Last Chemotherapy

I had my last chemotherapy yesterday. Yeah!!! When I was finished a bunch of the nurses blew party horns for me. I definitely did not expect that. I guess I haven't been there when anyone else had their last treatment.

So far I have done pretty well with more energy than usual at this point although the thrush has shown up sooner. I already have the beginnings of a white tongue and things don't taste quite as good as I anticipate. It is the change in perceived texture that really throws me off. Everything feels slick.

My sister Trish came down tonight for a visit. It is good to see her. Her life is so crazy busy I really appreciate it when she comes.

It looks like my hair is starting to grow back in. There seems to be more longer peach fuzz and I can see the outline of my widow's peak in the front. I've always had some peach fuzz on the very top of my head but the front was most definely bald.

What I Am Doing on My Summer Vacation

Dr. Romer gave the OK for the surgeries to begin the week of July 18.  I saw the plastic surgeon yesterday and the foot surgeon today.  The plan is for the foot surgery to be scheduled July 20, 21 or 22.  I would rather do it on the 20th, the doctor would rather do it the 22nd.  Hmm, guess who will probably win out on that one.  He says six weeks recovery.  I will have an external fixator (lots of metal) on the foot, be non-weight bearing for two weeks and then wear a boot with the side cut out to make room for the fixator.  I have given up on not looking weird this year.  It is definitely a lost cause.

With the foot surgeon's permission breast reconstruction will start the week of the August 15.  I  will have definite dates next week.  Dr. Hicks says they go in through the mastectomy scar, under the muscles and put in a spacer to stretch the muscles and create a pocket for the implant.  He says recovery from this is about a week because of the pain.  Yeah,  I am so thrilled.  Hopefully he prescribes some good drugs.  Then every couple of weeks they add more saline until the space is the right size for the implant.  I'm assuming that will be "uncomfortable" too.  Probably won't get any additional drugs for those injections, though.  The whole process takes about three months.

I am so not having fun this year. 

Now What Do I Do?

I finished all of my grading and have my grades posted unless Nan finds something I missed. I don't feel too badly today. I think I feel fine and then I get really tired. Thank goodness this saves me from laundry and most of the dishes. I even have enough energy for simple meals. So what am I going to do to occupy my time?

I have been working on my and Nan's necklaces - companion pieces to Jane's necklace. So far I don't have a clear idea of what to do with Nan's so I'll have to play with it a bit. That is something I can do. I am good at trying something and taking it out.

I have spent a fortune on e-books the last few months but reading has kept me sane. I am running out of books thst look interesting. I am re-reading some of the ones I already have.

The pinning ceremony was yesterday. Nan drove me so I didn't have to worry about driving. I was disappointed that I tired out about a third of the way through calling the names and had to sit down for the rest of it. Jane, Nan and everyone in the class wore hats. That was so cool.

Today I am making real progress grading papers. Course I have to take breaks and lay down for a while. I am just about ready to take another stab at it. The end is in sight.

I got my "cowboy" hat today. It is a great hat but I think it will look better when I have hair. Nan and Becky think my hair is starting to come back in. I think they are imagining things.

Practice, practice

We had our pinning ceremony practice today. Campus police graciously let me park in front of building 12 so I wouldn't get so exhausted walking in. It was great to see all of the students. I do so love this class. It is hard to let them go.

Melissa and Jane managed the practice so basically I just got to hang out. It was a good thing, too, becsuse I didn't have the energy to do much more. I will be so glad when chemo is over and I can stop worrying about the energy issue.

For the afternoon I had end of the quarter meetings with first year students. It is good to see them at this point with their first year under their belt. Then I got to come home and collapse for a while - always an important item on my agenda.

Last week of school

It is quite a struggle to do everything I need to do this week. Again, thank goodness for Nan.

We had the end of the year picnic for Sinclair Fun Night. It was good to see the kids. I lasted about an hour. When I left every one applauded. I told them it was the first time I got a standing ovation for leaving.

This morning I had breakfast with Nan and Jane. It was quite the occasion with all of us awake and at the restaurant by 8:30. It was great for all three of us to be together.

Then I saw Dr. Romer. The followup plan is for me to see him in three weeks and then regularly for two years to monitor bloodwork. I guess there is a bloodtest that monitors recurrence in breast cancer. It just isn't as sensitive as ones for some other cancers. As I was expecting I do have to have a bone scan. Then I will start an estrogen blocker. He isn't ready to talk about getting the port out yet.

Good day

I was able to teach my neurology class today which is not always the case the week after the taxotere. Of course the major reason I was able to was that Nan picked me up and drove me practically to the door of the building. I am so thankful she did. I didn't want to miss the last week before the final. Three of the Katies from the second year class stopped by for a brief visit. It was so good to see them. Then for an extra bonus Sherry brought in her little boy Corey so I got to play with him a while. What a doll. Over all a great day on campus today.