Well, my first update is nothing new really. My first radiation treatments went well, lasting only a few minutes and there is no pain involved. The making of the scans and face mask took five hours or so and that was hard, but I don't have to do that again. They stretch this warm plastic over your face and attatch it to a table, so I can't move at all and they can align the treatments to the same area each time. I will have five areas on my head about the size of the palm of your hand where I will lose my hair in a week or so. I went ahead and cut it all off this past weekend so that I could donate it before it fell out. They needed at least eight inches, but since I cut it so close to my head, they actually got ten inches. I am giving it to "Beautiful Lengths", the one that was on Oprah and Hilary Swank has been promoting, wigs made just for women with cancer. I have donated to "Locks for Love" before and they are for children.
Chemo has been okay too so far, been on it since Wednesday and taking nausea pills with it and so far haven't felt any different. But in addition to steroids to combat brain swelling and seizure meds too, I feel a little spacy now and again and very clumsy, but okay. I hope to feel well enough this Friday to get some shopping done before the worst hits me. I went hat shopping too and that was hard to do. Because my scalp will be so raw, I can't just wear any old hat. It will have to be soft and fairly loose. Plus one of the radiation fields covers a portion of my ear and after two sessions, it's irritated enough that my glasses bug me, so I can't wear them much longer either. I can't just wear any old tobogan or baseball cap like regular chemo patients can. I did find a really nice holiday green chenille bucket hat that will work great and I can put some holiday pins on it or a pretty ribbon around the little brim. I just love it, you can kinda flip up the brim on the front so it looks like the old tv character Blossom or even Giligan.
I will try to keep posting when I can, but if not anytime soon, everyone have a wonderful, bountiful, and very thankful Thanksgiving. Give your family and horses a big hug!!
Chemo has been okay too so far, been on it since Wednesday and taking nausea pills with it and so far haven't felt any different. But in addition to steroids to combat brain swelling and seizure meds too, I feel a little spacy now and again and very clumsy, but okay. I hope to feel well enough this Friday to get some shopping done before the worst hits me. I went hat shopping too and that was hard to do. Because my scalp will be so raw, I can't just wear any old hat. It will have to be soft and fairly loose. Plus one of the radiation fields covers a portion of my ear and after two sessions, it's irritated enough that my glasses bug me, so I can't wear them much longer either. I can't just wear any old tobogan or baseball cap like regular chemo patients can. I did find a really nice holiday green chenille bucket hat that will work great and I can put some holiday pins on it or a pretty ribbon around the little brim. I just love it, you can kinda flip up the brim on the front so it looks like the old tv character Blossom or even Giligan.
I will try to keep posting when I can, but if not anytime soon, everyone have a wonderful, bountiful, and very thankful Thanksgiving. Give your family and horses a big hug!!
