Well, I'm down to my last few eye lashes.
I never appreciated the true purpose of eye lashes until now - their job is to keep lint, gnats, fuzz, fingers, flying objects, etc. from entering the eye. Much like whiskers on a cat, they help sense when something is getting too close for comfort.
I miss my eyelashes, honestly, more than I miss my hair!
Ironically, the slow growing eyebrows are the last to go. So I figure they'll pop out right around my last chemo! Can't wait to see what life without eyebrows brings....
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Warning: You May Die Sooner.
I had to laugh today...I got a very expensive ($4000.00) shot today, thank God it's covered by my insurance! The shot will help boost my hemoglobin count, which has dipped quite low due to chemo and has greatly contributed to my fatigue.
The shot came with a release form I was made to sign before I could get injected. Listed under the warnings and possible side effects: Stroke, heart attack, blood clots, and this next one is word for word - you may die sooner.
Sooner than when?? As I said, I had to laugh.
XO
Lisa
The shot came with a release form I was made to sign before I could get injected. Listed under the warnings and possible side effects: Stroke, heart attack, blood clots, and this next one is word for word - you may die sooner.
Sooner than when?? As I said, I had to laugh.
XO
Lisa
Friday, April 20, 2012
Give all your worries and cares to God...
...for he cares about you.
"In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation." (1 Peter 5:7-10 NLT)
I am ok with the suffering because I know he will restore, support, and strengthen me, and he will place me on a firm foundation!
"All power to him forever! Amen." (1 Peter 5:11 NLT)
"In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation." (1 Peter 5:7-10 NLT)
I am ok with the suffering because I know he will restore, support, and strengthen me, and he will place me on a firm foundation!
"All power to him forever! Amen." (1 Peter 5:11 NLT)
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Half Way There!!!
I'm sitting in the chemotherapy infusion room as I type this. I'm hooked up to the last dosing of the two drugs Adriamycin and Cytoxan. These two chemotherapy drugs are poison at its finest. I pray they have completed their mission to seek out and destroy any rogue cancer cells that could be roaming throughout my body. But as much as I have hated these two drugs with a passion, they are actually two of my greatest friends. And though I've needed them these past two months, I'm now quite thrilled to see them go, as they must make way for the next chemotherapy in the queue - Taxol. Two weeks from today, I begin this next phase of four 4 hour treatments administered every other week through June 13th...just in time for summer!
I intend to face this next challenge in the following manner:
I intend to face this next challenge in the following manner:
Monday, April 16, 2012
The Kindness of Friends...
There are so many kindnesses my friends have shown me...from organizing and providing meals to washing and folding laundry (even picking up dirty socks and underwear!) to carpools for my kids to providing me with colorful scarves to wear to giving TLC to my horses to silent prayers to continually sending words of encouragement and so much more!
My dear and long time friend, Phyllis, was ever so kind and gracious enough to take BOTH of my very active and large dogs for the past three months while I recovered from my mastectomy and began chemotherapy. I cannot begin thank her, her family, and ALL my friends enough for EVERY act of kindness given to help me through this! You have all forever changed me for the better and I will never forget.
"Your kindness will reward you..." Proverbs 11:17
I asked Phyllis to bring my dogs home today, in large part, because I'm 'dying' (pun intended) for some normalcy in my life, and also because having them home will force me to take much needed and doctor prescribed daily walks. I took my first walk today in months (actually got a few blisters on my previously slipper wearin' feet!) and couldn't help but notice how beautiful everything around me truly is!
Below are some pictures I snapped while out and about.
"Let the earth be glad." Psalms 96:11
Today, I truly am!!
XO
My dear and long time friend, Phyllis, was ever so kind and gracious enough to take BOTH of my very active and large dogs for the past three months while I recovered from my mastectomy and began chemotherapy. I cannot begin thank her, her family, and ALL my friends enough for EVERY act of kindness given to help me through this! You have all forever changed me for the better and I will never forget.
"Your kindness will reward you..." Proverbs 11:17
I asked Phyllis to bring my dogs home today, in large part, because I'm 'dying' (pun intended) for some normalcy in my life, and also because having them home will force me to take much needed and doctor prescribed daily walks. I took my first walk today in months (actually got a few blisters on my previously slipper wearin' feet!) and couldn't help but notice how beautiful everything around me truly is!
Below are some pictures I snapped while out and about.
"Let the earth be glad." Psalms 96:11
Today, I truly am!!
XO
Sunday, April 15, 2012
The Kindness of Strangers...
I have been forever changed by the kindness of my family members and cherished friends. Along with my growing faith, it has been the foundation of my positive attitude during this difficult time in my life.
I have also been greatly touched by unexpected acts of kindness from several strangers along this journey. One woman, in particular, approached me with a smile, a hug, and the simple phrase "It grows back, curly!" as she twirled her fingers through her short, curly, darling bob.
I hope I can help a stranger someday in the same way her kindness helped me that day and everyday since.
"Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.". Hebrews 13:2
I have also been greatly touched by unexpected acts of kindness from several strangers along this journey. One woman, in particular, approached me with a smile, a hug, and the simple phrase "It grows back, curly!" as she twirled her fingers through her short, curly, darling bob.
I hope I can help a stranger someday in the same way her kindness helped me that day and everyday since.
"Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.". Hebrews 13:2
Friday, April 13, 2012
Take Pride In How Far You Have Come...
...And Have Faith In How Far You Can Go!
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the LORD comes to the rescue each time." (Psalm 34:18,19 NLT)
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the LORD comes to the rescue each time." (Psalm 34:18,19 NLT)
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The Fingerprint of Cancer
By Allison Takeda
Scientists at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine are working to develop a test that can detect a breast cancer "fingerprint" in a single droplet of blood, thus reducing our dependence on mammography.
Screening for breast cancer has been the subject of some controversy in recent years, but if new research holds up, the mammogram debate could be a thing of the past in the not-so-distant future.
Researchers from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine are working to develop a new blood test that could someday reduce our dependence on mammography and change the way we diagnose breast cancer and other diseases.
The Future of Cancer Screening?
Collaborating with teams from McGill’s Goodman Cancer Research Centre, Juncker’s biomedical group next used the test to measure the profile of 32 specific proteins in the blood of 28 individuals, 17 of whom had a particular type of breast cancer. From these 32 proteins, the researchers were able to identify a subset of six that were specific to the patients with cancer and could be used to establish a so-called “fingerprint” for the disease.
“While this study needs to be repeated with additional markers and a greater diversity of patients and cancer subsets before such a test can be applied to clinical diagnosis, these results nonetheless underscore the exciting potential of this new technology,” Juncker said.
In particular, Juncker and his team hope to develop a handheld version of the test that can be used in a physician’s office using a single droplet of blood to detect breast cancer and other diseases at the earliest possible stage — and without the cost, inconvenience, or risk sometimes associated with mammograms.
Scientists at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine are working to develop a test that can detect a breast cancer "fingerprint" in a single droplet of blood, thus reducing our dependence on mammography.
Screening for breast cancer has been the subject of some controversy in recent years, but if new research holds up, the mammogram debate could be a thing of the past in the not-so-distant future.
Researchers from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine are working to develop a new blood test that could someday reduce our dependence on mammography and change the way we diagnose breast cancer and other diseases.
The Future of Cancer Screening?
Collaborating with teams from McGill’s Goodman Cancer Research Centre, Juncker’s biomedical group next used the test to measure the profile of 32 specific proteins in the blood of 28 individuals, 17 of whom had a particular type of breast cancer. From these 32 proteins, the researchers were able to identify a subset of six that were specific to the patients with cancer and could be used to establish a so-called “fingerprint” for the disease.
“While this study needs to be repeated with additional markers and a greater diversity of patients and cancer subsets before such a test can be applied to clinical diagnosis, these results nonetheless underscore the exciting potential of this new technology,” Juncker said.
In particular, Juncker and his team hope to develop a handheld version of the test that can be used in a physician’s office using a single droplet of blood to detect breast cancer and other diseases at the earliest possible stage — and without the cost, inconvenience, or risk sometimes associated with mammograms.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Happy (cough, cough) Easter!
Well, I developed a painful respiratory infection, as chemotherapy has weakened my immune system. This turn of events required a lengthy visit to the Emergency Room, and I must say I was amazed at the VIP treatment I received as a result of being a cancer patient...at least I was amazed until I got a glimpse of myself in a passing window and realized I looked like I was on death's doorstep...good to know the treatment is so nice when people think you're actually dying...as in, moments from death! Of course, I'm not, nor was I actually at death's door, but it's amazing how one infection can make you look and feel that way. Maybe I should dig out the old makeup bag and blush....
I write this post at 4am because the coughing, and the Easter bunny, woke me and I cannot get back to sleep.
My mother always told me "offer up your worries and suffering for Christ" as Jesus did suffer an unimaginable amount for us, and we are reminded of this often, especially at Easter. I know I can offer up my suffering, I know I want to, I know I will.
"And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.". Matthew 28:20
God bless and Happy Easter!!!
XO
Lisa
I write this post at 4am because the coughing, and the Easter bunny, woke me and I cannot get back to sleep.
My mother always told me "offer up your worries and suffering for Christ" as Jesus did suffer an unimaginable amount for us, and we are reminded of this often, especially at Easter. I know I can offer up my suffering, I know I want to, I know I will.
"And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.". Matthew 28:20
God bless and Happy Easter!!!
XO
Lisa
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
"And the very hairs on your head are all numbered....
"....So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." (Luke 12:7 NLT)
Well I sure hope God is keeping track of my hairs, because I'm down to just a few dozen, and He will surely have His work cut out for Him when it comes time to put them all back in their exact same spot!
Chemo #3 as I type, and I'm dreading it. I can feel my body getting weaker everyday, and I wonder how I will ever get through 9 more treatments over the next three months.
The answer, I must keep believing, is through the strength of my faith, family, and dear friends. God bless you and thank you for lifting me up in your prayers.
XO
Lisa
Well I sure hope God is keeping track of my hairs, because I'm down to just a few dozen, and He will surely have His work cut out for Him when it comes time to put them all back in their exact same spot!
Chemo #3 as I type, and I'm dreading it. I can feel my body getting weaker everyday, and I wonder how I will ever get through 9 more treatments over the next three months.
The answer, I must keep believing, is through the strength of my faith, family, and dear friends. God bless you and thank you for lifting me up in your prayers.
XO
Lisa
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