It's been five weeks since my last -- my very last -- chemotherapy treatment. Hurray! I'm feeling pretty joyous these days because my tastebuds are coming back and I can eat things that I only wished I could eat when I was in treatment. I haven't noticed any hair coming back, but my energy level is getting better; however, that is a slower process than I would like. And it's a little frustrating because I want to feel energetic and do more of the things I want to do ... like take all the Christmas decor down, or clean the spare bedroom out ... but I have discovered that the energy I do have still isn't what I'd consider "normal" ... I don't have the stamina that I'd like to have at this point. I'm still limited in how much I can do on any given day.
I've been told by the doctors and nurses, and I've read, that the fatigue -- the inertia and lethargy -- that comes as a result of the treatments for breast cancer can last for anywhere from 6 to 9 months after the treatments are over. I wanted to think that in my case that would not be true, but I'm having to come to terms with the fact that I am not superwoman.
That said, I am feeling hopeful and positive and appreciating every small stride I'm making in my recovery. It's a journey, and, as they say, every journey begins with one step. So here's to taking small steps to getting back to "normal" ... whatever that is!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Resolutions
Every year I make lame resolutions on January 1st and by the end of the first week of January I've pretty much already abandoned them. This year is going to be different because I'm going to make a resolution that won't be hard to keep. I'm going to be happy to be alive!
I'm going to be thankful for every moment and take joy in the simple things. I think this resolution will be easy to keep because it isn't unrealistic. I'm not saying I won't have bad days where I feel sorry for myself or have times when I get mad in traffic or get impatient while waiting in line at the grocery store. What I'm saying is that when those things happen, I'm going to remind myself that I've been fighting cancer for the last eight months and have come out on the other side of chemotherapy treatments. I'm going to remind myself that there are worse things than being stuck in traffic or a long, slow moving line. If I'm feeling sad or tired or defeated at any given moment, I'll remind myself that at least I have the opportunity to feel that way.
Yes, this year I am feeling pretty confident that I'll be successful at keeping my resolution. And I feel like the luckiest girl in the world because I'm able to make that resolution and work on it all year!
I'm going to be thankful for every moment and take joy in the simple things. I think this resolution will be easy to keep because it isn't unrealistic. I'm not saying I won't have bad days where I feel sorry for myself or have times when I get mad in traffic or get impatient while waiting in line at the grocery store. What I'm saying is that when those things happen, I'm going to remind myself that I've been fighting cancer for the last eight months and have come out on the other side of chemotherapy treatments. I'm going to remind myself that there are worse things than being stuck in traffic or a long, slow moving line. If I'm feeling sad or tired or defeated at any given moment, I'll remind myself that at least I have the opportunity to feel that way.
Yes, this year I am feeling pretty confident that I'll be successful at keeping my resolution. And I feel like the luckiest girl in the world because I'm able to make that resolution and work on it all year!
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