Treatment #9

Treatment #9 came and went. I had nurse Ann again and we were in good shape, although the Benedryl hit me like a ton of bricks this past week.  Luckily, the side effect was simply tiredness and nothing more.

Thought I'd share a pic of me and nurse Ann.  Here is a pic of us at my first treatment, then again at week 4 and most recently at week 9! Ann hasn't changed much but I have!

Treatment week 1, week 4 and week 9

 
Crazy to think I only have 3 treatments left in this phase.  The next 3 weeks are going to be busy as I'll be meeting with my medical oncologist, surgeon and plastic surgeon. I have been dragging a bit with this last round of treatment and my chemo brain seems to be in full force!    

After Mike buzzed what hair I had left after the initial cut, Carter really struggled with the new do.  That morning with the newly buzzed hair, he hid under the covers and didn't want to come out.  He was scared of my pale head and asked that I cover it before coming out. It took him a bit to come around but he finally understood why I needed to shave my head.  I was really proud of him when he finally came around.  This pic makes me happy since he wanted to take this selfie together.

The new do is taking a bit of getting use to.  In the shower, I will still go and grab shampoo.  It's strange to not have any hair left to shampoo but since I'm a creature of habit, I'm going to continue to shampoo my bald head!  I'll just have a good smelling scalp.  The other good revelation is how quick it takes me to get ready!  Having no hair to have to dry, style, etc. is pretty awesome!  In addition to saving time, I do not have to worry about hair appointments for the next several months.  I also do not have to shave!  I'm trying to focus on the positives.  ;)  

It has been so incredibly hot that I haven't been wearing a headcover or wig.  I'm simply grabbing a baseball cap and putting it on when we head out or I'll just go 'commando' as my sister, My, would say.  I try not to go commando all that often because I have this weird thought that I may scare people, especially little kids.    

At camp pick up a day last week, the kids were really intrigued by my lack of hair.  A couple of Carter's friends asked why I didn't have hair and if I could take off my baseball cap to show them.  It was a really uncomfortable situation because as much as I was comfortable showing them, I didn't think it was an appropriate time to simply take off the cap and show them and everyone there.  I tried to tell them I'd show them another time but at one point, one of the kids tried to take the cap off my head.  One of the many challenges of being short!  I kept looking at Carter because this was one of the primary reasons why he struggles with my hair loss.  He didn't want people to make fun of me.  He such a sweet kid and told me in the car, he's okay with my hair now and that I could have showed his friends. 

At Katherine's school, there is one friend who is really intrigued by my hair.  I can tell based on the look on her face.  Whenever I go in for pickup, she's checking out my hair.  I feel so bad that the kids have to wonder what is going on with me.  I'm really not all the interesting.  Hmm...I take that back...maybe I am!!  I managed to go to the movies for the first time in 8 years to see Bad Moms this weekend with some awesome friends! The last movie I saw in theater was Slumdog.  Don't laugh!  This was the first time I went out wearing my long wig.  It was fine but at times I felt like it was very obvious that I had a wig on.  I think I may have jumped the gun in buying a wig so early on.  I'll most likely now look for a shorter wig or try to get my long wig cut.

I have to give a special shout out to my amazing parents.  I'm realizing in this blog, I do not mention them much.  They are like me and like to be behind the scene.  They truly have been wonderful during this ordeal.  Every week, after treatment, they call to make sure I'm okay.  My dad really wants to go with me to treatment but I do not want him or my mom to witness the treatment process.   I think it will be too much for them to see me being picked and prodded.  It's just easier for them not to be there.

My parents visit almost every Friday and bring meals and groceries.  They are incredible and very selfless.  Mom will ask if I have any cravings.  If I even think to say something, I'm guaranteed to get that meal!  Since my diagnosis, mom has given up meat.  It's her way of giving back and praying for me to get better.  So whenever she's preparing meals for us and dad, she has to prepare multiple meals!  Friends and neighbors have also offered to drop off meals.  I have been very fortunate to bounce back after treatments so have been able to work and prepare meals as I would normally.  My taste buds are off but I can still cook.

The road to recovery is long and unclear but for now I'm truly thankful this phase hasn't been all too bad.  We will mostly have to lean more on family and friends after my surgery in September but for now we are doing okay.   We have so much to be thankful for!