Monday, June 29, 2015

Let's get on with it!

First off, the good news is that I have an appointment with the oncologist on Thursday morning. Finally, we can get moving! Basically, there are two doctors in this area who take the program I'm on, so I don't have a lot of choices. This one seems great, though.

At this point, I am generally in good spirits. I've read many success stories (don't stop--keep telling me!) and feel confident I'll beat this. I'm riding on a wave of love and support--I don't think I've ever felt so loved in my whole life. It's amazing.

But now the rush of emotions has died down, and I just want to get on with it already. Experience the hard parts to see if I really am that strong. Get past the surgery, the chemo, the radiation. Start the healing process. Feel better. Everyone's telling me how strong and brave I am, but the worst is yet to come and I have no idea how I'll handle it.

It's a little like when I did the marathon (crazy to think that was just a few months ago). There came this point, a calm between the hard part of training and the actual event. I was done training with the exception short runs to maintain my fitness, and I'd done all the blogging and my friends were hugely supportive. I had gone through the "this will be fun" phase and the "OMG this is so hard what the hell was I thinking" phase and the "OMG the marathon is only a few weeks away I can't do this" phase and had reached the "All right, I can do it let's just get it over with" stage. That's where I'm at. Let's just get it over with.

Physically, I tire very easily, I'm in pain, and I often feel slightly sick to my stomach. I am sleeping well, though, so there's that.

My darling Michael is home, and we'll start moving me in as time and energy allows. He bought me a book, "Let Me Get This Off My Chest..." by Margaret Lesh. A lighthearted view of her experience with the disease. I've started reading it and am enjoying it. Seems like a good read for anyone with cancer or even anyone who knows someone with cancer (like....you!). I'd recommend it based on the few chapters I've read.

Thank you for taking this journey with me, and keep those survival stories coming!

10 comments:

  1. Well, let's see.... I have survived several friends cancers.... does that count? I plan to survive your cancer too, which sort of means you have to be around to see taht happen. So there ya go.

    Love and cancer fighting stuff,
    Michy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Not a survivor, but my grandmother is. She had her bout of breast cancer almost 30 years ago. She was widow and her children were adults with kids of their own, so when the doctor told her she needed to remove the breast her response was,"Meh, I'm not using it anyway." :)

    Much hugs, Jennifer. You've got this beat already!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL I love her response. I'm going to use it as an excuse to upgrade my set. :)

      Delete
    2. LOL I love her response. I'm going to use it as an excuse to upgrade my set. :)

      Delete
  3. You will handle it, because you have no choice. Bottom line- you are a lot like me. You know what needs to be done and you do it. This will be no different. Don't get overwhelmed with the big picture- face each treatment or medication or test on at a time and don't think about the rest. What helped me get through the bad things is I would ask how long it would take and then focus on the minutes going by and how it was almost done.

    One of my nurses is friends with this author and she recommend her book about her journey with breast cancer... http://www.amazon.com/Where-Would-Like-Your-Nipple-ebook/dp/B009AEU4WG

    Also, get a prescription for zofran. Helps so much with nausea.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I echo the Zofran (I have a prn for the stuff and couldn't live without it), but ginger can also help with nausea. There are these ginger candies called "Gin Gins"-they're spicy and really chewy, but they can really help. Sometimes I'll use those if I'm out and about and can't take a Zofran because of how drowsy it'll make me.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Go get 'em, Jennifer! You've got this! You have a great attitude, lots of support, a plan of action, and lots of love coming your way! My grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was in her 80s, and she beat it. It took surgery, radiation, and chemo, but she beat it. You have amazing warriors by your side! -- Lynn (because you'll never figure out who this is from the google profile!)

    ReplyDelete