Best Birthday Present Ever

In spite of my TWO invitations to join AARP, under separate names even, I am having a wonderful Birthday. I am apparently still a person of record under my maiden name in at least one database. I may still be single in their eyes, but they haven't skimped on my age. If you don't know what AARP stands for, you're luckier than you know.

By some miracle, my hair, although short, is still going strong on my Birthday. That is the best Birthday present ever! Aside from the obvious issues surrounding hair loss, it feels like a loss of privacy. As long as I have my hair, I can pass as a "normal" person, sharing my health issues with only those I choose. After it is gone, that will be more difficult and I will be a cancer patient in the eyes of strangers, but still a prospective member in the eyes of AARP.

Really? An Rx?

Really? An Rx? For a wig? Yes, that's how it's done. I'm not sure I would describe myself as a wig person and I'm not sure how I feel about the hair thing, but I will need to find a solution soon. I am living temporarily in a state of grace because I still have my hair, but I have already swallowed the poison pill so my Clairol days are numbered. In the end, it doesn't matter how I feel about it, it will be gone soon. Scarves?
Perhaps if I were traveling incognito as a special agent, not very likely.
A turban? I will have lost my hair, not my mind.

I still have a little time.....Britney Spears? Sinnead O'Connor? and me?

Quick Medical Update

I had chemotherapy on Tuesday, March 9th and consequently have spent the last week not venturing far from the couch. I may have naively thought I could manage a quick post during this period of "leisure", but I was wrong. The Doctor reports I tolerated the treatment well, but I think that is a matter of opinion.

I felt crummy, but the nausea was reasonably well controlled. I received 3 drugs to prevent nausea and two more to treat any which developed. I was also given an injection of Neulasta to accelerate the rebuilding of my blood cells. I know it is working because now I have the accompanying bone pain of white blood cells stampeding down my marrow and rushing the exits like a theater on fire. The price of progress in cancer treatment.

I expect things to improve over the next two weeks, if you don't consider hair with a short timer's attitude anything to worry about. One down, three to go.

Big Book of Cancer

This is what I call my Big Book of Cancer. It is a folder I received on my first visit to the surgeon's office. I have jammed it full of all the paperwork, appointment schedules, pathology reports, New England Journal of Medicine abstracts and physical therapy exercises since my diagnosis. It is like a cancer pee chee, but without the times tables, no cheating at cancer.

Here is the link to the article which details my treatment:
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/358/16/1663.pdf
It is easier to "understand" if you know that my cancer is ER/PR positive (estrogen progesterone) and Her2-neu negative and the cancer is stage 2; T1, N1.

I start my chemotherapy on March 9th and I get my port-a-cath, gateway to my heart, tomorrow. For those of you not familiar with this device, it is placed under the skin and allows chemotherapy to be administered without an IV. It is day surgery, so no overnight stay at the spa-ospital is required. The proximity of the port to the heart, enables it to circulate the medication quickly.

I have recently expanded my mind with Glee Season 1, Dexter Seasons 1 and 2, 30 Rock Season 2 and The Office Season 5. Next up, Dexter Season 3 and 30 Rock Season 3. I also watched the Olympics every single day, yikes! Shaun White is unreal. Don't forget the Oscars on Sunday night, March 7th and I hope it is always sunny in the Meadowlands.