Up with the Owls

Sleepless in Suomi. One week after chemo, I always have trouble sleeping. It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one. http://journals.lww.com/oncology-times/Fulltext/2010/01250/Insomnia_More_Common_in_Patients_Receiving.2.aspx

Top Ten Ways to Get a Taste of the Chemo Experience

the standard dripping speed, 500

Wanna play aswell? Now's your chance!

(This is from a website, posted by a 22-year old Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor.) 

10. Set down a delicious array of food before you, then eat only wood pulp for several days
9.  Throw up on your lawn
8.  Each week at a pre-determined time, wake up, collect some bees and let them sting you, (for that "I can't seem to get a vein" feeling, apply one of the little brutes to your arm with scotch tape)

                                                         7.  Throw up on your neighbor's lawn

yep, there it goes

6.  Shave off your eyebrows, take out your eyelashes (except maybe 3) then Nair the rest of your body. Don't worry, the burning is normal.
5.  For that fun Ativan feeling, wander into a room and ponder all possible means of the word Amazing. Walk out of the room, repeat.
4.  Hang upside down from a tree until your face is cherry red, this will help with the dizzy/flushed, red faced feeling of Adriamycin
3.  Lay around feeling like you got hit by a truck
2.  Attempt to drink Ensure while you are nauseated. To become nauseated, drink an Ensure.

1. Congratulations, you've finished one chemo treatment, how many more do you get to do?

The Final Countdown

Dear December,
Here's my timetable for you:

                                      
2nd December: Chemo 12/12 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

7th December: Final PET-scan

13th December (Saint Lucia's day) : The decisive doctor's appointment. Depending on the PET-scan results, the options are the following:

1. I'm in remission i.e. cancer-free OR
2. Four more chemotherapy sessions are needed.

It goes without saying that I'm hoping and praying for the first option to come true. Keep your fingers crossed on Saint Lucia's day. It'd be nice to feel all that positive energy hovering over me that day.  

Hugs!

Having Hair is So Last Year, Totally.

Hey! As you can see, I was joking around with the webcam and sticking my tongue out to cancer: "BOO! You suck!"

Also, this is Laura's World Premiere without hair. Please be kind and judge it accordingly. Chemo is a destructive friend.

Shave for the Brave!

Oh yes. I've  finally managed to shave off my hair! It was looking so horrible and dry so I decided it was time to let bygones be bygones and get rid of what was left.

Baby, I'll Be Fine!

A few quiet weeks on the blogging front. Everything is running smoothly. I remember the nurse's words right at the beginning of this madness. She said: I know it seems like a long process, and it is, it is, but once you hop on this train, you'll find out that in no time you'll have reached your final destination. She was right, and surprisingly metaphorical for a healthcare worker.

If everything goes well - and here I have to curb my enthusiasm a tad since it's not hundred percent sure – I'll have only three more chemos to get through. THREE! Can you believe it?! I can't. 2nd December would officially be the V-day. That's in one month's time!

Hugs and kisses! Thank you for all your support. You're wonderful.

Lau.

Happiness Is:

when your doctor FINALLY prescribes you some anti-nausea tablets that ACTUALLY work.Good morning Granisetron and Temesta!

To be perfectly honest, Temesta isn't actually for nauseas. It's an anxiety drug like Prozac (and you wouldn't believe how much its street price is. Not that I'm selling.). It tranquilizes the brain. It cuts the vicious cycle of various mental images and associations to the unconfortable chemoroom that leads some people to feeling physically sick. According to the nurse, it's a drug that is prescribed mainly to young women. It would be curious to know why. All your theories and suggestions will be kindly received.