3/19/16 Words!
Hello Super Fantastic Friends and Family,
Hope today finds you well and happy. It’s been a wonderful winter here in MN. Mostly sunny. Not too cold. Wonderful!
The chemo has been going quite well. (Understatement!) My tumor marker numbers have dropped from 354 to 234 and recently to 150, so it’s definitely working. I’ve been able to recover much more quickly than the previous chemo. I’ve completed 4 of the 8-10 sessions already. Yay! Still fighting the nausea. It comes more quickly—I usually leave my treatment nauseous—but it departs quickly, too. By Friday, I’m pretty good. It never fully leaves. But it’s manageable. They’ve been having me try numerous nausea drugs. But they only work a little and sometimes make me more nauseous or knock me out. (I slept through most of the last one—maybe they’re doing that on purpose to keep me quiet. Hmmm….) My Oncologist is checking into me trying Cannabis Oil (yep!). There’s a type that’s approved for chemo nausea. Hope it works.
I had a CT scan this Thursday. I won’t get the results until my next chemo (March 28th) but I’m expecting good results. Plus I looked at the CD of the scan and from what I can tell (which isn’t much) the liver lesions look smaller. Yay!
I still have my hair. Go figure. (God’s been very merciful!!!) It’s starting to come out more consistently now…a bit each day. Whether it will all come out or just get really thin is unknown. Guess we’ll see. I got it cut super short yesterday so it doesn’t turn into “comb-over” hair. Hate it. Oh well. At least I still have hair! Smile.
I found a cute wig. I went to a location sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS) …they let you have your first one free. (Yay!) Got one, then came home and didn’t like it. It was shoulder length. It’s strange to wear hair that long because mine’s been short for so long. It’s like playing dress up. So, I went back and traded it for a little shorter one. Plus, I didn’t cry while doing it. Success! In fact, it was quite hilarious. Some looked so silly on me even the lady helping me was laughing. Good times.
The ACS also has a free class where you receive a free skin care and make-up kit and they teach you how to draw in your eyebrows (because you become a naked mole rat and lose hair everywhere). I’m not the best artist. I still have my eyebrows and I’m practicing on them. I’m a little afraid I’ll look more like a Picasso painting than myself. But, hey, he was quite famous so we’ll see.
Oh yeah. My chemo brain is still ever present. Ditsy as ever! My short-term memory is horrid. So is my long-term memory. (If there’s a mid-term memory, that’s bad, too.) Really…I have no memory. Just kidding. Wait…what was I saying? Anyway, I do have trouble remembering things. Like words. It’s rough to not remember words. Conversations with me are mostly me just trying to describe a word trying to use other words that I can’t remember. Yet, I continue to talk. Too much. People just smile and try to guess what I’m trying to say. It’s like an annoying game of charades. I really should video one of my conversations. (Something for my future grandkids to laugh at.) Also, I “lose” my phone a lot. Usually it’s found hiding in my back pocket. Sneaky thing!
Comments (17)
Thank you so much, dear Sarah, for the update! I love you and your family and I'm so grateful that these chemo sessions are going better than the last ones. Hang in there!
Wonderful news Sarah!!! I feel like skipping and dancing! BTW, you look fabulous! Thanks for sharing your updates! Although we are miles apart, we are all rejoicing in your triumphs and praying for your complete healing. Stay strong and positive. That's more than half the battle. Much Love from Deanne (Bochenski) and Dusti Howell and family!
I am so happy to hear that all things considered, things are going well. I pray for you all the time. It's amazing to me how you've kept your sense of humor through all this mess. Better to laugh than cry, right? We have a friend at church going through his second bout with cancer, chemo, etc. Hearing about your memory loss and struggle with words made me realize that what's going on with him. It just makes me hate your cancer, his cancer, all cancer that much more. Anyway, I send my love and hugs to you, Sarah. Keep fighting and laughing and know you are so loved. --Laura Dunn Scott
Ahhhhhh, we are both closer than we think to being grandmas & grandpas!!! Does Scott really go for the chemo brain ideology? Wendy still doesn't go for it! Sounds as though things are on the up & up. Stay positive & KEEP MOVING even when ya don't wanna. Ah, cancers we gots don't seem to like our oxygenated insides!!! . . God loves you, Sarah! What a fine example you are to so many!!!
