaction to the Taxol. So, I took some Benadryl and the redness diminished. It was my first reaction to any of the chemo medication and am glad it didn't happen until the last treatment.
The next step is 6 weeks of daily radiation therapy. I have a consultation meeting with the radiologist this Friday to set-up my radiation schedule. From what I've heard, the side effects of radiation are minimal. To avoid sun burn-like reactions, I have to apply Aloe cream to my skin and apparently patients become tired. Sounds like a walk-in-the-park compared to chemo.
Wellness Spa
To celebrate the end of chemo, my friend, Annette and I are going to the Red Mountain Spa, a wellness spa in Utah. I was looking for a place in a tranquil setting that had classes to build up my strength. Red Mountain has it all: fitness classes, cooking demonstrations, healthy meals, massages/facials and seminars in a beautiful setting. Guests can participate in as many activities they want, or they can sit by the pool and do nothing at all. Just what Dr. Jean ordered!!
Family Reunion
This weekend, my family on my father's side had a reunion in San Luis Obispo. My uncle organized the whole thing including group dinners, a mini-golf tournament, and lodging. We hadn't all gotten together for about 4 years, so it was fun to hang out. This year we included some people who have been family friends for over 50 years. Unlike families in the movies and on TV, we all get along very well and really never argue. Whenever we get together, it's all about eating, laughing, reminiscing, and appreciating each other. A great time was had by all.
My next blog will probably be in a few weeks after we've been to the spa and I start radiation. Jeannie: Don't worry if I don't post for a while, there just might not be anything to say.
The next step is 6 weeks of daily radiation therapy. I have a consultation meeting with the radiologist this Friday to set-up my radiation schedule. From what I've heard, the side effects of radiation are minimal. To avoid sun burn-like reactions, I have to apply Aloe cream to my skin and apparently patients become tired. Sounds like a walk-in-the-park compared to chemo.
Wellness Spa
To celebrate the end of chemo, my friend, Annette and I are going to the Red Mountain Spa, a wellness spa in Utah. I was looking for a place in a tranquil setting that had classes to build up my strength. Red Mountain has it all: fitness classes, cooking demonstrations, healthy meals, massages/facials and seminars in a beautiful setting. Guests can participate in as many activities they want, or they can sit by the pool and do nothing at all. Just what Dr. Jean ordered!!
Family Reunion
This weekend, my family on my father's side had a reunion in San Luis Obispo. My uncle organized the whole thing including group dinners, a mini-golf tournament, and lodging. We hadn't all gotten together for about 4 years, so it was fun to hang out. This year we included some people who have been family friends for over 50 years. Unlike families in the movies and on TV, we all get along very well and really never argue. Whenever we get together, it's all about eating, laughing, reminiscing, and appreciating each other. A great time was had by all.
My next blog will probably be in a few weeks after we've been to the spa and I start radiation. Jeannie: Don't worry if I don't post for a while, there just might not be anything to say.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
One more chemo to go
This Wednesday, 4/18, will be my last chemo treatment!!! As I've said before, in some ways the time has flown by but in other ways it's been a long haul. At my last check-up with my oncologist, he even said, "There's light at the end of the tunnel, Jean."
In early May, I have a consultation appointment with a radiologist to discuss the 6-week radiation therapy that I'll start after chemo. My current plan (without talking to the radiologist) is to finish chemo, go to a wellness/fitness spa with my friend Annette in early May, and then begin the radiation in mid-May. My oncologist thinks that plan should work.
As my chemo regimen draws to a close, I must thank each and every person who has sent me cards, gifts, flowers, emails, prayers, and thoughts. I can't begin to tell you how much your support has helped me through this ordeal. Most of my strength comes from you!! Thank you so much.
TV Update
I forgot to provide an update on the saga of my new TV. The repair guy eventual brought over a new CPU and power supply. Everything was fine, but 20 minutes after he left, the TV turned itself off again. I literally stood up, pointed to the TV and said something that shouldn't be repeated in this blog. I called the support line and to make a long story short, I was sent a replacement TV and everything's fine now.
