Happy holidays everyone! This time of year can be a hectic time for everyone, running around with extra shopping to do and places to go and people to see. It's my favorite time of year, and this year is no exception. I've started physical therapy for my lymphedema in my right leg, and in just three sessions (and some heavy bandaging in between), my leg has lost 6680 ml of fluid. That's equivalent to over THREE 2-liter bottles of soda. In one leg! Needless to say, I'm thrilled with the progress! I have therapy twice a week for 4 weeks total and then we reevaluate. My therapist said I may have crossed over into phase 2 of lymphedema, which is irreparable, but I still hold out hope we can reverse this as the cancer goes down in those lymph nodes. Either way, the therapy is working quickly and even if I have to use a compression stocking, I'm happy I won't be walking around with all that fluid in my leg forever!
My next CT is December 28th. It's going to be a long day of blood work, the CT, a check-in with my doc, and possible chemo. Dr. Dotan mentioned possibly stepping down my treatment if the scan shows positive results, but I would really like to try to kick this thing into remission in full force, so I'm going to ask for another round of three more treatment sessions. If she agrees, I'm going to try and push back my next treatment until January 2 or so. I really don't want to welcome the New Year hooked up to my 5-FU pump. I have pork and sauerkraut to make!
So the chemo brain is coming on pretty strong these days. My body is definitely showing signs of wear and chemo brain is one of those signs. A study just came out verifying that chemo brain is real. If you're interested in what it entails, you can find the link here. I find that I can't keep my thoughts straight, forget words a lot, and have periods where I feel, for lack of a better word, lost. It's not so overwhelming that it interrupts my life, but it is something to consider. I have to have reminders now for everything or else things will get missed. I just have to remember where I put those reminders.
Wait, what was I saying?
So I'm going to sign off for now and enjoy the rest of my December with nothing but physical therapy appointments until the 28th. To all of my readers, visible and silent, have a wonderful, happy, loving, holiday season. Be grateful for what you have and thankful for those in your lives. Put the bickering away for this month and enjoy the season. If you stop and take a breath, you may realize what the spirit of the season is all about, and learn to enjoy it.
Happy holidays all!
xo,
Lisa
PS - To those of you who have not gotten your flu shot yet, won't stay home when you're sick, or can't cough properly into your sleeve when you're around others, not to mention do not know how to wash your hands thoroughly (and often), I kindly ask that you stay clear of me until you're well. I have two sickies in my house already and find it amusing that I'm NOT one of them! My white blood cells have their cells full. Let's not overload them, k? Smooches!
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