Only 6 Left!

Only 6 radiation treatments left! I can't wait to be done! My last treatment will be next Wed., but I'll still have to go down to Regions Thurs. and Friday also to finish my 5FU injections. I found out from the nurses yesterday that I'll also get a "push" (injection) of the Leukovorin along with the 5FU, because it helps the 5FU work better. They'll access my port on Monday to draw blood for labs and give me my injection, and then leave it accessed for the rest of the week. I'm glad I remembered to put the Emla cream on my port before I went this last Monday. It numbs the skin so it doesn't hurt when they put the needle in. Otherwise it hurts! The nurse I usually have on Mondays, while I love her dearly, puts it in too slow, I think. I had another nurse who did it fast and it hurt alot less.

My intestines are starting to protest a little again, and the radiation is starting to bother the bladder as well. The doc gave me a scrip for something to soothe the bladder, but I haven't tried it yet.

Today Alyssa, Shonna and I went to Godfather's Pizza for lunch. We love it, but Rich doesn't, so its usually a special treat for the girls and I. Probably wasn't the best choice for my stomach, but oh well. I had white rice and lemonade for supper to make up for it! And I don't need to worry about calories because my radiation doc was concerned today that I'm still losing weight. I'm secretly thrilled, of course! Especially since I was expecting the scale to be up a little since I have my appetite back and have been eating more.

Since I didn't nap today, and don't have anything important to do tomorrow, I'm gonna try to sleep without an Ambien pill tonight. I've taken one 3 or 4 nights in a row, and I don't want to start to need them to get to sleep. I've never even taken a Tylenol PM before...I just don't like to take drugs I don't need. But, I have learned to take what I do need, to improve my quality of life. Why suffer if I don't have to?

I might try to get a haircut tomorrow or Thurs. I hate making appts. because I never know how I'm going to feel. My hair is still thinning and starting to look really flat. I REALLY want to get out to lunch with some girlfriends (I need some laughs!), but I always hesitate to make a commitment. But I am seriously needing some girl time!

Time for bed!
Goodnight everyone!
Tina

A Nice Drive

Rich had the day off work, and I had the day off from radiation, so we decided to go for a drive. We miss our little summer get-a-ways--usually to Duluth--so we decided to get out for the day. We drove up to Mille Lacs Lake--about a 2 hour drive. We took the slower, 2 lane road on the way up, and the traffic wasn't bad at all and we cruised pretty fast. There are so many old, falling down barns on that road--Shonna would love it for photos! When we got to the lake we drove along the south shore over to hwy 169. That road was stop and go traffic for many miles! Lots of boat trailers and campers!. We got up to Garrison and finally found a decent place to eat, then walked over to the park that's on the lake and hung out there for awhile. We took 169 home (4 lanes and much faster going away from the lakes). Some of the clouds were starting to look a little dark up there, and looking at radar, it looks like there are some strong thunderstorm cells there now--glad we missed that! I started feeling nauseous when we were getting ready to leave Garrison, and after a while I decided to take one of my pills (never leave home without them! ), and now I feel a little better. We eat out alot so sometimes I just wonder if its the restaurant food, or the chemo. I haven't had any nausea since the first couple of days of radiation. All in all, it was a very nice day tho.

Yesterday, at radiation, they were having trouble with the machine, so I had to sit in the waiting room for awhile. I saw a woman with the same pump bag as mine and asked her about it. Turns out she has colon cancer also, and the same exact treatment as I do! She's almost done with her radiation, so she was able to give me some insight on how I might be feeling toward the end of treatment. She said fatigue kicked in about 2 weeks ago, and she hasn't had too much trouble with diarrhea, just a few days here and there. Her hair is thinning also, altho you can't tell yet. My hair has really started to thin again this last week or so. I was hoping it was the other chemo drug that caused that, but I guess the drug in my pump(5FU) causes it. It was nice to meet someone who has the same treatment as I do. Most that have radiation have tumors to shrink and often have different chemo drugs than I do. I really wanted to meet someone who has gone thru the same thing I am. Unfortunately, the nurse called her back before I could get her name! I hope I see her again.
Well, I was going to add some pics of our day trip, but something seems to be wrong with the usb connections! So I'll try again later!
Take care everyone!
Love,
Tina

Is My Hair Thinning??

Every day when I comb out my wet hair, I swear there is more and more hair on the comb. I don't know if I'm just being paranoid or not. Is this how hair thinning starts? Or is it more noticeable?

I'm determined to make it to work today. I think I'll be fine once I get there (esp. after I'm done reading with that first group of boys!). I bet it will feel good to be out of the house. I've hardly been out since Thursday. I'm tired tho, and I've already taken 3 different anti-nausea pills. I'm saving the Ativan for later--it makes me too tired to work.

I also hope to make it to Rachel's to help set up her garage sale. Alyssa and grandma will be helping her too, I think. Rachel's been having some cramping, which we think is normal, but we want her to rest alot and take it easy. Her doc told her to drink lots of water too. Continue to pray for her and the baby.

My face and hands are getting dark again--something about pigmentation. My hands looks old, freckled and puffy, and all my freckles/age spots on my face are looking darker too. My eyes are getting puffy also. I'm wearing more sunscreen, cuz I know the sun will only make it worse. Besides, one of my chemo drugs is supposed to make me extra sensitive to the sun. I, along with many 40-something women, wish I had been wearing sunscreen for years. I'm so white that I like to try to get a little color, but I should really have been getting that color from a bottle (if at all!). I keep telling my lily-white girls that they should be proud of their Scandinavian heritage and embrace their whiteness!! But somehow they aren't buying that! Alyssa was happy the other day when she got a little pink--sigh, what's a mom to do? I'll have to buy some good quality spray on tan! Another reason not to be in the sun? Skin cancer! My mom has had several spots removed...pay attention girls!

Ok, I've been rambling...probably cuz I'm tired! I would do just about anything for a ice cold glass of water right now! I am at that stage where I can have cool drinks, but not too cold yet.

Good news! Shonna got accepted to Bethel University next year as a PSEO student! Means she'll be a college freshman for her senior year of high school--yay! Its tough to get in--way to go Shonna!

I'm gonna go read a Psalm or 2 (always helps me feel stronger!), then get to work!!

Love to all!
Tina