Movie Review
"The Hoax" -- Richard Gere (with a prosthetic nose and permed brown hair) stars in a movie about author Clifford Irving who in the early 70's convinced a publisher that Howard Hughes has contacted him to write Hughes' authorized autobiography. I remember this whole story in the 70's as it was big news. Howard Hughes was a notorious recluse at that time, supposedly living in the penthouse of a hotel in Las Vegas with an extreme case of paranoia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (although it wasn't given a name at that time). He was viewed as just plain crazy and the brunt of jokes. The movie is really good as it illustrates how Irving weaves his complex lies and pulls in his researcher and wife. Gere proves that he's a good character actor. With the fake nose and weird hair, he doesn't look like the Sexiest Man Alive.
That's it for now. In my next blog, I'll let you know what the radiologist says and if she agrees with my plan.
Take care,
Jean
In early May, I have a consultation appointment with a radiologist to discuss the 6-week radiation therapy that I'll start after chemo. My current plan (without talking to the radiologist) is to finish chemo, go to a wellness/fitness spa with my friend Annette in early May, and then begin the radiation in mid-May. My oncologist thinks that plan should work.
As my chemo regimen draws to a close, I must thank each and every person who has sent me cards, gifts, flowers, emails, prayers, and thoughts. I can't begin to tell you how much your support has helped me through this ordeal. Most of my strength comes from you!! Thank you so much.
TV Update
I forgot to provide an update on the saga of my new TV. The repair guy eventual brought over a new CPU and power supply. Everything was fine, but 20 minutes after he left, the TV turned itself off again. I literally stood up, pointed to the TV and said something that shouldn't be repeated in this blog. I called the support line and to make a long story short, I was sent a replacement TV and everything's fine now.
Movie Review
"The Hoax" -- Richard Gere (with a prosthetic nose and permed brown hair) stars in a movie about author Clifford Irving who in the early 70's convinced a publisher that Howard Hughes has contacted him to write Hughes' authorized autobiography. I remember this whole story in the 70's as it was big news. Howard Hughes was a notorious recluse at that time, supposedly living in the penthouse of a hotel in Las Vegas with an extreme case of paranoia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (although it wasn't given a name at that time). He was viewed as just plain crazy and the brunt of jokes. The movie is really good as it illustrates how Irving weaves his complex lies and pulls in his researcher and wife. Gere proves that he's a good character actor. With the fake nose and weird hair, he doesn't look like the Sexiest Man Alive.
That's it for now. In my next blog, I'll let you know what the radiologist says and if she agrees with my plan.
Take care,
Jean
Monday, March 26, 2007
Hair -- growth and loss at the same time
Last Monday, I have my regular check-up with my oncologist and he said that I'm "doing great". He's not the most ebullient guy on the planet so I was pleased by his comment. He couldn't say whether my neuropathy would ever go away, but decided to give me a drug at my next chemo (on 3/28) to help curb the severity.
Hair growth and loss
The side effects of the chemo continue to surprise me. The hair on my head is starting to come back slowly, slowly, slowly. My hair looks like a combination of peach fuzz and newly planted grass -- soft but sparse. I've definitely got more white hair than before --ugh!! Known as "chemo hair", the first growth isn't indicative of what it will look like in the long run. The chemo hair may even get curly, although its much too short to know at this point.
While the hair on my head is growing, I'm rapidly losing my eyelashes and eyebrows. I can actually count the number of eyelashes and I'm sure after the next chemo, I won't have any eyelashes left. I used to have to pluck my eyebrows, but that exercise is no longer necessary. Instead, I fill them in with an eyebrow pencil.
When I asked the nurse why I'm growing hair on my head, but losing it around my eyes, she just shrugged. Just another inconsistency in the side effects.
Movie Reviews
"Music and Lyrics" -- This romantic comedy with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore, isn't one of the best, but it's entertaining. As an aging 80's pop star, he seems a bit old for her, but the pseudo 80's video that is shown is hilarious. He also has a weird signature dance where he swivel his hips and jerks his hands as if driving a motorcycle. Very funny.
"Amazing Grace" -- Based on the life of William Wilberforce who fought for 20 years to get anti-slavery laws passed in the House of Parliament in the late 18th century. Because many of his colleagues were landowners in the new America, he fought for 20 years on his anti-slavery platform. The movie gets its title from Wilberforce's relationship with John Newton, a former slave ship owner who wrote the song "Amazing Grace". Newton is old and blind and lives a poverty-strickened monastic life as his personal penance for the thousands of people he enslaved. The lyrics of "Amazing Grace" refers to Newton's life -- "I once was lost but now I'm found. Was blind but now I see." While not a perfect film (a bit too long), it's worth seeing.
