Not much going on

I have not written because frankly, not much has happened since I shaved my head.  I am still feeling amazingly well considering those darn nurses pump poison into me every week.  Other than the poison part, they are treating me very well down at the Huntsman center, I have nothing to complain about.  Last week my sister in law, Sue, brought me yarn and a crocheting hook and taught me the basics.  That is one thing I have wanted to do "some day"  which means, I'll think about it but let's be honest folks, it was never going to happen; so thanks to Sue.  Today during treatment I practiced chaining for about an hour.  The great thing about crocheting is if you make a mistake, just pull it out and start over. Maybe some day I will actually produce something recognizable ;)

March will be a turning point of sorts.  I just finished the last treatment (#6) of my second cycle which means next week I will go in for a CT scan and breast ultrasound.  This will tell us how the cancer is responding to chemo.  Some people have asked me about my tumor/cancer markers.  In simple terms this is a number that can be determined by the blood test at each treatment that tells you how the cancer is responding.  However, for my case this number doesn't reveal anything, I need the actual images to tell us anything. Bummer, but what can ya do.  Anyhow, I will meet with my oncologist on March 8 to get the results.  This may be the teller if I need to have surgery, keep going with treatment, or possibly to change me to a different drug.  Honestly, I don't know or even really have a feeling of what might happen.  I just pray and hope for the best.  I do not want to have surgery, but if that is the best option, so be it.  Wouldn't it be nice to go and have him tell me that the cancer is gone?  That is every cancer patients dream.  Cancer patients don't like cancer. We'll see, and I'll keep you updated on the big stuff.

Tim and I were sitting on my couch the other night and I decided we needed to come up with a top 5 reasons being bald rocks.  Here goes:

#5-Getting ready time=cut in half.  I was in and out of the shower in 4.5 minutes the other day.  Tim said he could do it in 3, which means my next shower will be in 2.5...We're not competitive at all.

#4-I don't find hair in the sink anymore.  No clogs.  No hair in the drain at the end of the shower. Dream come true! I also don't find hair on my legs or under my arms. Are you jealous yet?  You should be!

#3-Wigs.  I can have short hair one day and long the next.  I can wear hats, scarves, and funky do-rags and no one questions me.  I can go bohemian one day and G.I. Jane the next and people think it's cool. Wow, I have too much fun with this!

#2-Hair doesn't get in the way when I throw something over your shoulder like a backpack or purse...unless I'm wearing my long hair, then it just shifts.

#1-Shock factor.  I was in institute the other day on the back row and my friend Josh had the thought.  I also had a thought.  It was really warm in the room, I was wearing a hat, I took off the hat, I was bald.  I was smirking a little and half expected him to start laughing.  He looked at me for a minute and I don't think he knew what to think if he wanted to laugh he did a good job suppressing it.  It was funny for me, sorry Josh.

I bet you all wish you were bald now, I don't blame you.  My cancer card states that bald chicks are sexy, so now you know what to do if you are a girl and want to be sexy.  You're welcome.  Well I could go on and talk about nothing like most bloggers, or I could fold the laundry on my bed so I can get into it and sleep.  I think I'll choose the latter. Peace out.

Alopecia

My dear friends, I have been struck with alopecia, or hair loss.  One reason I dyed my hair bleach blonde and whacked it off was because I knew it was going to fall out anyway.  I will say that it was a lot easier to see short blonde hair fall out than my natural color.  It began over a week ago and only got worse.  At first it wasn't so bad, but it finally hit me that I was losing my hair.  I was planning on shaving my head at some point but didn't know when, where or with who.  I decided last monday that it just needed to go, so I called my best friend and we went and did it.  Honestly, it wasn't that difficult to see it go.  It was more difficult to see a trail of hair wherever I went.  It was EVERYWHERE, so I am now bald.  Whooda thunk?!  I will admit, I always wondered what I would look like bald but would never under any other circumstances take that step. Before shaving my head I feared I would find some weird birthmark under my hair, or my head would be a weird shape. Luckily I do not have a weird birthmark and am told that my head is quite round...I guess that's a good thing. All you people with hair on your heads, enjoy it!  I'm not missing mine too much right now because being bald really is low maintenance, which cuts my getting ready time in half!  I know I will have days where I miss it, but I have lots of cute hats and a wig.  The day I shaved it I bought a cute purple beanie. Emotional purchase...definitely. But I don't regret it one bit.

I just want to take a second to thank my wonderful family.  They have all been so supportive. Every step of this journey I have had someone, or multiple people at my side.  My loving mother, my silly sisters, my dedicated brothers, my endlessly adorable nieces and nephews who pray for me and tell me consistently, "I'm sorry you have cancer."  Coleman, in 1st grade, drew me a picture that said "I have cancer and it is fun...Shot (with a pic of a needle coming towards me) cancer isn't is fun as I thought."  We were all rolling on the floor laughing when he gave it to me.  Then they showed him a picture of me bald and he said, "I think she should wear a wig."  This kid has some serious opinions about girls' hair, he cracks me up!  I asked my family to not treat me any differently and by golly they haven't...well I think they make fun of me more, but that is to be expected.  How could they pass up the opportunity to poke fun of a 23 year old with a handicap pass that walks like a grandma and can't bend over.  Yep, I've heard it all.  Teasing is a form of love in my family.  I am lucky to have such a great support system. Love you family!