Up next is a busy week. Today, I am flying home. Tomorrow, I wrap up the final visit at MGH for a fatigue study associated with chemo and breast cancer. Then, Wednesday is the big one - Lumpectomy Day! Phase two, as I see it, will be over and done with before I (almost) know it. While that may be in part due to jetlag, I'll take it!
This past week has been my first third week of a cycle and I have to say, what a difference. Even with the fatigue I felt at the end of the 8 weeks of Taxol, I have felt noticeably better this week. Noticeably!!! I worked very hard and long hours at the regatta and I didn't feel nearly as wiped out as I had the last few weeks at home, particularly week one following Taxol 3 and 4. I even got exercise 6 out of the last 8 days, and it wasn't a struggle - not any more than one would expect in an un-air-conditioned gym anyway. It is really heartening to me how good I feel, although there is still a way to go.
Two physical updates of note. The purple fingernails from the nail bed attack of the Adriamycin are just starting to grow out long enough to clip. The base of my fingernails looks normal again, and at the last clipping, I had a little collection of faintly purple slivers of nails. Number two is that I have the tiniest amount of peach fuzz-like hair on most of my scalp. It is barely noticeable, but I the right light - a hotel bathroom with a half dozen mirrors and at least as many light bulbs - it just shows up. This doesn't mean the chemo isn't working, it's merely a part of this whole, weird process. However, it will still be a while before real hair starts to grow back.
Finally, for those of you who we're wondering, and if you were wondering you probably had already guessed the answer, yes, the Head of the Charles guaranteed 2x entry is in. Time for the callouses to develop - let's go skin, step it up, at least by October.
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