"Starter for 10" -- Another quirky British comedy about a working-class guy who gets into Bristol University in the 80's and joins a College Bowl-type of team to gain acceptance with the students. James McAvoy stars in the film. He was so great in "The Last King of Scotland" as Idi Amin's physician and plays a completely different role in this film. He's really cute and enduring in this film and may be on his way to become a big star.
Next chemo
My next -- and 2nd to last -- chemo treatment will be on Wednesday, 3/28. At this point, I'm want to get the whole thing done. As I keep saying, the light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter and brighter with each day. Soon it will be a white hot light and time to celebrate!!
Hair growth and loss
The side effects of the chemo continue to surprise me. The hair on my head is starting to come back slowly, slowly, slowly. My hair looks like a combination of peach fuzz and newly planted grass -- soft but sparse. I've definitely got more white hair than before --ugh!! Known as "chemo hair", the first growth isn't indicative of what it will look like in the long run. The chemo hair may even get curly, although its much too short to know at this point.
While the hair on my head is growing, I'm rapidly losing my eyelashes and eyebrows. I can actually count the number of eyelashes and I'm sure after the next chemo, I won't have any eyelashes left. I used to have to pluck my eyebrows, but that exercise is no longer necessary. Instead, I fill them in with an eyebrow pencil.
When I asked the nurse why I'm growing hair on my head, but losing it around my eyes, she just shrugged. Just another inconsistency in the side effects.
Movie Reviews
"Music and Lyrics" -- This romantic comedy with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore, isn't one of the best, but it's entertaining. As an aging 80's pop star, he seems a bit old for her, but the pseudo 80's video that is shown is hilarious. He also has a weird signature dance where he swivel his hips and jerks his hands as if driving a motorcycle. Very funny.
"Amazing Grace" -- Based on the life of William Wilberforce who fought for 20 years to get anti-slavery laws passed in the House of Parliament in the late 18th century. Because many of his colleagues were landowners in the new America, he fought for 20 years on his anti-slavery platform. The movie gets its title from Wilberforce's relationship with John Newton, a former slave ship owner who wrote the song "Amazing Grace". Newton is old and blind and lives a poverty-strickened monastic life as his personal penance for the thousands of people he enslaved. The lyrics of "Amazing Grace" refers to Newton's life -- "I once was lost but now I'm found. Was blind but now I see." While not a perfect film (a bit too long), it's worth seeing.
"Starter for 10" -- Another quirky British comedy about a working-class guy who gets into Bristol University in the 80's and joins a College Bowl-type of team to gain acceptance with the students. James McAvoy stars in the film. He was so great in "The Last King of Scotland" as Idi Amin's physician and plays a completely different role in this film. He's really cute and enduring in this film and may be on his way to become a big star.
Next chemo
My next -- and 2nd to last -- chemo treatment will be on Wednesday, 3/28. At this point, I'm want to get the whole thing done. As I keep saying, the light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter and brighter with each day. Soon it will be a white hot light and time to celebrate!!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
March into spring
Sorry I haven't submitted a blog lately. I've been reminded by several people, including the infamous Jeannie, that I've been remiss. Nothing's wrong, just getting a bit lazy I guess.
Treatment update
I had my 6th chemo treatment on Wednesday, 3/7. My good friend, Nancy, drove me to the appointment and we had a great chat -- in between my frequent naps.
Unlike the previous treatment, I had limited muscle and joint pain, which was good. I did, however, get neuropathy (numbness) in my feet and fingers. It's a weird sensation because of the prolonged time. Unlike when you fall asleep on my hand and it goes numb, with neuropathy you can't shake off the tingling by simply flapping your fingers around. The numbness and tingling remains for several days. The feet are the worse as it's difficult to walk around, but since I'm not going anywhere anyway, I just continue my deep relationship with my couch.
TV on the fritz
As they say, timing is everything. 2 days before my chemo, my semi-new 42" plasma TV decided it wanted to turn itself off all of the time. Not conducive to watching anything for more than 2 minutes. Ugh!!! So I called tech support who walked me through some steps that helped temporarily. Called again and received more instructions (unplug the TV from the power strip and plug it directly ino the wall, change the source on the remote) which didn't help. So, they said they'd send over a part to the technician who would call and repair the TV on Friday. FRIDAY!! That's 2 post chemo days without a TV.
