4th and LAST Chemo! It’s OVER!

WOW! I made it! Done! Done! Done! It was a celebration around here! This time the cancer posse included my parents (where would I be without you guys?), Super Sheryl and Shawn!


I have to thank EVERYONE who supported me through all this! My running group has been taking turns on who “has me” for each of my chemo trips. Right before each one they bring me bags (I am talking bags) of snacks and foods that I can actually eat. Everything in small little portions. You guys are so generous!! Thank you!! This time Tami included “Miracle Bubbles” so I just had to take them with me to chemo!

Eating has been a struggle for me so having things that I actually liked (tomato products for some reason, spicy foods because I could actually taste them, Crystal Lite, etc) was a huge help. It also helped that my mother was there every day practically force feeding me… I swear it brings you back to being a little kid again… “just one more bite”! As much as I wasn’t stoked on eating, I sure appreciated the effort and help – at this point I sure wouldn’t have cooked for myself.

Cranial Prosthetic – An Adventure in Wig Shopping!

It would be a lie to say that I wasn’t apprehensive about wig shopping. As many of you know I am sort of attached to my hair and as we may soon be parted, I wanted to be prepared. Having never been wig shopping before, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

It took a bit of research and planning (fortunately I excel in this area) prior to the actual event. I am sure it would come as no surprise that the insurance system needed a bit of navigation before I could shop. Apparently one needs a prescription to obtain a “Cranial Prosthetic” (yes – folks, a new head) – we wouldn’t want to overdose or anything! One also has to find a location that supplies “Cranial Prosthetics”. The insurance company makes this easy by giving you a list of 20-30 places which may or may not carry such a thing. Imagine the fun of calling random providers and asking if they carry CP’s when they really specialize in artificial limbs! Got tired of that by call 4 or 5 so I called the insurance company directly to ask them to tell me specifically where I could go.

Fortunately I hit the jackpot with a very sweet and helpful agent who discovered that since we have no local suppliers (good thing I didn’t bother calling all 20-30 places!), I could go to one of two out of network providers and be reimbursed. Translation - Let the paperwork begin! Now in addition to my prescription, I needed a detailed form from my doctor referring me to the non-participating provider and now also have to submit another form for reimbursement. How fun!

Armed with my paperwork and CP prescription I was ready to shop! Knowing that this is something I could never do alone (I can barely pick out clothes without a second opinion) and having had several conversations with Auntie Gail about this (she handled all my frantic “what does this mean”, “how do you know” calls), I knew I would need some good people with me for this adventure. Hey, just like some girls can’t go to the bathroom by themselves, I can’t shop for breasts & cranial pros ethics by myself! It was time to go to my cancer support posse for some assistance.

My time frame was a bit limited seeing as I would be traveling the next two weeks (you think cancer is gonna stop me? Phhleeaase!!), so I need to go on a Friday in the middle of the day (wig shops have limited hours – like 10-2pm). My sister, Kristin, was able to break away from work along with Shawn. Perfect team! I knew my sister would be honest with me and Shawn would give me the guy perspective (hey I still want to be cute!). Besides these two are the most stylish “metro” people I know!

Never in a million years would I have guessed wig shopping could be so much fun! Thanks to Shawn, Kristin and Janey (the woman assisting me at the shop); it was a fun and positive experience. As much fun as I had getting breasts! Kristin made it to Seattle early and did recon on the two shops my insurance said they would cover – low and behold one of them was a costume wig shop (now I know where to go for the pink wig) and the other one, “Hair Options” was a little more what we were looking for.

As you can see from the pictures it was time to let the fun begin! So many choices, so many looks! Janey brought out different styles and colors – there was Erica, Veronica, Sasha, Brittany, Debbie… so fun! I played with all the ladies! After trying the different colors and styles it was hard to choose! There were certainly some clear top picks! In the end I decided on three (having only one is just not as fun) different styles and colors. Now I can pick out my hair every morning, not just my clothes! The best part – these are perfectly styled and ready to go every morning! No prep time! Snooze button here I come!

