Day 178. Update on errythang.

Well, hello there!  I figured it was time for another actual update on my life and not just a video.

I had my 11th chemo treatment this past week.  Yes, 11!  Which means I only have one left!  I'm almost there!

One of my coworkers (a fellow cancer survivor) made this beautiful quilt for me!

My last treatment is scheduled for the 25th.  I'll then have a PET scan in mid- to late-April to see if the cancer is gone.  Dr. Blau will then present my case to the tumor board, and they'll decide if I have to have radiation.  I'm hoping I don't have to since I don't have bulky disease, but it's still a possibility.  I'm also planning on going back to work in about a month.

I'm still lucking out in the side effect department.  I have very little nausea, and no mouth sores.  I still have the funky taste buds the week after chemo.  My appetite has become crazy, though.  I'm hungry all the time.  I'll eat something, and then an hour later my stomach will be growling.  It's very frustrating.  Especially when everything tastes horrible, and nothing sounds appetizing.

What's really strange is that a lot of the side effects I have come and go.  The insomnia is pretty much gone, and last week I was dealing with numbness in my left hand.  Half my hand was numb for a few days.  But that has since resolved itself.  It's weird.

I'm done giving myself shots!  Dr. Blau made me go 6 weeks on them instead of the original month, but the 6 week mark has now passed.

My hair has been growing like crazy.  It's so odd.  I figured my hair would completely fall out, and wouldn't come back until after I'm done with treatment.  But it's grown a lot since I had it buzzed the last time.  My eyebrows and eyelashes are also starting to grow back.  And my leg hair!  It's really disheartening seeing leg hair after not having it for a few months, haha.

Speaking of hair, I got a "haircut" a few days ago, lol.  My original Zara wig was getting pretty haggard looking, so I took it to my hairstylist to resurrect it.  It turned out so cute!  The shorter style will be really fun to rock during the spring and summer while my hair grows back.

I've been spending a lot of time looking at things to do in Tennessee and at travel videos.  My trip to CMA Fest is getting so close!  Less than three months!  I can't wait to celebrate being done with treatment with my friends in one of my favorite places on the planet.  I've actually decided to make my trip longer than I originally planned, so I can go visit my aunt and uncle that live in Memphis.  So I'll be there for about 4 days, then my friends and I will drive to Nashville and stay there for 8 days.  I'm so excited!  I'm probably driving my friends insane with the messages I send them about it (sorry, guys!), but it's nice to have something to look forward to.  

And I need some music in my life.  For those of you who may not know, going to concerts is kind of my thing.  I love experiencing live music.  And I haven't been able to go to a show since my diagnosis.  I'm so excited to start going to some again!  I'm going to celebrate finishing chemo by going to the Dan + Shay show in Seattle, then next month I'm going down to Portland to see Garth Brooks.  Then in May, I have pit tickets for Luke Bryan.  Nothing like getting right back into my pre-cancer swing of things!  :)

Okay, I'm going to go watch the replay of the Mariners game from today and relax.  TEN DAYS, GUYS!  Ten days and I'm done!  :)