I haven’t added a new blog in a while.  A lot going on here.  I took two classes at Hunter College in July that were 6 hours long for 3 days a week.  The classes were great …just long days….not to mention the chemo in between all of them.  Classes are over and I am going to vacation with family and friends, do some more horseback riding, and spend time doing nothing.  Chemo is almost over for me….the first Friday in September should be my last day….Yeah!!!!  I will still need to do herceptin for one year ( hormone therapy) every third week but at least my hair will start to grow back and hopefully the crazy-ass night sweats will stop.  Then its on to the second stretch of this fabulous trip…..my boob job!  Actually looking forward to this……having perky girls from here forward.  I miss my eyebrows and eyelashes along with my hair….can’t wait to have them back!  Til then I will enjoy the fact that I do not have to shave my legs…. Thank you for all the prayers..

Well I just finished my first three sessions of Taxol.  This chemo is definitely treating me kinder than the other chemo.  Except for occasional extreme fatigue, heat flashes and mouth sores I have been having many days where I have energy and feel good.  I have mastered this mouth sore thing by recognizing when they are coming on and taking drugs before they get too bad!  No more feeling like I’m chewing on broken glass!  The heat flashes make sleeping a bit of a problem.  They actually wake me up.  By the time I uncover myself then I’m back to being cold.  I’m also taking a drug to help with this so I can get a better night’s sleep. 

I have been getting out more and doing things which feels like heaven.  Emotionally I am doing good right now.  So far my prognosis is the same and I am on course to make a full recovery!  Thats my plan.  I will win.  Thank you to everyone again for all prayers, love and support.

xo

Allyson

My last round of heavy duty chemo was last week.  From now until sometime in August I will be on another chemo drug called taxol.  I’m told this is not as heavy and I(hopefully) will not get as sick.  However, this drug has other fun potential side effets like neuropothy ( tingling in the fingers and legs), this condition MAY be temporary.  Other cancer patients I’ve talked to told me that their finger nails and toe nails basically chipped off.   In gettting the taxol treatment I will have to sit in a chair for FIVE hours while a machine drips the chemo into my body.  Just writing about it makes me want to gag. 

My oncologist is the best and the team of nurses are out of this world.   Despite all that I still feel very anxious about going for more treatments.  I know these treatments will save my life but I don’t have to like them.  I have been keeping a positive attitutde most of the time.  Meltdowns and angry days however have been a little more common than before.  I just want to be done with all of this and I still have a ways to go….not too long but not short enough.  Gild’as Club in White Plains has been a great resource for me.  I joined a group there where cancer patients meet and talk about how they feeling and coping with cancer.

I start a new chemo schedule this week.  I will be going for chemo for three Fridays in a row and have one Friday off.  Then I repeat that cycle again for a total of four cycles.  Thats twelve treatments in all.

My next treatment is Friday.  Wish me luck.