Had radiation treatment #17 this morning — eight more to go! The radiation technicians and oncology staff seem happy with my progress and the only side-effect I’m dealing with these days is the lower GI stuff. It started out as an occasional issue but now it’s daily.

I’ve gotten quite fond of my fellow radiation patients as we wait together, huddled in our hospital gowns and chatting about our experiences. There’s “Smokey Guy” who is dealing this his second round of cancer in 10 years, “Colon Guy” who has his treatment right before me, “Sleepy Guy” who comes with his talkative ex-wife (#2 of 4 as I understand it), and “Quiet Lady” who comes with her 20-something son and really doesn’t talk much.

They are all much older than me, and have had their share of trials and tribulations. I’m so impressed by how positive they are…especially when I overhear conversations in grocery stores where people are complaining about minor inconveniences like a long traffic light or their cell phone dropping calls. As “Smokey Guy” will say when asked how he is doing today, “Well, I woke up this morning, so that’s a good start.”

I’ve also become fond of my radiation technicians. They are nice enough to play music during my treatments, and so I’m able to sing along with 60s, 70s, and 80s classics while lying naked on that cold, hard treatment table. They even occasionally turn on the mic and sing along with me. And as I was leaving the treatment room this morning, Caron and Keith challenged me to a “Twist-off” while Chubby Checkers sang. It was a hoot!

In addition to the approaching end of my radiation treatments I have something else to celebrate these days: Eight weeks after my final chemo treatment and MY HAIR IS GROWING! Mom now calls me her “Little Chia Pet” (thus the image at the top of today’s post).

Although I do carry a hat in my purse just in case a restaurant or store is cold, I have been sporting the bareheaded look for the past few weeks. And I have to say, I ROCK this look:

Better still, the eyelashes are growing back, too. I actually bought mascara last week; my lashes should be long enough to start wearing it in the next couple of weeks.

But it looks like I’ll need to hold off on that hair color for a while…according to the Livestrong Foundation’s website, you shouldn’t color your hair until you are five months post-chemo to prevent damaging the delicate new hair. Trust me, I’ve waiting long enough to have visible hair again. I’m not doing ANYTHING to jeopardize it!