Life After Chemo

Just some thoughts: These are some questions that I have been asked. "Do you think about your cancer everyday and are you scared? I can honestly say "NO." I've always been fairly upbeat and positive about everything. I have my times but I don't think excessive worrying is going to do much good in this situation. I can honestly say there are times I forget that I have cancer. I turned all of this over to the Lord months ago. Even this last bought with reaction I was having to the Taxol treatments. I really didn't know what to do but it was all in His hands. I am now on a Chemo called Abraxane. It is a form of Taxol but without all the side effects that I have been having.

After the shock, I can really say I've had such a sense of peace about everything: the diagnosis, the treatment and all my caregivers. For that I am so very thankful. I think I mentioned way back in the beginning that I just feel this is something in my life I've got to get through. I've talked to so many folks who do nothing but feel SHEER PANIC. That would be horrible. In some ways I'm a totally different person than I was in March of last year when CANCER became such an integral part of my life, but I think the differences are positive rather than negative. I may not have been a worrier, but I've definitely always been an over-achiever. If I did it; it had to be the best. You know that saying "Stop and smell the roses?" Hey, that's what life is all about. Slow down, don't fret the small stuff and appreciate/cherish/embrace every positive aspect of your life. Do what you can -- the rest is going to be there tomorrow -- and if not tomorrow, the next day. Somehow I just never learned that before now. I have learned to take "One day at a time".

LIFE AFTER CHEMO: I will start my radiation treatments three weeks after my last Chemo. My last Chemo is on October 24Th, 08. I should be finished with all of my treatments the middle of January 09.

My hair continues to grow and thicken each week. It is about 1/8 inches long at this time. From what I've read -- and, believe me, I've read alot -- research is trying to find a chemo treatment that won't cause hair loss. I'm here to tell you that would be a GOOD thing! It's pretty traumatic looking at your BALD self in the mirror. I think/I pray I've handled it pretty well, but so many ladies really have a major problem with this. I CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY! I've searched everything that I could get my hands on to find out how fast my hair will grow back. I wonder if fertilizer would help the head hair? OK, I'm just being silly! There is little to no information on how quickly hair grows back other than 6 months to a year. I wanted to know how much there would be after a month, two months, three months, etc. Time will tell!

I'm sorry I'm so far behind in my updates. Life didn't stop for me when I found out I had cancer. It really was just the beginning! I'm busy enjoying my family and helping others in need. I praise the Lord every day that He is not finished with me. I think back on my life before March 17, 08. My pre-cancer days. I'm trying to learn and grow from my mistakes and I am putting the past, in the past. I don't know what the future holds but I do know that I am going to enjoy each and every day that the Lord give me.

There is life after Cancer/Chemo.