Tuesday, February 12, 2008

iCancerSurvior Over Half Way There!!!!!

Hello My Dearest Family and Friends,

I can Not Thank You enough for all of your wonderful flowers, gifts, cards, letters, calls, emails, and texts of such awesome good wishes and love – I feel loved and am truly blessed.

I am proud to report I have passed the halfway point in my Chemo marathon. My final two weeks with the "Red Devil" left me feeling like there was an aircraft carrier parked on top of me – I guess that's how the "Red Devil" makes it's exit.

Good news is the aircraft carrier has set sail for another mission. My second half of Chemo has me sidled up to a new drug – Taxol.... The new drug cocktail comes with a whole new set of side effects with a few of the old ones mixed in for “good” measure....good news is there is only a "Taxi" that hit me this time.

The GREAT News is that the side effects are, for the most part, different and a little less harsh. Much like having a long bout with a really bad case of the flu aches and pains...still no hair and now my "fingernails and toenails" Literally "hurt" very weird.
I’ve been having more "up time" - even got a half hour walk in on my good week. At the risk of being guilty of conveying “Too Much Information”, I will say that I have experienced hitherto unexplored dimensions of, how do I say it, heartburn & gas. Volcanic eruptions emit from northern and southern hemispheres with a regularity that would rival Mussolini’s train schedules. Okay, enough of that.

More good news - my biweekly "prick" revealed blood results better than they'd been in months, allowing my Dad to treat me to a great meal at one of my favorite restaurants Pinot Bistro. The extra energy has also enabled me to welcome some of my wonderful friends who have been wanting to stop by but my total lack of energy prevented it.

KC and I made some head way on iDoggiebag.com and will be working with Teri and the awesome ladies of Big Brother Big Sisters Guild to hopefully raise a little money and have some fun at our Accessories for Success Shoping event and Fashion Show (tickets still available)

- more small steps in the long journey.
I can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, and I can see it on many fronts!!!

However I say again, there is NO way I would be making it through "beating the beast" without each and everyone of you and your incredible support from my awesome brother and his friends to my mother and father, stepmother, Sister, Aunts Uncles Cousins, friends and business associates. . . Truly BLESSED I am. Thank you...

And the iPhone – well the iPhone is in a category by itself. It’s both a security blanket and a lifeline to the outside world. I owe you Apple. We’ll talk.

I hope to use all this positive energy for some great things to come. In the mean time, Taxol…And I begin interviewing "Radiolation Oncologist" for my radiation treatments following Chemo.

Little Video Slide show of the last few weeks...

I am so grateful for all of caring, talented and professional people at Tower. I’d feel lucky to know any one of them, but to know them all and be the recipient of their care is an incredible privilege. A hat tip this week to Dennisa – who always keeps her eye open for that special spot near a window for me. And Sam, who has helped me adjust to the challenges of Taxol territory, and given that little something extra this week.

I do believe it can go only "Up" from here.

My Dear Friend Joe Gareri and His Wife Karen "a Survivor" are on a "Journey of a lifetime" it is my goal to take them up on the invite to visit.

My other friend Ms. Anna Marie Piersimoni has been going through this at the same time as I she is DONE!!!. Way to many people not to think we might be reaching an "epidemic".

Some Little Things I've learned for those going through this:

1) Tea Tree Oil is my New Best Friend combined with Vitman E, Rub it from head to toe literally. (check 101 Uses for Tea Tree Oil)
2) Arnicare another new friend...during Taxol along with "Joint Juice" rub Arnicare on top of the Tea Tree Oil (does not seem to stain anything either)
3) 10-15 drops of Tea Tree Oil couple of Drops of Lavendar, Lemon Essential Oils with some distilled water acts as a nice hand sanitizer and air freshner.