You are just so awesome. You continue to impress and inspire me. I love you so much and I get to see you this Thursday! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the update and pleas know that there are many of us out here supporting you, Scott, and the entire family with daily prayers. Keep up the grand adventure knowing that you will make it;-)
Hello!! Thanks so much for the update; it's such a huge blessing that the markers have come down so much. Praise God! You're doing an amazing job and you're going to come through this with so many stories and an ability to help so many others, as you already have. I'm in awe and inspired by your strength. Praying and smiling at you from San Diego! Love you, hugging you... :)
Awesome news Sarah, Great numbers and great seeing your fantastic smile today. You are a great example to us with your happiness, humor and positive outlook. Keep up the great work. Praying for your complete healing. Shine on. Love, Pete & Tracy
Thanks so much for the update Sarah. Lots of great news!! Prayers continue for ongoing positive progress and complete healing!! Hmm, just noticed my sweet, incredible husband's comments above about chemo brain -- Must defend myself just a tad-- I certainly do believe it exists; I just give him a hard time regarding SOME things he blames it for :-) (he knows what I mean!! :-) LOL! It's amazing (yet so encouraging!) where humor can be found when going through difficult times. John's sense of humor has helped us both incredibly with his own health journey this far; and your sense of humor is simply amazing! Your posts make us smile every time we read them; despite the difficulty we know you're enduring. Sending love & hugs to you, Scott, & your wonderful girls!!
Sarah, I am so glad to read an update on how you are doing! I have seen some very positive and happy couple and family date nights that made me happy. I love your positive attitude, and I am sure that this has a lot to do with how well you are doing. Keep up that positive energy! We continue to pray for you and the family as we know that this is not a battle that you fight alone. You look great! You may have lost your memory, but you certainly have not lost your humor! Sending hugs to the whole family!
Sarah, it is good to hear the positive update. I hear we will see you next weekend. That is awesome! Looking forward to it. :)
Dear Sarah, I'm so glad the numbers are going down. That is so encouraging. Also, what a blessing that you have kept your hair. We pray for you almost every day!! God loves us all and is so gentle and loving. I know he is with you. To me you always look so beautiful! And your enthusiasm and sense of humor is so infectious! Keep strong. We love you and will continue to pray for you and Scott and girls!! Love, Kathy and Denny
Keep plugging Sarah, you are an absolute inspiration. God bless!
You're a trooper, Sarah! Keep up the good work! Thank you for the update! Love you!! :)
Man, Sarah -- just when I don't think you could get more upbeat, your updates get stronger and more fun! OK, maybe it is my Washington-side coming out, but when you mentioned Cannabis Oil, I got a chuckle. As you know, in our wonderful home state, you can legally buy marijuana. In fact, about a mile from my parents' home, there is a store -- right next to the gun shop, mind you (how is THAT for retail wisdom!) -- where you can buy the stuff. The real laughter is the guy dancing in front of the store with a sign, who looks like he is "higher than a kite"! So, while I don't advocate the recreational stuff, it has been proven to help cancer patients with the side effects of chemo, etc. The oil should be less damaging than inhaling the thick smoke! Well, my hippie-humor aside, we love seeing the pictures of you and your family, and great to hear the positive news. Don't worry about the chemo brain -- it affects the spouse as well. And don't worry about the chemo brain -- it affects the spouse as well. :) Seriously, once you are off the treatment, it will improve. Lisa has a great memory these days -- almost too good. Big hugs from all of us.
Love the update. Your humor through all this is amazing and inspiring!! Saw that you were able to see Frank/Lisa and the girls recently. Surrounded by love, family - very cool. Wonderful to see how helpful the ACS has been. Hoping the cannabis oil works for your nausea. I know it has helped others in so many ways, including chronic pain. Thanks again for the update, the cheer you give to us during your trying times.
Thank you so much for the update. Looking forward to seeing you next month.