Etc.

I haven't said anything about Mr. Bill, who really has been wonderful throughout this. He feeds me and in my worst days, jumped to get me whatever I needed or wanted. He hates the details and doesn't like to know that I feel lousy and loves when I feel my old self, but who can blame him. The funniest thing is he enjoys running to Walgreens (late in the evening sometimes) to get my very favorite indulgent food...red licorice! Of course he comes back with something for himself as well!

All of this has really made me think about what is important in life. May sound a little melancholy, but in the beginning I thought, I can beat this! It's really mind over cancer and I will be a very good patient. Then I started reading these blogs and postings and I got very depressed thinking I will probably die from this, the question is when. But now I know that they have great treatments to put this all in remission for a long, long time. One good thing about the Bennett Cancer Center is they have great support programs and I get them for free. Here's the list: Consultation with a nutritionist, meeting with Counselor/therapist and 3 each treatments of the following: reflexology, massage, Reiki, Tai Chi and Yoga. When I finish my chemo, you get a free membership to their exercise center and personal trainer for a year. Not bad for being sick. So back to the beginning of this paragraph, so after reading all this negative stuff, I asked the doctor and she said do research, but stay away from the blogs and postings. You have a treatable disease but not curable, much like diabetes, or hypertension, which I found good advice. I am thankful to be a spiritual person or I know this would bring me to a point of depression, so I don't think about it much and God handle the details. AND my biggest booster is two small two year girls named Alba and Cece who make me feel like everyday is important because they make me laugh and feel lots of love. How great is that for therapy??

Side Effects: Well I really haven't had any, except some neuropathy in my left hand. In the beginning I lost my ability to taste and everything had a tin/metal taste to it, so my appetite wasn't the best. But Bill would make me smoothies everyday with the best fruit (including acai) and that seemed to not have the after taste of metal. Of course I hate having no energy and at my worst time, I could barely walk up the stairs without being out of breath. Had to dry may hair sitting down. But now all that is gone. I often wonder if it was the Revlimid playing tricks with my body, but I just don't do well with chemicals. Can now have a beer at night or even a glass of wine occasionally...yea!