Archive | March 2016

Sigh

Mar7

All I got right now is that the hair is starting to come out.  Which makes me very sad and kind of freaks me out a bit.  But it’s only temporary, and it will grow back.  You can prepare for it and know that you will wear fabulous scarves and stuff but when you actually run your hand through your hair and clumps come out its a bit unnerving.  I just look awful with short hair anyway…let alone bald!

But alive and being able to see, hear, and function is more important that something superficial like hair I suppose.

<deep breath>

It will be okay.

That’s about as up beat as I’m going to get with this one.

Beauty and The Power Port Princess!

Mar4

Yesterday I went to this free service they offer to cancer patients.  They go over make up, skin care and all that jazz for when you go through Chemo.  There was only 2 of us and the lady said they didn’t know if they were going to continue the program because of lack of interest.  Well I told her the flyer I received was incorrect and if I hadn’t called the Local Cancer Society I would have never known when it was.  I went and talked to the social worker who helps run some of these programs and let her know.  She was like if I could think of any way to get the word out and see if we can’t revamp the program she would love the help.   The below picture is all the stuff I got for free! There’s also a cute silver make up bag that didn’t quite get in the picture….

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Then while I was in my make up session I got talking to the lady running it and we got all into the Event planning topic and we are going to get together to see if we can come up with some sort of plan to generate some interest and business around town.  They already had their Bridal Fair here and she said there are currently no Wedding Planners in the area (that are specifically certified like yours truly)  After picking her brain about the industry around here I’m going to revamp the website and tailor to more around the needs for this area.

I had my Port-a-Cath inserted today.  This is a device they put under the skin that feeds directly into one of the large central veins that takes blood to the heart.   They use a special needle to access my bloodstream so they don’t have to keep giving me an IV for Chemo and blood draws.  Now they can just hook me up.  Makes things easier for everyone involved.  And my veins will thank me for it later. I always get all freaked out by surgery but have such a good time with the OR staff, so not sure why I worry.  I had the nurses singing Cherish by Madonna upon my entrance into the OR.  They had the radio on in the OR and turned it off.  I’m like Turn that up!  And the last song I heard when I went under was Lips Like Sugar by Echo and the Bunnymen.  So that was kind of cool.  But everything went well.  I came out with little to no pain.  I’m really kind of an easy patient…

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Power Port front

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Power Port Back

I get a key ring notifier, an ID card and a little bracelet that I wear to let the world know I have one of these.  So no more poking arms and hand for IV for me!  It’s called a Power Port

I’m currently set up with some pain meds and the remotes.  So things are good.

Resting up this weekend before Cycle 2 starts on Tuesday!

Why is she such a hot mess???

Mar1

I’ve been sitting here thinking a lot about things lately.  My latest revaluation came yesterday as I’m sitting here scratching my scalp and shedding more than usual.  The head starts to feel weird when the first stages of hair loss start.

So a few years back I worked at a company and everyone there was pretty full of themselves.  Not to say that’s a bad thing..in a competitive industry you have to be.  The environment was such that if you made a mistake your competencies were questioned.  Again, not a bad thing when you are writing code and it HAS to be perfect.  The problem is other departments that you can’t be precise with were still treated like the programmers.  Marketing is a little different than writing lines of code.  Different skill set and social set.  Anyway.  The marketing department hired a woman who had a fabulous resume.  She was a little odd…in a quarky way and wasn’t readily accepted by the group.  People would comment on “why does she always wear that stupid hat” or “why doesn’t she do something with that mop on top of her head” or “what the hell is she wearing today?”  She seemed to always have a story that everyone took as excuses and accused her of just being lazy and riding the system.   She would sometimes not necessarily tell the truth on things that she did or didn’t.  Needless to say she didn’t last very long.

What made me think of her?  Well…she was a cancer survivor and was trying to get back into the work force after her treatment.  She wore hats because her hair never quite fully grew back and she had sort of become accustomed to wearing them..and she was self conscience about her hair…these hats were her signature now.  The clothes she wore were her. It was her confidence and she felt comfortable and good in them.  The stories…well that was the lack of confidence and going on the defensive because every decision made was challenged by someone.  She was trying to establish her credibility…not brag.  And her riding the system….well chemo messes with your brain and you fog out at times…you want so badly to have the mind and thought process you had BC (before chemo). Sometimes you just can’t think as quickly as you would like.

My whole point to this is I know I had always stated how tolerant I was of others and understood people.  Sometimes you think you understand when really you have no clue.  Everyone has a story.  And just because you can do something doesn’t mean everyone else can.

The next time you judge that overweight woman at the grocery store in spandex think about what her story might really be.  Or the overly skinny guy standing in line in front of you.  What is his real story…