Feeling better . . . bit by bit!

It’s wonderful to now be over three plus weeks away from my eighth & final chemo treatment. I think I experienced an almost instant psychological lift just knowing that I didn’t have to have to ingest any more Prednisone!

However, I still feel like I’m on a physical and emotional rollercoaster. It’s great to be off all the pills. My hair is trying to grow back and these little weird (and painful) bumps appear as the follicles are “unplugging.” Each one only lasts a day or so, but it’s like when you have a mole digging in your yard—as soon as one goes away, another one crops up.

And, as much as I’d like to be, I’m still not “done” yet– I will begin participation in a clinical trial for a follow-up drug therapy at the end of October that will involve administration of the drug Bexxar followed by weekly blood tests for 12 weeks...so I don’t feel like I’m out of “Cancer Jail” yet –although maybe just visiting now...

I’ve been able to be spend more time at work, and that feels good. Although I’m not back to my old schedule, it is nice to be gaining my strength back. I keep thinking that I’ll walk across campus and go to the Student Life Center for a workout, but in truth I’ve taken a “gym vacation” the last few weeks. I have still been getting out most days for a walk. I sent an S.O.S. to my trainer and have an appointment scheduled on Wednesday.

I think one of the things contributing to my energy “recharge” is that I started getting some Reiki treatments from a talented woman, Sheryl Infantino, at the Retreat House (http://www.retreathousemassage.com). Reiki is a form of energy work that I hope will improve my overall wellbeing. I’m also hoping it will help restore some feeling in my toes—the last three toes of each foot have kind of “numbed out.” Please send me positive energy to boost this part of my recovery!

I was really pleased to be able to drive to Cleveland to celebrate Rosh Hashanah with my family. I became very emotional when sitting in the sanctuary—it’s been a spiritual haven for me since I was a little girl. Having cancer has changed my perspective. I’m more appreciative of the blessings of family—even when that can be bittersweet as I experience the increasing fragility of my parents, aged 87 and 88.

My housemate, Julie, is more than half-way done with her chemo treatments and was very tuckered out last week. (She gets a “big-blast” treatment every three weeks and “mini-treatments” of just one drug in the intervening weeks.) She also has been getting additional therapy the first two weeks of her cycle to bring her white blood count levels up—unfortunately, these shots have some yucky side effects. I’m relieved that I’m going to be feeling better as she is now dealing with the cumulative fatigue that comes with each additional treatment.

Today Julie and I participated the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. While I was impressed with the magnitude of the event, I also found myself really pissed off that we were there as cancer survivors! I was actually surprised by the level of my emotions—my crabbiness as we were getting ready to go should have been hint. I’m sure the mini-melt down was another part of the healing, but dang. . . I just wish this all would go away!