Halfway

This is the morning after my fourth of eight treatments, and the last of the drug combination that most women feel is the worst (Adriamycin and Cytoxin, or “AC”). No “morning after hangover” fortunately – when Michael asked me how I would like to celebrate, I suggested a big glass of sparkling water (alcohol still holds very limited appeal).

I have been slow to write again after my last entry, not because I have been feeling ill or because I have been too busy styling my wig (although that is HARD! I thought that years of doing hair for Barbie as a child might help, but no luck, I still can’t master the round barrel curling iron – I had to give up and take her into the wiggery yesterday for a $40 touchup). No, I’ve just been occupied with life, which feels great.

They say that every woman with breast cancer handles treatment differently, and I am grateful to be one of the lucky ones so far. Apart from my every-other-Thursday chemo sessions and my follow-up appointments the next day, I have been at work full time (which includes late night emails, breakfast and dinner meetings, and spending most Sunday evenings on the computer getting ready for the week ahead). We have cooked dinner for friends, gone to the theater, gone to the gym. Thanks to Michael’s parents, who have been in town this week, we are also making great progress on finishing all the little jobs on the apartment left over after last year’s renovation, wallpapering, grouting and making all the small adjustments the contractors overlooked or couldn’t be bothered with – at last, nearly 2 years after we bought it, the apartment feels finished!

Apart from going to bed an hour or two earlier (which Michael, who normally needs more sleep than I do and gets up an hour earlier, says is the best Christmas present I could have given him), we are living our lives as we always have. That, combined with the ongoing support we’ve been given by our friends near and far, new and old, close and haven’t seen in years, has made an enormous difference to my mental health – and it seems to be working on my physical health too. Thanks to all of you for being such an important part of my recovery, and stay tuned for the ALL the way there celebration 10 weeks from now.