Chemo #2, WHAWC & Vanity is my favorite sin, part deux

CHEMO #2
Today was my second chemo treatment. The redness of my breast has gone down somewhat but that started happening before the 1st treatment. When both the fellow doctor (training?) and Dr. L felt the tumor they thought it was showing signs of shrinking already. I had called in about 12 days after the 1st because I was having a burning feeling where the tumor was located. It only lasted a day or so. When I talked to Dr. L about that today, I said it was either the tumor getting mad or the chemo was starting to kick the tumor's ass. Dr. L liked that..thought it was pretty funny.

Also both Dr. L's nurse and the chemo nurse were shocked that I still had so much hair left. Dr. L's nurse said she even looked at my chart to make sure they had given me the correct drugs the first time. I keep telling people...I have a LOT of hair. But it is coming out in handfuls and is all over the place.

They used the port today. I barely felt the needle go in. The only down side is that the flow goes in much slower so it took a little longer. Also, the area around the port started turning red last week so they gave an an anti-biotic to take for a week "just in case" it's an infection.

MFD went with me today as BDHA had to leave on a trip. We had a deal. She'd sit in with the doctor and in the chemo room only if we went to Jimmy John's for lunch afterwards. I had their Beach Club which is turkey, tomato, alfalfa sprouts and avocado on multi-grain bread. It was good and reminded me of living in San Diego.

MFD then picked up her friend, K, and we all three went to Macy's to sign her up for the wedding registry. (MFD, that is. She's getting married in Vegas at the Luxor on 07/08/09. SAVE THAT DATE!). It was great fun going around with the gun and zapping all the things you'd like. Of course, you probably won't get most of it but it's still fun! She's also registered at Tarjet.

WHAWC
I went to a meeting of the Ways & Means committee which was held tonight at Eat N' Park. MFD and K went also and I bought them dinner. We discussed our main fund raiser which will be a Murder Mystery Dinner on March 28th at the Doubletree in Moon. I also told the women who didn't know, that I had breast cancer. (You would be proud of me M of NL, I didn't cry once). I gave the president permission to post it in the newsletter and also to post this URL. I met one woman tonight, H, who is a flight attendant for USAir. I asked her if she knew BDHA and she thought his name sounded familiar and he kind of looked familiar (cell phone picture). However, when I mentioned that last year he had driven a bunch of flight attendants back to Pitt from Philly because all of the flights were full, in the van he kept there, she said "I was one of those!". Small world! I even let some of the woman (more like told them) to feel the tumor. It's on top and close to the skin so it wasn't like we were having a petting session in the back of the restaurant....though the head of the Arts Committee did have her camera and thought about taking a picture of it.... Besides, the main charity of the club this year is the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Nothing like hands-on research.

VANITY IS MY FAVORITE SIN, PART DEUX

I had forgotten to post some thoughts under this heading last time. This is about my hair falling out and looking different.

I told my family that once you lose your hair, you can't hide that you have cancer any more. People will look at you, think "cancer victim", "wonder how long she has", "stay away from her cause it might be catching". I will no longer be invisible. I thrive on being invisible.

After we had lived here a few years, I took BDHA's uniform into the cleaners. The clerk said "And when would you like to pick this up, Mrs. Gardner?" I went home and told BDHA we had to move because "They know who we are".

My entire childhood was spent reading. When my mother couldn't find me she would start opening the closets. I would be in one with a flashlight reading. It was the only peace and quiet I got from my 4 siblings. She got so frustrated with me not knowing what was going on in the real world that I had to tell her one new thing I saw on the bus either on my way to school or on my way back or I would be punished (probably lose my library priviledges, I can't remember now). She was totally amazed at the things I would tell her I saw that I never knew were there because I had never paid attention. To this day, I can get so engrossed in work that people could be standing over me talking to me and I wouldn't realize it.

When I'm at parties, I just like to sit back and listen. I'll say something once in awhile but mostly I'll listen. I also don't drink that much so it becomes MUCH more interesting when everyone else does. I can remember things they said/did that they don't remember. Comes in handy later (kidding).

Today was another good, successful CHEMO day. I plan to be at work tomorrow though it's awfully late right now...probably won't get up as early. Good night...