FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!

I think when I was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease I felt incredibly lonely, and very afraid. My journey has never been one where I have ever actually been alone; amazing survivors have surrounded me and I endured treatment at the same time as some of my mother's friends. I have a new understanding of how fearfully common cancer has become. I was shocked to return to school and discover that four of my classmates had family members or were personally touched by a cancer diagnosis over the holiday. I've read that anywhere between 1 in every 4 people to one in every 6 people will in their lifetime have cancer. What's happening??? While I'm very lucky to have one of the MOST treatable (and I'll even go so far to say one of the more endurable treatments) types of Cancer, there is still a LONG way to go.

As I realize I have a larger reader base for this blog than I ever imagined. I believe that this is my tool to inform others about cancer, find some great resources, and ultimately encourage HEALTH! I want to encourage you to go to www.cancer.org and do the Great American Health Check!

Allow me to step off my soapbox and share something that no one ever shared with me about Chemo. Chemo brain.

It's now documented that many individuals who undergo chemotherapy experience 'cognitive problems.' One survivor shared the story of staring at her microwave soon after treatment and just cringe, because she couldn't recall how to use it! For me, I've been able to continue using most household equipment with only my typical snafus. Alas - as always, it's my internal mouth filter that seems to have shut off. For instance I implied that one of the heavier nurses was pregnant (when she wasn't), other time's I flashed my new credit card- while exclaiming "Isn't it so pretty?" Besides that, really simple things become hilarious. Candyland & Pass the Pigs are more fun during treatment than when I was small. This week Matt & I watched Dodgeball, a Ben Stiller movie that I've seen a couple times. It must have been the drugs, because I NEVER recalled it being so funny before. Must be Chemo brain. Lucky for me the effects will wear off before class on Tuesday.

I've now completed 6 full sessions of Chemo, lost the majority of my body hair, but have managed to have a hairstyle that more resembles David Letterman than Donald Trump. The next couple weeks will be filled with tests and scans-- all which I hope will indicate that I'm very close to having completed treatment!