Auntie Susu's Cancer Journey

Previous Next 5th chemo treatment was January 25th, just yesterday!  I feel pretty good but the drugs to help with hyper-tension seem to have the reverse affect on me.  I just want to party... and I can use the momentum of the next couple days to go like fire through my little projects to keep my mind functioning.  Resting will come a few days after those drugs start to work through my system.  So far minor side effects, no fever and no infection.  My neuropathy makes my feet feel like blocks first thing in the morning before I get up and going, and my finger tips are sensitive but that was expected too.  My tinnitus sometimes rings louder when I get anxious.  My hair loss has stabilized for now and I am seeing a little regrowth.  I am not sure if it will stay like that after this latest round or the next round of chemo so it's all on wait and see.  As you can see from the pictures above - I'm still a cutie... LOL To keep my mind working...

My 4th chemo treatment was Monday, January 4th at the Temiskaming Hospital.  Being closer to home for my remaining treatments is a blessing, but it still makes for a really long day.  This time I was first in line to do bloodwork, early bird gets the best start on the day!!  Quick and easy, and then off to the chemo suite.  Here I was the first one in line too, but then delays started to set in.  Sudbury needed my weight verified, no problem... and they needed to approve my bloodwork... and give the GO ahead for the treatment.  An 8:30am chemo start turned quickly into a 11:00am GO ahead.  Once we have the go ahead, then the pharmacy can start to mix my treatment.  It's going to be several more hours before Michael can come back and pick me up.  It's quiet in the chemo suite today for patients, but not for the amount of work that the three nurses on duty have to do.  They verify and document everything to make sure the upmost safety for ...

Hair... Hair... Hair... an excerpt from the song by the Cowsills, and the musical Hair.   Our hair is an expression of our identity.  I have wore my hair long most of my life.  I liked long hair to tie back, curl, and add a sense of fashion to my appearance. When discussing my cancer treatments early in my progress, it was mentioned that I "might" lose my hair when I do the chemo treatments.  My chemo doctor inferred that it will grow back, meaning my hair will fall out, I will be bald, then my hair will grow back after the chemo treatments are finished.  Having had the covid19 hairdo since March my hair was driving me crazy anyways, but to go to a cancer hairdo or bald head.  Uhmm... might be a shocker!  First step was to cut it short, and next step is to wait...  I have been preparing since my 2nd chemo treatment, but nothing.  My head of hair remained thick and so I wasn't sure what to expect or when to expect this to change.  Maybe I would not have the ...