Thanks again Cancer Posse!

Chemo – One down and three to go!

So I did it! I can now say I have a better idea (think reality check) of what I am really dealing with here.

Thursday, I went in for the portacath first. When someone tells you they are going to imbed a titanium object into your chest and oh by the way it is done with conscious sedation – one might tend to FREAK! Fortunately I had a fun young nurse who was all about “getting me to a good level” drug wise– translation – I had conversations I don’t even remember and didn’t feel a thing! Thank God!

Went from recovery from that straight upstairs to chemo – let the fun begin! I must say that the “good level” stayed with me all the way upstairs. Actually thought I might be sick before the chemo, but that worked out ok because instead of waiting in the waiting room, I got to hang out in the exam room, laying down with crackers and soda! Much nicer! Problem with being at such a “good level” is that I really can’t remember much of what the doctor told me before he sent me off to chemo with a handful of prescriptions – one of which was for a “cranial prothesis” – but we’ll talk about that later.

Chemo time and I had a good showing from my cancer posse with me (Mom, Steve, Pam, Charlie, Shawn, Charis). The poor nurse had to drag in chairs to accommodate all of us. I think she felt a bit bad for me and the whole portacath, first time chemo thing because I got my own room with a bed! NICE! I needed it because I promptly passed out! My first chemo and I barely remember it – maybe that’s a good thing? My nurse did her best to explain each of the handful of vials she was inserting into my IV at various times, however I was in and out through it all. Hope the family took notes for me! I think after Valium and Benadryl I was pretty much gone. I have been told that I would occasionally look up – even ask a question, then boom – back out again! Oh the joys of drugs! To think I used to teach “Just say no!” – now I find myself saying “BRING ON THE DRUGS”! Ok! Ok! Just kidding! My family can relax – no need for rehab...Yet!

(OK - WHO TOOK THIS PHOTO?

WHAT THE HECK?)

Being in this drug induced state, I actually made it through the actual chemo day not too bad off! Funny side note here is that my mother thought we should stop and get groceries on the way home (yep- I went with) and toward the end the drugs were catching up with me and I believe green was my new shade. She was so freaked out trying to get me in the car and back home that she put the cart away with the groceries still in it! So another trip back to the store for us! Not to worry, I hate to puke so that didn’t happen however close to it I was!

Overall, my weekend went well. A little tired, but not too bad. By Superbowl Sunday I was thinking that if this is it, what was I so worried about?? Then along came Monday! Yikes! We’ll just say that all my positive attitude and good thoughts about chemo walked out the door that day. Train Wreck! Think yucky, achy, tired, flu combined with some emotional side effects of coming off the steroids (supposedly these keep my brain from swelling or something – yikes). Needless to say by Monday night some of my cancer support posse came over to save me (Thanks Mom, Steve, Shawn & Diane). I learned that trying to tough it out sucks and that I should have called for help sooner (actually mom happened to call and check in on me – I think the sobbing may have given her a clue as to the problem). Maybe I’ll take this lesson with me into the next chemo??

So obviously by this entry, I did survive it and was actually doing ok by Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday I made it to work for a half day and Thursday a full one! Yeah! Guess this tells me that I can survive this. If Monday is as bad as it gets, then listen up cancer – BRING IT ON! (Yeah, I can talk all big now that it’s not Monday!) As Shawn likes to tell me – this may bump me, bruise me, even give me a bloody lip, but the end of the day I’ll end up still standing!

On a side note here, apparently the “prosthetic breasts” continue to be a fun for everyone event. Just about all my friends have tried them on now (I even brought them out of the bra at a staff meeting). Apparently when I was crashed out on chemo the cancer posse entertained themselves with them – not to name any names - Charis! At my chick flick/Superbowl party (yeah we only tuned in for commercials, scores and the last 15 minutes) Sheryl had her way with my breasts too!