with complete Dear Michaela blog
I had my regular check-up with my oncologist yesterday. I have these every three months, and they basically consist of blood tests, a chat and a physical exam, checking lymph nodes, etc. It is now a year and a half since I finished treatment, and at every checkup I get a reassuring, "everything looks good,"... Continue Reading →
First the good news. The weather cooled off. It then got hot again, but in the meantime I got my air conditioning fixed. So I am no longer in that airless, claustrophobic place. It is amazing the difference it makes. And then more good news. Today was my last radiation therapy! I have now had the surgery... Continue Reading →
I can't believe I have completed six days of radiation therapy already. That means only 19 days to go. Last treatment is scheduled for September 12th. And I have done nothing that I wanted to do, like take my laptop and go to a coffee shop to write for awhile after therapy. There have been... Continue Reading →
Well, this second chemo cycle has definitely been more "exciting" than the first. I had quite a few more symptoms, including a fluttering in the chest, which ended up with me having to get an EKG and possibly having to wear a halter monitor at some point. It was almost constant the first few days... Continue Reading →
Thank you all for your Facebook comments and messages trying to help me decide what to do with my hair. I made a decision, and what you said actually had an influence on me. One friend said that she knew whatever decision I made, I would be fine with it, because I am such a... Continue Reading →
I am beginning to lose my hair from the chemo, and it is a disconcerting and confusing process. I didn't have all that much hair to begin with. It has always been both thin and fine, and I cut it short in anticipation of hair loss. So the process is probably a lot quicker for... Continue Reading →
They finally got me into that chair for my first day of chemo today. It wasn't itself unpleasant. The people who work at Epic Care in Castro Valley are so nice, they of course made it easy. It took a long time, four hours total! I got very tired and could have slept through a... Continue Reading →
The title of this blog was taken from a Facebook status posted by the associate pastor of our church. He and his wife are currently experiencing a heartbreaking situation, as she is pregnant with a baby who is not expected to survive more than a few hours after birth. What is in their minds and... Continue Reading →
Dear God, is there something I am not getting here? Is there something you want me to do that I might not have the energy to do after I start chemo? You wouldn't, umm, be trying to kill me or something, would you? No, I don't believe that. But why would I? I have not... Continue Reading →
I had a second surgery this past week. Some of the skin they left after my mastectomy had died and had to be removed. After the surgery was over I posted on Facebook, "I had a great time." The sad thing is, that was true. It says something about your life when surgery is the highlight... Continue Reading →
