Cancer Treatment

   I haven't posted anything for a while, because there really hasn't been much to talk about...and that's good!  Other than strange, symmetrical, itchy spots, my symptoms have been very mild.  Even the itching is more weird than troubling, and it's not painful at all.  It started with the palms of my hands...just itching in both hands at the same time.  Then the arches of my feet...again both at the same time!  It's not the skin itself, it feels like it's inside, and probably a form of neuropathy.  It's popping up in a few different spots and has lasted a few days.  But honestly, a few days of scratching beats a boatload of other symptoms in my book!    Also, we were working on a news story to update my treatments so far, and to urge more people to schedule screenings for early detection.  I work with some pretty amazing people who make up a top notch team to put things like this together.  From management making the assi...

 Even though I knew what to expect with the actual treatment this time, you still get the unexpected. (Like treatment #2 makes me a seasoned pro?)  First, it was great to have my Dad and step-mom here for the appointment, and for the birthday weekend for our twins.  They are so supportive and genuinely interested in how everything works, so it was wonderful to have them along while our photographer grabbed more shots for an upcoming story.  Dad is 87, but a pretty sharp, funny, and amazing guy...so he stepped up to entertain anyone who stopped by to say hello.   The chemo room is an open area, with several windowed, open cubicles.  In each, two big recliner-treatment chairs for the patients, and a few extra chairs for folks cheering the patients on.  I met some new members of this ill-begotten club.  Vickie, my neighbor for this round, had been there since 8:30 in the morning.  Tough little cookie had some complications, and was still smiling...

   I wore a long wig for the Friday morning newscast, and got very favorable comments.  Right now, though, I feel like I have a "shield of niceness" protecting me from anyone saying anything negative!  No one can pick on me... I have cancer!  While this wig felt comfortable, it was also a lot longer than I think is appropriate for someone my age (not gonna say right now) and I will likely have a couple of inches trimmed off the ends.   I really want honest feedback, because that particular wig is $350.00.  I don't want to buy it unless it's really great!   After brushing out several brushes full of hair Friday night, I shampooed and gently rubbed out several more hands full of hair in the shower Saturday morning.  I thought a cat had gotten into the shower with me, but it was the huge pile of my formerly thick, wavy hair, tufted up in the drain!  I heard I should blow it dry (very thin and some bald spots) before my husband and kids...

  I now know the chemo is doing it's job!  Seriously...I haven't really felt any big effects of the poison that went into my body 14 days ago.  I have a little neuropathy in my fingers and toes, but VERY little...not even like dead skin, just weird. I had a little heartburn, and I have a normal head cold, and my regular tiredness because I get up for work at 2:30 in the morning.  I was wondering if the chemicals were strong enough to kill some stubborn cancer cells.  Then my hair started coming out! Yay, it's working!   At first, I just reached to tug a little to see if it was starting.  About ten hairs came out while Debbie and Casey's jaws dropped.  I freaked a little too, but didn't think it was a big deal 'til the next pull (not hard, mind you!) and about 20 hairs came out.  Casey and I started looking for a wig store to set up coverage for the station, and for my head!  Tuesday afternoon, I went to Creative Wigs (with a producer and...