Well, here we are in mid-January, it's freezing outside and I am so hot I could scream. But I am getting ahead of myself, I want to start with a word about Dusty.
Dusty has been our faithful cat ever since we rescued her from the Women's Humane Society 8 or so years ago. She didn't jump or bite or claw. She was very affectionate and intuitive - she would lay right next to me on chemo day and be close by during difficult times. As far as cats go, I would have to say she was the sweetest I've known. She was a chow hound though and liked her food. A lot. So one day right after the New Year when Col noticed that she had left some food in her bowl, we were concerned. Then she had some trouble breathing so Sue talked to MaryLou and took her to the Emergency Vet.
In a sad and crazy twist of fate, Dusty was diagnosed with cancer (?!?) and died two days later. We were able to take her home for a night before Sue and Col had to bring her back to the vet. So begins the new year.
On Thursday, January 8th, when I came home from my 4th chemo, I missed her the most. The chemo itself was relatively uneventful except that I needed some heparin to clear my port and that delayed things a little. Dan and Lynn (the RNs) were as entertaining as ever and gave me a few good ideas for exploiting my bald head...more on that at a later time...
Neulasta the next day took 10 minutes and we were on our way home. The effects of the chemo are cumulative and both my body and my brain are feeling tired and sluggish. I was on the computer this morning and Susan asked me to see what the temperature was outside. I was trying to think where we had a thermometer outside that I could go look at when she said, "Uh, maybe weather.com?" For the life of me it would never have occurred to me to use the computer...that does become frustrating...
Physically, just more of the same stuff but now my taste is changing and food, especially sweet things, taste like unknown substances - not always horrible - but unrecognizable. And my sensitivity to the heat is legendery in this house...perhaps this has something to do with the process of throwing me into full blown menopause (as if keeping a sunny disposition during cancer treatment isn't challenging enough...) My hands and feet burn and swell at will, along with my face that has filled out like a round prednisone balloon...All in all I am not at my most attractive...but I have completed chemo #4...
And now I am falling asleep as I write this so I'll stop for now and write more later. I am enjoying some books I got for Christmas especially one called the Cancer Poetry Project. I can frequently be found on Facebook, I am a force to be reckoned with at Canasta (thank you Aunt Roz), and in my spare time (those moments in between napping) I am trying to crochet a little.
Thank you for all of your continued support - it gives me strength every day. And a special thank you to my friends in the ER at JFK. Your unexpected card and gift is very much appreciated as are your thoughts and good wishes.
