The Last Post

In the last week or so, I've had a mammogram, ultrasound, pap test, oncology appt with exam, results of blood and urine test, phew....... and there's no sign of anything.  Most everything is better than before.

The next appointment will be with the oncologist and it'll be in 6 months.

The medications taken during the "journey" are done and gone.

Balance is returning, taste, breathing, eyebrows, hair - the sweet tooth is done and gone. 

Happy Trails to You - Thanks for accompanying me on the Journey
Thank you for your thoughtfulness, gifts, surprises, cards, love, support -
It was so special to be with you in such an intimate way

This Blog is Closed

Radiation BURN Update....

This isn't me.
It also isn't my experience but I thought it was a good picture.  There are ladies who have chin burns and neck burns from breast radiation. 

I only have the Gorbi-size thing on my chest, with a couple ring-things on the left side of my lower neck. 

The Gorbi thing is getting serious though.

In the last 2 weeks, I've used the following crap:

Hydrocortisone 1% Plus  (blah)

Lidocaine Ointment (blah)

SSD Cream ("oh, this is the best, my baby loves it, it's a miracle, you'll wake up with the burn GONEEEEEE" - my ass)

Aquaphor (the jury is out, just got sold down the river on this can of goop yesterday)

Jean's Cream ("oh, Jean is an ex breast cancer survivor who whipped this shit up for herself and it worked so well, she went straight to a chemist and had it made up for the world so we could all feel as good as she does" - we'll see, I'm using it for the second day and I think Jean is just another name for big chemical company making lots of money off of women with breast cancer).

Skin MD (part of a "Welcome Package" of miscellaneous goops to use on yourself to try and feel human - just used it today and don't know what it's supposed to do).

Lindi Aloe Gel Pads (great relief after the treatment - 1/8" thick gel pads in a toilet paper type roll - I just cut off a piece and slap it on the wound for a couple hours - I think it's been the most relief, although, I don't know if it has any healing powers - $38/roll - they rip women off everywhere - breast cancer is big business, with the exception of hairdressers).

Lindi Soothing Balm (good hand lotion).

Lindi Body Lotion (real good, thick, serious body lotion).

Scar Zone Cream (I don't know what this stuff is and haven't tried it).

Vitamin E Oil (probably the same as scar zone, although the E oil is doing a bang-up job on the arm where the port was removed.  It was a mess and I thought for sure I'd be scarred up but it seems to be calming down and softening).

My bathroom counter is chock-full of ointments, oils, creams, prescription stuff and over-the-counter stuff.  Nothing is a magic bullet with the exception of knowing that there is just TODAY and TOMORROW, then I'm going to have some Champagne for New Year's Eve and look forward to the day I can post on this blog that "This Blog is Officially Closed."  Soon, soon, soon. 

Radiation Update

TWO MORE DAYS.

Last treatment is Thursday.

THE HAIR MID DECEMBER......Buckle up....

It's been a couple weeks since Fred took these photos and I have a lot more hair now but these photos were handy and I decided to post them.

I'm still wearing the wig, although the hair is starting to show through on the sides and on the forehead. 

It'll be time for a pixie cut or a lesbian cut by Feb/Mar.

THE FIRST TIME -------- EVER I SHAVED MY LEGS.....

Not too far off.
I got out of the shower and lathered my legs with moisturizer, after using a razor for the first time in MONTHS!  I was shocked!  It looked like I did a lousy job.  Too many long, black hairs still staring me in the face.  I checked the razor and it was jammed full and couldn't cut anymore.  What a crack-up.  I've never had long, thick, black hair on my legs in my life - till now.   I look like a construction guy. 

RADIATION "RASH"

The "rash" is my cross to bear in the radiation "journey." 
Some people's nipple goes crooked, some people's breast gets beat up.
I have Gorbechov's birthmark on my chest.



The radiation mark on my chest looks about like Mr. Gorbachev's head thing.
Since I couldn't find a picture of a radiation burn, I thought this would do.
They're about the same, although I doubt he puts Cortizone.10 cream on his spot.

I put this Cortizone.10 cream on the Gorbi spot, which is about 2"x 3" and itches.  After being led to Walmart by everyone I know here, and buying one of everything on the shelf, this is the magic bullet.  I have to apply it about 3 times, very thick, before the itching and burning finally goes away.  The cream is on everything, scarves, night gowns, bathrobes. 

This is just the way it will be till February when it's all over.  Actually, the treatments will be over mid-January but it will take some time for the big mess left behind to go away.  

WHALE BLUBBER

I don't like radiation.  I don't know what's going on in there, what it's doing, what the side affects are.  I do know that everything tastes and feels like whale blubber, with the exception of Trader Joe's single size microwave popcorn with about 3 tablespoons of melted butter poured over it.  I made brownies - they tasted like beef.  There is just a backdraft that takes over when something goes in my mouth.   It doesn't matter what goes in - the backdraft takes over and everything tastes the same or worse.

This isn't Trader Joe's but I'm sure it's good anyway.
Trader Joe's just fits nicely into one of those Rubbermaid tall containers, holds the butter
and sits in the car and stays put.

The NAILS are Soooooo Bad, I can't believe it.....

The finger nails are so bad, they are growing out but the whole front 2/3 of most of them are rotting faster than they can grow out.  One of them even crumbled.  It's grown out a couple weeks so it's not so ugly but, I can't believe the aftermath of chemo on nails.   Chemo ended in October and here we are in December.  Thank heaven for friends in unique places.



Need help with your crumbling, rotting nails?
Ask a pole dancer.


My lovely, beauiful desk mate at Century 21 Moneyworld (Joanna Chua) gave me her nail man's number and address.   He does "gel" nails - nothing like acrylics or silk wraps.  

They're beautiful, smooth, shiny.  She said the "gel" should work because it's so strong and flexible.  So, I'm going to make an appointment with her nail guy.  Hope it works!      

Yes, Joanna is a gorgeous pole dancer at the Peppermint Rhino, the #1 gentlemen's club in LV.
She makes a mint, looks like it too.  I just love sitting next to her.  I learn so much.  She learns a lot from me too because she doesn't want to be a 62 year old pole dancer.