First the good news, the biopsy results came back and my mole was benign.  Happy dance!!

Now for the new plan.  The decision has been made that I will go back in to surgery.  I finish chemo in 7 weeks, then they give my body 3 weeks to recuperate and then back in to surgery to remove deep muscle and tissue in an attempt to get clean margins.  I am comfortable with the new plan, a little surprised but still comfortable.  I am pleased they are being aggressive.  I might not need radiation.  I guess it depends on what they find when they start carving me up like a Thanksgiving turkey – I call dibs on the wishbone! 

Today was my first Taxol infusion.   Other than being a very long day, it went well.  No allergic reaction.

Although Taxol comes with a variety of side effects, fortunately nausea is not one of them!  What a relief.  For the next eight weeks I will get to experience extreme fatigue, muscle & joint pain and diarrhea.   Fine with me.  I will take that over the nausea and vomiting any day.

I was given a beautiful blanket today while at chemo.  One of the local high schools had students make blankets for chem patients.  I love it and am so impressed that kids in school are being encouraged to do projects like this.  What a special treat.

I will get a photo of it to share.

Today is the day I finally get my head examined.  People who know me realize this is a long time coming since I have always been a little crazy!  Seriously, today Dr Mounds will biopsy the suspicious mole on my noggin.  It is kind of a twofer deal (or maybe a threefer?) since I am also getting a fill job in my boobs.  So much to look forward to!  A needle in my head and then one in each breast.  I am living the dream here.

Chemo is kicking my butt.  It is taking longer and longer to bounce back after an infusion.  Really hoping that the Taxol I start next week will be kinder to my stomach.  On the bright side, I am losing weight!  My daughter says I am shrinking.  Not just mass but height as well.  Fabulous.  Oh well, weight is weight and I am better off without all the excess.  

I am wondering if my taste buds will ever come back.  It is so weird to know what something is suppose to taste like and it just does not measure up.  I have started rinsing my mouth with a hydrogen peroxide concoction.  The inside of my mouth and tongue look like something out of a science fiction movie.  Gross.

Time to get going.  Hoping for good news today!

This morning found me in a bit of a funk.  I made the mistake of looking in the mirror.  My reflection was not there.  It was the reflection of an old man.  That is what I look like now.  Almost completely bald except for the spiffy, scraggly mohawk that has decided to stay and fight the evil chemo.  Then there is the fact my boobs jumped ship in Feburary.  Combine that with the fact my bones ache so badly, I tend to stand all hunched over.  So yes, I am the old man in the mirror.  

After my short lived pity party, I headed off to chemo.  Found the upside of being bald.  My Oncologist found a suspicious mole on my scalp and he wants it checked out.  Fortunately I know of a great specialist so I will get that set up.

My liver values are back to completely normal.   My blood work is all within normal range so I get the green light to head to the chemo suite.

The infusion was uneventful.  Just the normal side effects.  Very tired now so I will take a quick nap and be ready to (hopefully) welcome at least one new foal to the family tonight.  2 mares look promising.  I will report back if there is a new foal in the morning!

Tomorrow is shot day.  Have I mentioned how much I hate shot day?  That big needle that they plunge in to my stomach.  Makes me queasy just thinking about it.  I still have the numbing cream so I plan to frost my belly like a cake with that and cover it in plastic wrap 2 hours before shot time.  That should take some of the sting out of the injection.  I hope.

Have a great night! 

Today was the day that I let Jennilee and Tina shave my head.  I was starting to shed more than my yellow lab.  Even though I knew I was going to lose my hair, it was still weird to have it come out in huge clumps and handfuls.  It was difficult to look myself in the mirror after my shave.  I no longer look like me.  I look like Montel (my follicly challenged chihuahua).

On the positive side, I no longer need to shave my legs either!  Yep, that hair is abandoning ship also.  That will be my silver lining as I get used to my new look.

I am feeling a little better this time.  The doctors and nurses have been so good about treating the nausea.  Once again, better living through chemistry.  

Have a Happy Easter everyone!   I am going to enjoy a very relaxing day with my husband and wonderful kids.