December 25, 2004

Things are going well.  Couple quick bits of news...

1. My bet is that my hair will be completely gone by Monday.  If I was really bored and wanted to move it along a bit, I would grab some duct tape and see how many pieces I could get in one try.  It would make an interesting party game perhaps if everyone had their own piece of duct tape...     In a sort of a weird way it feels pretty cool to pull it out.  A few minutes ago I was yanking a bunch out in front of the mirror, and as I pulled out clumps, I said to myself  "I can't believe this doesn't bother me more."  (out loud of course--I think I am talking to myself way more than is healthy lately).  It sort of surprises me that losing my hair doesn't bother me.  I think it's because I am excited to wear the wigs.  The sad part is that I only have one wig on hand so far (well, two if you count the Packer wig from Brenda, which is blond but isn't exactly appropriate for all social situations).  The other three are on their way and I have been trying to sweet-talk the crazy wig people in California into rushing the order....we'll soon see whether my charm worked or not.

3. The tumor is 1/4 of its original size--how cool is that??!!?!  And that's after only three treatments.  I asked my oncologist more about Herceptin, which is one of the chemo drugs I get -- it's the one that is specific to my type of cancer cell, and is the main one doing such an amazing job on this tumor.  Herceptin has only been in wide use for the last three or so years.  Just goes to show what an impact that research has had on this disease.  If I had been diagnosed 5 years ago, it wouldn't be as easy to fight this.

4. Chemo is certainly making a mess out of my sleep cycle.  I have always been a great sleeper -- fall right asleep, sleep all night, then wake up with the alarm.  But not anymore -- Thursday nights I seem to get no sleep at all, mainly due to the steroids I am on before the chemo.  But then I have a major crash on Friday night, and then am sort of caught up by Sunday.  Then it starts all over on Thursday again!  The good news is that I am still not experiencing any nausea -- those anti-nausea drugs are also doing a damn fine job :-)

5.  I know that the power of science is helping me a lot, but all your thoughts and prayers are doing the trick too.  I am a firm believer in medical science, but I also know the power of positive thinking and how all of you are contributing to my recovery with your prayers, thoughts and your support.  I know I could not do this alone.  Thank you for your help!

Have a wonderfully peaceful New Year :-)
Love Val

P.S. I know there are family members and maybe some friends for whom I don't have email addresses.  I don't mind if you forward these messages to them, or just tell me their email addresses and I will include them next time.  People have told me they like getting the updates, because then when they see me they don't have to ask a whole bunch of questions.  And I love sending them because then I don't forget what I have told one person, but maybe not another person...you know what I mean.