Author: mlford1

February 4, 2019 It has been 42 days since my final chemo treatment. My port was removed a few weeks ago. I look ok to everyone other than my missing hair. Looks can be deceiving. My energy levels are still very very low. Getting through the work day is torture. But, the bills won’t go […]

January 24, 2019 As much as this port was a life saver for chemotherapy treatments it has been uncomfortable the entire time. The wire going up and into my jugular vein has pulled and tugged anytime I moved my head from side to side. Sleeping has been uncomfortable and the triangle where you access the […]

January 20, 2019 It’s only 5 days until I hit the one month mark since my final chemo treatment. However, as much as I wish I could say life is returning to normal that is not the case. I still have the neuropathy in my fingers and feet and not my feet have swollen more […]

December 25, 2018 through January 4, 2019 This has been by far the worst set of side effects from a chemo treatment. I am just getting myself together enough to share it on the blog. I feel like chemo realized this was my last treatment and said ” Oh, no I wasn’t done. Hold my […]

December 24, 2018 Christmas Eve and Final Chemo Today is my last chemotherapy treatment. I requested it be moved from Friday to Monday so I would be able to enjoy Christmas. The day after chemo isn’t usually too bad for me. But by day three I am miserable and if I had stuck with the […]

December 14 My oncologist worked me in today because I suspected there was infection resulting from my chemo rash. I get chemo rash every time I have treatment. It usually goes away after about 4 or 5 days. And it did this time everywhere except under my right armpit. When I have the rash I […]

December 11 Today I turn 45. I may be in treatment for cancer but by the grace of God I am still here. Like most adults I work on my birthday. However, I do leave work early. For once it isn’t for a doctor’s appointment. Today is the Christmas parade in my town. We have […]

November 7, 2018 My weight is still steady. I don’t really understand it. I eat a quarter of what I used to and haven’t lost a pound. The only positive part of chemotherapy in my mind had been that I might actually lose a little weight since nothing I have done in three years worked. […]

There are good days and there are bad days. However, at no time is there a day that cancer and chemo doesn’t factor into your day. Once a cancer patient starts chemo treatments, the treatments control your world, regardless of how you try to stop it. First of all, there is the appearance factor, the […]

After chemo there is a pattern for me. The first day after I feel ok. A little tired but not nauseous or anything yet. I have learned to take this day to run errands and prepare for what is about to come. The second day out from chemo the tiredness begins. I have always been […]

November 30, 2018. Today is chemo day. Again… Just when you start to feel a little energy and like a normal human being its time to go screw it up again. But its better to beat it now than to get it again and start all over. My blood work today came back with very […]

As I sit here waiting to leave for my 10:20 am chemo appointment I am thinking about why we don’t have a cure for this horrible disease. I am dreading the pain and sickness that will come all next week from the “treatment. Do you as a layperson realize the money being made from cancer? […]

In the U.S. today is Thanksgiving. As I sit here having a cup of coffee I reflect on what I am thankful for. When you have cancer, sometimes it is easy to forget to be thankful. Things become overwhelming and you dwell on the bad. I am thankful for the support I have from family […]

November 20 Today is back to me general practitioner as a follow up on the blood sugar issues. Sitting in the waiting room with all the hacking and sniffling sick people is terrifying to me. I repeatedly go stand outside the front door. I so very much do not want to get sick while going […]

I took the chemo patient goodie bags I have been accumulating while at my visit for blood work. I had manged to get almost 30 bags together. I hope they bring a smile to the face of the ones who receive them. It actually felt good to be doing something for others again. Even if […]

November 14, 2018,  I return to my oncologist for follow-up blood work from my second round of chemo.  I saw Jeffery again this visit. My white blood cells are low, but thanks to the Neulasta they aren’t as dangerous low as the first round.  I will return in one week to check the counts again […]

My general practitioner Lynn Denny worked me in at 2 pm today to get to the bottom of the blood sugar issue. It was over 400 in her office. She ran blood work, and I tinkled in a cup to check for Ketons. If your cells don’t get enough glucose, your body burns fat for […]

Now that I have had round two of chemo with the Neulasta I await blood work on the 14th to see if it works. My general practitioner was not in the office today so I will be calling again at 8:30 am to get them to work me in to get something to control the […]

At least I know what to expect today so I am not as nervous as the first session. My appointment is for 10:30 am. I know I will sign in, then be taken back for weight, blood pressure, temperature and blood work. They will access my port before the blood work so one stick and […]

I now have to wear a head cover. I tried a wig I bought online. Apparently that was NOT a good idea. It’s too large for my head. Every time I move my head it shifts and falls. In addition, I have had Halloween wigs that looked more lifelike than this wig. That’s what I […]