Pimple head

I've been wearing my wig exclusively for several days. The band that holds the wig on my stubby bald head is a bit tight and I feel that the top of my head is about to pop like a giant zit. Cancer is not at all romantic. When I don't wear my wig and my head is cold I wear a little soft cotton (ski-like) hat.

Home...for now

We're home from the hospital for a week or so until the next round of chemo starts (when I'll be an inpatient at the hospital again.) While I'm home I'm receiving antiviral chemo. A home health nurse came to the house this morning and taught Jim how to set up my chemo. I wear a backpack with the bag of medication and a pump that sends the chemo into my "PICC line" in my arm for 4 hours twice a day. The nurse also draws labs every day. At least I'm mobile and don't have to be in the hospital to receive my chemo.

As the Stomach Churns

Somehow I expected to be free from any nausea this far in the game since I didn't have any problem during the first week of chemo last time. However, the sick-to-my-stomach feeling has hit me in full force the past two days. The oncologists have some great meds for such occasions, but most put you to sleep as well as stop the nausea. I suppose that's not a bad combination. However, life goes by entirely too quickly in that mode. I've learned through this experience that life, husband, family (and my dog) are extremely precious to me.

You Give Me Fever

"Fever in the morning, fever all through the night . . ." (Peggy Lee, Fever)

This is Jim, providing a little context to the past couple of weeks. Following Denise's first round of chemo from January 12-16 her immune system crashed on Day 10 of the three week cycle. She spiked fevers as high as 104 degrees and spent a week in the hospital in Colorado Springs fighting the fever and waiting for her blood counts to recover. One night at home was interrupted by another fever so she went back into the hospital and was transferred up to Aurora. After another week of various scans and tests, her team of doctors determined she has a systemic virus which they've started treating in addition to the chemo for her CNS lymphoma. The second round of chemo which was supposed to have started February 2 was postponed until the 6th and is now underway. Actually, Denise is feeling much better (hence the resumption of her blog). I feel like the Phantom of the Opera, wandering around hospitals in my pajamas at night, frightening unsuspecting nurses.

Hairballs

I knew it would come to this: hairballs. Hair fell out on my pillow at night leaving bare spots on my scalp and hair in my mouth. I was like a cat coughing up hairballs...(ack, ack, ack...here it comes...gack-k-k-k).

I could run my fingers through my hair and clumps would fall out. I looked like a fluffy dandelion ready to have all of its seeds blown away.

Time to make the strike. The oncology department has a special tool they use for occasions like this...hair clippers!

I had prepared for this moment at least physically by purchasing a wig in advance. However, I wasn't prepared emotionally.