48. Unsolicited Advice from Strangers

One of the things I haven't really talked about is the amount of unsolicited advice I received from people I've never met because my Facebook & blog are open to the public.  It always seems to catch me off guard - and as much as I try to view them as people wanting to be helpful, well......you tell me.

Remember God loves you. He might need you home. He is calling a lot of people home lately. He has his reasons. If he wants you home he will take you regardless of your diagnosis. But he may want you to stay and he has allowed you to discover the cancer overgrowth to draw your attention to some course corrections you need to take. Do not be hasty in accepting treatment because of fear. You have time. You can start by avoiding sugar. It is the food for cancer. Cancer is anaerobic. Eat more alkaline foods. Cancer needs an acidic environment. Sleep. It improves immune function. Disclaimer I am not a doctor. I just read.

Cancer is not a death sentence. I encourage you to watch The Truth About Cancer Documentary. Cancer occurs in everyone. Usually our immune system takes it out. If there is an overgrowth of cancer there is a reason. You can find it and help heal your immune system. Most medical doctors attack the cancer. But it is just a symptom of a malfunctioning immune system. Chemotherapy and radiation only further weekend your immune system. I haven't looked into immuno therapy, but I think that may be a better way to go. There are reputable alternative methods. Don't let your fear of death rush you into a treatment that could reduce your chances instead of help them.

I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in August of 2015. A precious friend told me about Dr james herbal mix in West Africa, She gave me his contact number and email address,I contacted him quickly so he give me guaranty that his herbal medicine will cure my cancer and i will be heal forever I said Okay.I ask him about the process for the cure,he ask me to pay for the fees which i did and within 5 working days he sent me the herbal medicine then he instructed me on how to drink it for two weeks to get cured. So after drinking it for two weeks i was cured I'm so grateful and i promise i will recommend anyone with cancer to him and that what i'm doing.Dr James Herbal Medicine makes me believes there is a hope for people suffering from Parkinson's disease, Schizophrenia, Cancer,Scoliosis, Bladder Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Breast Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Leukemia, Lung Cancer, Skin Cancer, Uterine Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Fibromyalgia,a Syndrome Fibrodysplasia ,Epilepsy Dupuytren's disease, Diabetes ,Coeliac disease, Angiopathy, Ataxia, Arthritis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Adrenocortical carcinoma. Asthma, Allergic diseases. Hiv_ Aids, Herpes, Inflammatory bowel disease,Copd, Diabetes.

I've also received alot of advice from friends - from people who have been through (or are going through) the same things I am - I am SUPERBLY grateful for that advice.  That's a far cry from suggesting some untreated herbal remedy from West Africa that appears to cure everything.  I have to be honest, I was SUPER curious about what it might contain - to be able to cure both cancer, epilepsy, dementia, herpes AND allergies - that's GOT to be some good stuff right there.

Oh, if anybody wants Dr. James' contact information - let me know.  

47. Chemo #12 - The Final Countdown

Everything I knew about chemo and cancer came from watching "Dying Young" and reading Ben Hopkin's blog - so I really think i got a pretty good deal these past 17 weeks. It hasn't been pleasant, but other than some rough days and the trauma of losing my hair - it hasn't been unbearable.

This week......the cumulative effect of all that poison hit me like a pickup truck loaded with concrete travelling at warp speed. Vomiting, pain, chills, rashes, fevers - the whole raging gamut of yuckiness.

And I'm so GRATEFUL. Grateful for 17 weeks of "not nearly this bad." Grateful for excellent care in a third world country.
Grateful for a boss that doesn't threaten to fire me when I'm having a bad day or am especially chemo cranky. Grateful for the love and support from back home that's been overwhelming.

I've got about 7 more days of feeling like absolute garbage before things start turning around - so I probably won't be wholly social - but after that, LOOK OUT world! We are on the road to recovery!

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Okay - non Facebook version.  You CANNOT even imagine the suckiness right now.  Everything hurts.  Nothing stays down.  It's too hot in here.  It's too cold in here.  I'm having chills and sweats.  My feet are burning on the bottom.  I have a really strange nasty rash.  And I'm suuuuuuper cranky.  I mean, take my normal Resting Bitch Face - add chemo cranky - and then put the whole, 'no hair, spotty eyebrows, and the one or two eyelashes remaining' and it's more than slightly terrifying.

Hence, no picture on the Facebook post - I don't really need people to remember this look today.  But I do want to remember how awful it feels right now.  I want to remind myself that I survived this and that it got better.  And better.  And better.

46. Chemo #11 - The End of Isolation

Today (Tuesday) is my last day of proactive quarantine - let me be honest, I've been isolating for pretty much the last four months non-stop - but when you can't leave your room / porch, it's the first time it felt like being in prison.  Can't take out the trash.  Can't walk around the building for exercise.  Can't pop over to the PX for an ice cream sandwich.   And I wouldn't DARE risk it - because I'm kind of....well....NOTICEABLE on base.   Not many tall, round bald women running around - so I'd inevitably be caught.

Fortunately, I had my socially distanced neighbors to keep me from going completely mad - and I did have coworkers drop by to see if we had any emergency needs  (like Ketchup - EDDIE, you're a life saver!) so it's not like we were completely roughing it.

My oncologist is on vacation, so he let me know that there would be another doctor at the hospital - there were no issues getting there and getting checked in.  Did my blood test, waited for the results for a REALLY long time, and then took my normal place on the chemo bed.

I didn't bring my laptop, and I wasn't really feeling up to reading, so I just laid down and closed my eyes.  The nurse walked in and (since I don't normally doze) came over and stood directly over me to figure out if I had passed out.  When I sensed something off and opened my eyes, I nearly had a heart attack with her peering over me - I think I probably gave her one too when I screamed a wee bit.

But otherwise - there's not much to tell.   A few hours of poison, no major issues, and I was back on my way home.  Stopped to pick up some fresh fruits - the SAME guy was at the fruit counter as last week, and he immediately put his mask on and nodded at me.  No tantrums this time, thank heavens.

Fortunately, I made it back to my room just before all hell broke loose in terms of the summer storms we've been having.  Sam allowed me to keep the car at the room until morning because it was quite literally causing flash flooding on base.  The next morning, you could see TONS of crap everywhere that had been carried through the dirt roads by the rainwater - barbeques, trash cans, shoes - it was slightly creepy.

One.  More.  Week.

I found out it will be months and months before my immune system recovers - but at least my hair will start to grow back and I won't have hellish Fridays anymore.

While I've been in quarantine I've finished two more paintings - which I've really enjoyed.  But beyond that, the isolation is starting to get to me - I am so tired of having to stay away from people.  I miss hugs.  I NEED hugs.  And singing big showtunes at karaoke.  And eating at a restaurant without having to follow the waiters to make sure they are wearing their masks.  Blah blah blah.  I get it, people.  I get it.  And if my life weren't in jeopardy, I'm not sure I'd be as diligently cooperative and compliant as I am - so know I'm not judging you.

But the sooner you wear the damn mask, the sooner we get things under control.