When will it end?

Hi Everyone,

Well, how could I start off without making some comment about the Olympics. Way to go Canada, eh? This is a picture that got taken during the US/Canada Gold medal hockey game. Notice I am smiling and Doug is tense ;-) It was a great game, possibly the best hockey game I've ever seen.

Life has been going OK. I mean, healthwise, compared to my last chemo, this is a piece of cake. I generally feel normal, have lots of energy, don't feel nauseous, don't have horrible taste in my mouth, etc. However, I feel like this chemo is never going to end! And it is incredibly hard on my white blood cell counts. Today, again, I got refused for chemo because my white blood cell counts were too low. I got the Neulasta shot (white blood cell booster) and expect to have a weekend and possibly Friday of achy legs. So, the chemo cycle extends... and if it keeps going this way, it is going to extend out until May. Hello.... can I get a break? Well, at least I am healthy and have only had one cold during this entire experience and that was after the first chemo was over.

I don't have much else to update... I think I am only going to do one more fill with my expanders and then I'll have to fight with the doc to not pump 'em up further. I won't get into it but he doesn't support me being small. I am not crystal clear why... probably because he put big expanders in and they are only getting half filled but tough luck, it's my chest. If you are wondering, my chest is still sore from these darn things. I mean, it's not hugely painful, I don't need Advil or anything, but just always sore to the touch... like, "hey, don't forget us... we're fake and we just wanted to remind you!".

Positive news - I went for a big swim last week and I continue to grow stronger. Yay! I also went for a 20 mile bike ride on my road bike, which is the best news of all. My back did pretty well and I had no sciatica pain. I am hoping for more riding this weekend and then maybe some mid-week riding next week.

The pain in my sciatica remains and my doc is leaning towards microsurgery. Physio did no good and he says that it tends to aggrivate sciatica (leg pain). He said I could do another epidural shot but of course, with no gurantees, I'm just not sure. I am now going to explore acupuncture and possibly massage therapy. I guess I'll try anything. I can't have surgery until after chemo anyway, so I have time to try some things.

Doug and I are heading to the Susan G Komen MasCUREade event in Santa Ana tomorrow night. Hoping to be inspired, eat some good food and learn about other survivors.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Mo