Now, I'm trying to manage my treatments with limited sympathy, but every once in a while it's helpful to throw out the Cancer Card. While the support guy was sympathetic to my plight ("I'm having chemo in 2 days and all I do is watch TV for a week!! Can't you help me?"), he couldn't speed up the process.
So, then I get a call on Thursday from the technician who said that the part has been back ordered and they don't know when it will be available. If they can't get the part within 10 working days of my request, they're going to send over a new TV. Until then, I'm watching my little 20" TV that I moved from my kitchen. Not the end of the world, but inconvenient to say the least.
Embrace your baldness, part II
So there are definitely pros and cons to being bald. The obvious downside is that you look like a dork -- despite what Ms. Brittany Spears may have thought. Mother Nature intended women to have hair on their head. Even Cleopatra had a perm. Guys look okay bald -- Yul Brynner, Bruce Willis, Michael Jordan all look great. Name me one woman who looks good bald. Even Sinead O'Connor looks better with hair. By the way, whatever happened to her?? Probably opened a wig shop in Dublin.
But the upside is that you save tons of time and money. Getting ready in the morning is a breeze. I can shower and be done in 5 minutes. No shampoo or expensive conditioner that I get from Japan. No blow drying in an attempt to create a coiffure. Just towel dry and I'm done. Also, no shaving is necessary -- another time savings.
I'm losing my eyebrows and eyelashes now though and that creates other issues (besides looking dorky). When I exercise, there's no hair to stop the sweat from flowing directly into my eyes. You kind of take it for granted when you've got eyebrows. Beside framing your face, eyebrows protect your eyes. So I just have to keep a towel handy when I'm at the gym and wipe down my head.
6 down, 2 to go
Only 2 chemo treatments left and I'll be done in mid-April. HURRAY!!! The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.
Treatment update
I had my 6th chemo treatment on Wednesday, 3/7. My good friend, Nancy, drove me to the appointment and we had a great chat -- in between my frequent naps.
Unlike the previous treatment, I had limited muscle and joint pain, which was good. I did, however, get neuropathy (numbness) in my feet and fingers. It's a weird sensation because of the prolonged time. Unlike when you fall asleep on my hand and it goes numb, with neuropathy you can't shake off the tingling by simply flapping your fingers around. The numbness and tingling remains for several days. The feet are the worse as it's difficult to walk around, but since I'm not going anywhere anyway, I just continue my deep relationship with my couch.
TV on the fritz
As they say, timing is everything. 2 days before my chemo, my semi-new 42" plasma TV decided it wanted to turn itself off all of the time. Not conducive to watching anything for more than 2 minutes. Ugh!!! So I called tech support who walked me through some steps that helped temporarily. Called again and received more instructions (unplug the TV from the power strip and plug it directly ino the wall, change the source on the remote) which didn't help. So, they said they'd send over a part to the technician who would call and repair the TV on Friday. FRIDAY!! That's 2 post chemo days without a TV.
Now, I'm trying to manage my treatments with limited sympathy, but every once in a while it's helpful to throw out the Cancer Card. While the support guy was sympathetic to my plight ("I'm having chemo in 2 days and all I do is watch TV for a week!! Can't you help me?"), he couldn't speed up the process.
So, then I get a call on Thursday from the technician who said that the part has been back ordered and they don't know when it will be available. If they can't get the part within 10 working days of my request, they're going to send over a new TV. Until then, I'm watching my little 20" TV that I moved from my kitchen. Not the end of the world, but inconvenient to say the least.
Embrace your baldness, part II
So there are definitely pros and cons to being bald. The obvious downside is that you look like a dork -- despite what Ms. Brittany Spears may have thought. Mother Nature intended women to have hair on their head. Even Cleopatra had a perm. Guys look okay bald -- Yul Brynner, Bruce Willis, Michael Jordan all look great. Name me one woman who looks good bald. Even Sinead O'Connor looks better with hair. By the way, whatever happened to her?? Probably opened a wig shop in Dublin.
But the upside is that you save tons of time and money. Getting ready in the morning is a breeze. I can shower and be done in 5 minutes. No shampoo or expensive conditioner that I get from Japan. No blow drying in an attempt to create a coiffure. Just towel dry and I'm done. Also, no shaving is necessary -- another time savings.
