I am one year out from chemo today!!! Finished chemo on 09/17/09. It was such a relief to be done with the poison (yes, I still think it is poison). I really, really thought I would have more hair by now....not sure what is going on but my suspicious is the Tamoxifen. One of the side effects, other than hot flashes, is thinning hair.
Wondering how I am feeling at the one year mark? A bit tired but that could be from the interrupted sleep because of hot flashes or the long, long work hours. September 24th is my follow up with the oncologist, which will be my chance to ask for blood work to make sure I am still okay (I am a little concerned because of the fatigue).
For those of you that haven't had cancer, it might be difficult for you to understand the enormous fear associated with each doctor visit but even more so for tests. No matter how hard you try to put the fear of recurrence from your mind, it does slowly creep back in when you least expect it. For example, I had a follow up mammogram on 9/8 because of a microcalcification found on my first mammo post-treatment (March 09). I really thought I was okay with the situation but the closer I came to my appointment the more wound up I became and bitchy I might add.
I try very, very hard not to think about a recurrence but the mind does funny things when you push your thoughts to the back corner....they seem to hit a wall and bounce back at you full in the face when you are not ready. Normal reaction post-cancer? I say yes since I know so many that experience the same.
Eddy and I are busy, busy, busy networking and marketing our business to make sure we have work for the winter. Twelve, fourteen or sixteen hour days are not unusual for us....I hope our efforts pay off in the end! Business will slow in late November but we have our fingers crossed the new spray booth will keep us working through the winter months.
I just received an email that made me so happy....I was accepted for a Creative Healing Retreat for Breast Cancer Survivors 10/9 to 10/11 in Morro Bay. The cost is $150.00 for the entire weekend so I better start saving now! I feel like jumping up and down I am so excited. Check out the retreat information: http://www.enhancementinc.org/creative_healing_retreat_info.htm
Time for a little more filing.
Cheryl
