A Little Note from my Travels…

I just had to share: as I am in the midst of this marathon of travels and errands in the lead-up to my big reconstruction surgery, I have been doing very well. I feel great. Really great. Forgive me if I said this already (I don’t think I have, but if I’m mistaken then just [...]

My Cancer Twin

Back in early July, before I’d gone to Spain, I had lunch with an American friend of mine. I hadn’t seen her since before all this began, and we obviously needed to catch up.  I’d known Jess since before I moved to Belgium, though I didn’t meet her face-to-face until I got there. We’d been “set-up” [...]

Week 1, Chemo 1

First of all, I’d like to say a thank you to everyone who has left me lovely supportive comments. I try to make it a habit to answer all first time commentors personally, but with all the traveling I’ve been doing and limited internet access I’ve had it just hasn’t been possible. I do thank [...]

After Chemo 1

Just a quick word here, stealing 5 minutes of internet time…
 So, I made it through chemo, and the staff made it through doing what they needed to do, not giving into my pitiful state — holding my lip steady but with tears running down my face. I felt I should be embarrassed about it, but I [...]

Pause

Hi dear readers, I’m afraid I’m going to have another blip of severely limited internet access for a week (hardly seems possible but it’s true!) or so. Just to warn you that there will be another patch of spotty postings. I’ll do my best though to get here though! 

And then came Chemo…

Now I am not going to lie to you — chemo scared the pants off of me. I wasn’t very brave about that bit at all (and I’m not ashamed about it!). I got a litte weepy when I went to bed, so I took a sleeping pill to assure that I’d get some rest.
The day [...]

The Ordeal of the Wound

I had some weeks to recover before chemo would start. One major thing of note happened in that time: (sorry, long entry here, even for me…)
The wound healed up prettily for about thee weeks. I got my second tube removed earlier than normal as well and my sister returned to America. Then, just before the [...]

Pathology Report

I have a hospital appointment where I receive the fantastic news that NONE of my lymph nodes were infected. I’ll be honest, I struggled with this when they told me. Having zero nodes infected is one of the more important indicators of prognosis, but now it felt like they had taken them for nothing. That [...]

Friends Save the Day (once again)

I quickly became obsessed with the idea that my armpit stank. I don’t really know if that was true, but not being able to bathe properly was driving me mad. Jen, Julie and Del got a kick out of the fact that I was constantly trying to smell it, not satisfied with their assurances that [...]

Back at Home

It doesn’t feel like July 4th at all. Quite painful today and last night. Lots of sensation. Arm was tired and weird feeling all day yesterday and night. Back hurts butt loads. Man my armpit hurts. And oh my god it is unbelievably, stinking hot as hell…
Belgium also has the thoughtful service of providing [...]