I'm losing my eyebrows and eyelashes now though and that creates other issues (besides looking dorky). When I exercise, there's no hair to stop the sweat from flowing directly into my eyes. You kind of take it for granted when you've got eyebrows. Beside framing your face, eyebrows protect your eyes. So I just have to keep a towel handy when I'm at the gym and wipe down my head.
6 down, 2 to go
Only 2 chemo treatments left and I'll be done in mid-April. HURRAY!!! The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Embrace your baldness
Embrace Your Baldness
It's taken me a while to get used to being bald. I was really self-conscious at the beginning, but about a month ago I freed myself from anxiety during a yoga class. I always wear a hat -- even at home -- primarily because my head gets cold. As mentioned earlier, I even sleep with a ski cap on. But sometimes when I get a hot flash, I have to remove the hat as my head begins to sweat.
Well, I wear a baseball cap when I work out. I started taking yoga at the beginning of the year and one day during class my cap fell off while lying down. My head was sweating at that point, so I just left the cap off. When we sat up, I left the cap on the ground. I looked around and realized that everyone was continuing their yoga and could care less about my bald head. At that point, I just let go of my self-consciousness. "Embrace your baldness, Jean!!"
One day, though, I was walking out of the shower at the gym and as I past a woman, her head whipped around and she had a shocked look on her face. I'm sure she was thinking "there's a bald guy in the women's locker room!!" She got over it.
Check up with my oncologist
I had my regular check up yesterday and everything is going well. All of my lab tests are good but my hemaglobin has been decreasing with each chemo session, so my oncologist put me on weekly shots of Procrit. It's typical procedure.
He said I'm doing well and that I "look good on paper". Yeah, except for that small cancer thing, I'm healthy.... ;-)
Academy Awards
My favorite night of TV was Sunday. Although the show was really long, I thought it was a pretty good show. They needed more time for Ellen Degeneres to do her thing and less time on the minor award categories. Do we really need to see the winner for Best Animated Short Filmed on a Tuesday from a Foreign Country with Less than 1 Million People? Snore.... Get to the good stuff.
I loved Forest Whitaker's acceptance speech and am glad that Martin Scorese has finally won an Oscar. I saw all of the Best Picture nominees and agree that The Departed was the best. Apparently the movie studio is trying to put together a sequel to The Departed, but Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin are the only characters left alive at the end of the movie. The sequel could be a very short film.
It's taken me a while to get used to being bald. I was really self-conscious at the beginning, but about a month ago I freed myself from anxiety during a yoga class. I always wear a hat -- even at home -- primarily because my head gets cold. As mentioned earlier, I even sleep with a ski cap on. But sometimes when I get a hot flash, I have to remove the hat as my head begins to sweat.
Well, I wear a baseball cap when I work out. I started taking yoga at the beginning of the year and one day during class my cap fell off while lying down. My head was sweating at that point, so I just left the cap off. When we sat up, I left the cap on the ground. I looked around and realized that everyone was continuing their yoga and could care less about my bald head. At that point, I just let go of my self-consciousness. "Embrace your baldness, Jean!!"
One day, though, I was walking out of the shower at the gym and as I past a woman, her head whipped around and she had a shocked look on her face. I'm sure she was thinking "there's a bald guy in the women's locker room!!" She got over it.
Check up with my oncologist
I had my regular check up yesterday and everything is going well. All of my lab tests are good but my hemaglobin has been decreasing with each chemo session, so my oncologist put me on weekly shots of Procrit. It's typical procedure.
He said I'm doing well and that I "look good on paper". Yeah, except for that small cancer thing, I'm healthy.... ;-)
Academy Awards
My favorite night of TV was Sunday. Although the show was really long, I thought it was a pretty good show. They needed more time for Ellen Degeneres to do her thing and less time on the minor award categories. Do we really need to see the winner for Best Animated Short Filmed on a Tuesday from a Foreign Country with Less than 1 Million People? Snore.... Get to the good stuff.
I loved Forest Whitaker's acceptance speech and am glad that Martin Scorese has finally won an Oscar. I saw all of the Best Picture nominees and agree that The Departed was the best. Apparently the movie studio is trying to put together a sequel to The Departed, but Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin are the only characters left alive at the end of the movie. The sequel could be a very short film.
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