Day 94. Another insanely belated update! :)

Yes, yes, I know I've once again been slacking on my updates.  Erin fail!  But luckily, as far as side effects and that sort of thing goes, there isn't much to report!

Since my last entry, I've had two more chemo treatments.  I'm almost halfway done!

Here's #4:

Annnnd #5:

Like I said before, the side effects (or lack thereof) have been very kind to me the last month or so.  After my fourth chemo, I had my one night of nausea and I was done.  I had a little joint pain, but that was it.  My fifth chemo was this past Tuesday, and the nausea lasted a little longer, but it's very mild nausea.  Just an upset stomach most of the day, but no vomiting.  My taste buds are also still affected, but I may have figured out the reason for that - it's the same days that I would have had mouth sores following the chemo.  So sucking on the ice cubes must deaden them or something?  I'm not sure, but I'll absolutely take not being able to taste sugar over the mouth sores.  My jaw has also been sensitive, and hurts when I first bite down on something or take a drink.  I've also been a lot more fatigued this week.

I know it sounds weird to say, but I have been so lucky throughout this process.  My side effects are so minimal compared to what some people with Hodgkin's go through.  I know of people who vomit for days on end, or have open sores on their face from the chemo chemicals.  I'm very fortunate that I haven't had to deal with anything that severe, and I hope that I don't have to the rest of my journey.

I had a PET scan done last week following my first 2 cycles, and got the results this week.  GREAT NEWS!!!  The cancer is responding to chemo and has decreased in all of my lymph nodes.  My abdomen, spleen, and liver are also completely clear!  I'm so happy, I could cry.  In fact, I did shed a few tears when I found out.  I'm actually doing it.  I'm kicking cancer's ass!!  :)

My white blood cell count continues to be extremely low, but luckily it's been just high enough to still be able to do chemo.  Dr. Blau is worried about me getting an infection and not being able to fight it, so she decided to put me on a daily antibiotic, indefinitely.  I've also been having mood swings and getting agitated easily, so I've been put on an antidepressant.

On Thursday while I was napping, I must have slept with my neck kinked and woke up in a lot of pain where the catheter from my port goes up into my neck.  It was also really red around the old incision.  After a couple calls to the oncologist's office, I had to go into Tacoma to have a doppler ultrasound done to make sure I didn't have a blood clot.  Everything checked out okay, and I still have no idea what caused the pain, but for the most part it's back to normal now.

I got a new wig, and it's been a lot of fun trying out a new look!  A wig site that I like had a cyber Monday sale and everything was 40% off, so I decided to get one that I'd been eyeing for a while.  I love it!  I may even love it more than my human hair one.  It's such a cute style, and I love the color.  It looks so real, and I think I pull off the blonde okay.  :)

Earlier this week, I got to participate in the American Cancer Society's "Look Good, Feel Better" program.  It's a makeup and skincare workshop for cancer patients to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of their treatment.  They also do scarf tying demonstrations and have wigs for you to check out.  They give you a huge makeup kit to use and take home, free of charge.

Here's what was in my kit:

And me, afterward:  

Seriously, to all my fellow warriors - check this program out.  I had so much fun, and it was great to meet the other women who were fighting their own battles.  Go to lookgoodfeelbetter.org to find a workshop near you!

For most of you who know me, you know that doing makeup has always been a hobby (or obsession, haha) of mine.  While the workshop was fun and informative, I caught myself thinking a couple of times that I could teach a class like this.  So I'm thinking about doing a couple of video tutorials geared toward those fighting cancer - how to fill in or draw on your eyebrows, how to put on false eyelashes, the best products for dry skin, etc.  Is that something my fellow warriors would be interested in?  Let me know in a comment!

In non-cancer-related news, I got to meet my favorite football player!  Kam Chancellor was doing a toy drive in Renton last weekend, and I really just needed to get out of the house, so I went up there with a friend.  It was so cool to meet him and chat with him, plus it was for a great cause!

I'm bummed that I won't be in Arizona for the game tomorrow like I'd planned, but as long as the Seahawks win, I don't mind having to watch from home!  :)

I can't believe Christmas is only a few days away!  It really snuck up on me.  I haven't even started shopping yet!  Hopefully I'll feel up to doing it on Monday, and hopefully pretty much everyone is okay with getting gift cards!  :)

I'm signing off for the night - going to go watch an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (no shame!) and hit the sack.  Ciao!