Went back to the Cancer Center today for follow-up blood tests. As you may remember, during my Tuesday visit, the bloodwork indicated a “dangerously low” white cell count, putting me a very high risk of infection. With the flu running rampant here in SC, and the knowledge that idiots everywhere think nothing of coughing or […]

So this happened today… Mom and I went to the GHS Cancer Center for my mid-cycle blood work. In oncology terms, the middle of the cycle is the “nadir” or the point when my blood counts are at their lowest. Remember, the chemo cocktail kills the bad cells, but it also kills the good ones. […]

It’s Day 10 of my first round of chemo and I’m feeling pretty good. The worst side effect I’ve seen so far from the chemical cocktail is some major cramping in my lower abdomen and down my legs during the 3rd and 4th day after chemo. Annoying, but definitely manageable. On Tuesday I’ll go in […]

  I am truly blessed. Since I started telling my family and a very small group of friends about my cancer diagnosis, I’ve been overwhelmed (in a good way) by their positive support and encouragement. I know it’s hard for someone to figure out a way to help someone who is struggling, especially if that […]

Well, the first round of chemo is behind me. One down, five to go. It went well, I think. As I wrote in my previous post, I didn’t know what to expect and so I didn’t know how to prepare. But now that we’ve gone through this once, I’m going to be a lot more […]

This is it — first chemo treatment begins in less than two hours. I will admit that I didn’t get much sleep last night. There was too much swirling around in my head. Apparently it was rough night for mom, too. We agree that as long as we know what to expect, as long as […]

I have never colored my hair. I started going gray in college, and over time I developed a number of nice silver streaks in my medium brown hair. It worked well for me in my 20s and 30s, as I worked with much older men — it seemed to give me a bit of gravitas […]

I had to check my calendar — it seems like just yesterday that I received the phone call with the test results. And yes, I’m just weird enough to have noted “Cancer Diagnosis” on my calendar on December 11. I remember thinking how unreal this all was…and that I was supposed to be hosting upwards […]