Before any big event, my dear, beloved mother-in-law used to say to her boys (& then to her grandchildren): “You have a Big Day.”
Today was a big, BIG day! A Silver-Lined day.
Cancer
40,000 Foot Perspective
As it turns out, despite my jitters of yesterday, traveling after being on the breast cancer Isolation Island is (fortunately!) just like riding a bicycle. I hopped right back on and rolled easily, which was a real Silver Lining. Additionally, a five-plus hour flight enabled me to reflect on life lessons, lymphedema and cancer lingo.
Chemo Clutter
Chemo clutter (a/k/a mind fog or chemo brain) has truly been the most frightening part of my breast cancer experience because it inhibits my ability to think, problem solve, follow directions, and make decisions. When you think about it, cognitive ability (or lackthereof) is a huge factor in defining who we are as individuals. Having my cognition altered to radically has made me feel incredibly vulnerable. (F-Bomb!) Don’t worry, I do find some Silver Linings!
Touch Points
I have now entered a space in my breast cancer treatment in which the marginal benefits of chemo cannot be measured. The point at which we do no harm.
Hearing this was a watershed moment for me in which I realized that more chemo is not necessarily better. Sometimes, more chemo is just that: more chemo.
Decisions, Decisions
I find myself at a real crossroads right now with big decisions to make about chemo and radiation for my breast cancer, e.g., To do. Not to do. If doing, how much?
Rather than make my FBC sitation subjective (as Chemo Sobby is want to do), I need to be fully objective (by asking the right questions) as I actively take the next steps in creating my plan of care.
What is Enough Cancer Treatment?
Today was the day that I wondered: How much chemo for this breast cancer is enough? At what point does the toxicity cease to be effective and start to cause pejorative long-term ramifications? When does the body get to have a say in the treatment plan? These are the questions I hope to answer. Soon.
Next Stop on the Chemo Train
Today is Chemo #6. It was supposed to have been my final dose for breast cancer; however, since I reacted so horrifically (yes, I am UNDERexaggerating it), my chemotherapy regimen has changed, but not without finding some Silver Linings along the way.
Regurgitas (Not for the squeamish)
While my reaction to the last round of chemotherapy has been better (Silver Lining), the nausea has been much more acute. What this means is that I have nausea everyday, all day, but sometimes it feels particularly bad. Well, today, that pesky nausea upped the ante.
Chi Nei Tsang
Because traditional, Western medicine has not been particularly effective with my gnarly chemotherapy side effects, I’ve been open to trying and incorporating all kinds of alternative treatments on my breast cancer treatment train.
Chemo Course Continues
Today was Chemo #5. Since I was unable to have chemo last week (because I didn’t recover from the 4th treatment), I had a revised version today. Though the original plan was that this was supposed to be the 5th of 6 treatments, I will have to go a little longer (maybe a lot longer… Continue reading Chemo Course Continues