Hair Today...Gone Tomorrow!

I've been trying to think of what to write about the SHAVE PARTY ever since Saturday evening when it occured. Well, honestly, even before that. For the past few weeks, in anticipation of the inevitable day, I would find myself thinking of ways to express that Sheri had to shave her head. And, you know what? Nothing! No words can accurately describe the day, the event, and more importantly...the anticipation of it all.

So, here is what I will say: Sheri had hair on Saturday...and then, after putting on her "Cancer Sucks" T-shirt and taking a few before-shots, Shane leaned over and gave Sheri a kiss, Sheri and Brigitte both started crying, and then the clippers were in action. At that point, Shane let out a little laugh and the whole mood changed. He truly made the experience better than anyone had envisioned. Shane is so supportive and obviously exactly what Sheri needs now...and forever!

As you will see from the pics below, the shave was not premature. Sheri's hair was falling out fast and furious and now, turns out, Sheri is one attractive girl who just happens to have had to shave her head due to cancer-schmancer! Could she maybe be mistaken as her younger brother Jeff? Hmmm...maybe. =)

Okay, but really, Sheri looks great with a shaved head! I'm sure she would prefer to have hair, but with a perfectly shaped head like hers, who knows, maybe she'll forever try to pull off the new look. Ya, you're right. I doubt she'll keep the look either. But for now...looks good!

Of course, boys will be boys, and Shane just HAD to shave a mohawk before finishing the entire shave. It was actually quite hysterical! He tried as hard as he could to convince Sheri to leave the hawk for the entire night of dinner and a movie. Turns out, the shave proceeded to completion before Sheri would leave the house!!

Since the shave party Sheri has said that the anticipation of it was worse then not having hair. She has a wig which you might see from time to time but she said she feels better just wearing a hat or bandanna. As she said 'If I have to look at my bald head, so should everyone else!'

HALF WAY DONE!!!!!!

I can't believe it, I am really 1/2 way done. In some ways it feels like I have been going through treatment forever and in other ways I guess it's gone by relatively fast...maybe.

My treatment at the clinic on Monday was same ol', same ol'. Nothing much to report. The physician assistant I met with did give me a surprise and told me that I only had 2 more treatments left! Can you imagine?? I didn't even let it get my hopes up because I knew he didn't have the right information. Sure enough when he read further he realized I have 2 more treatments until they start re-checking me and then 4 more treatments after that! Oh well, it was a nice fleeting thought.

The most excitement from this treatment came Monday night when I came down with a fever. Anytime you have a fever above 100.4 you are required to call in immediately. Since it was after hours I had to page a doctor. Many times if it's after hours they will just send you to the ER and a lot of times you are admitted to the hospital so they can watch you. Luckily the on-call doctor just had me start my anti-biotic and 2 hours later my fever broke. I didn't have any other symptoms of being sick so they think it was just a reaction to the medication. Hopefully it doesn't happen again! I was NOT happy at the thought of maybe having to be hospitalized or going to the ER, although I have heard but never confirmed that cancer patients get preferential treatment in the ER and get 'bumped' to the top of the line. Hopefully I never find out if that is true.

So the rest of the week has been the same old side effects. It seems like I get a little more tired after each treatment and the nausea lasts longer, but so far I am managing it ok.

You will want to check back here in a day or two. A new post is coming that most won't want to miss...yes the head shaving party is this weekend. I am trying to be logical and brave about it but needless to say it's not going to be easy.

Thanks to everyone for your comments, emails, phone calls, support and prayers. It really does boost me up and I appreciate it!!

FIVE...and feeling alive!

Okay -- but really, what else rhymes with five? Dive. Hive. Jive. Live. None of them really seemed to fit. I realize that 'alive' makes you think Sheri is not at all tired from her chemo this morning. And, the truth is, she really is tired (as with the other sessions.) But, cut me some slack. I'm working on my poetry skills!

Off my poetry, on to Sheri's 4-1-1.

Jude went with Sheri this morning for her treatment. They had to be there at 845am. Ugh! (NOTE: Sheri is NOT a morning person.) What? How would I know? Trust me...I know! =) This treatment and the previous ones were 'accidentally' scheduled for early morning. Sheri took care of that as quickly as possible, and the next treatment should be back to a comfortable 10ish time. Whew.

This past Friday Sheri was feeling a little sick. Ah oh! So, she stayed home from work to rest -- and pray -- that her blood counts would stay high and would not stop her from getting this treatment. The good news: Her counts weren't low at all and the treatment went well.

Update from the doctor: After 8 treatments Sheri will have another PET Scan to see if the cancer is gone. If it is, she will have 4 more treatments and then be DONE! That is great news!! If not though...if the scan shows that there is still 'activity'...she will have to have 4 more treatments, then another PET Scan, and then...4 more treatments. Ugh! That would make 16 treatments as opposed to 12. So -- everyone -- think 12!

The doc prescribed a new med for the back aches. We'll have to see if they work. Hopefully so!!

Eliza is done with her Chemo!

My niece, Eliza, is officially done with all her chemo and treatments for her Leukemia. 2 years and 76 days!! And to think I am complaining about 6 months! She has been such a trooper through this and I just wanted to Congratulate her on finishing. She is an inspiration to me!

Congratulations Eliza, I love you!

Modern Bride Magazine?

Not sure how many of you read the comments posted on my blog. I read them all and enjoy reading them. I received an interesting one the other day. Part of it went like this:

• Hi Sheri...I am writing an article for Modern Bride magazine about engaged couples facing serious illness. I have talked to a lot of couples who dealt with cancer together. Most of them waited until after their treatment to go forward with their weddings. I would love to be able to share the story of someone who opted to go ahead and have their wedding...I wish you the best with your treatment.Catherine

Interesting! So I contacted Catherine this week and did a short interview with her over the phone. We mostly talked about my decision to keep my wedding as is as opposed to postponing it or even moving it up and doing something smaller. Many of you know that was one the many hard decisions I had to make when I was diagnosed. Looking back I know I made the right decision and was sooo happy I didn't change a thing. I credit Shane for making sure I had the wedding I always dreamed of (I know he would have loved to just elope) and my doctors for working the schedule of treatments around my wedding.

Anyways, Catherine was really nice to talk to (I have to say that because she is probably still reading my blog!) No really she was very nice. She says the article will be published in the fall. I will keep you all updated if/when the article is published.

PS A new post 2 days in a row....what is up with that? I must be feeling good! I am actually.

PPS Brigitte will be back to posting for me next week. I miss her perspective on all of this and the funny things she adds in.

Spring, Chemo, and Oil Changes

I know you are thinking, what does Spring, Chemo, and oil changes have to do with each other? Keep reading, you'll find out.

So yesterday it was 80 degrees here. I was loving it. I logged onto my blog and was instantly depressed. It looked so wintery. So I changed my template. I like it much better and it's more fun to look at. Of course now as I write this, it's in the 40's and raining/snowing. Ugh...when will it be summer???

So, I know I never posted about my last treatment, sorry. There wasn't much to report. Things pretty much were a repeat.

I had #4, so I am now 1/3 of the way done! That made me happy. Then today I went and had my oil changed. Now a random habit I have is everytime I get my oil changed I look at the date of my next oil change (3 months) and think 'what will be going on when I have to get my oil changed again?' Last time, I was so excited because I was engaged and I remember thinking, next time I get my oil changed I will be married. I was so excited I called Shane to tell him and I am pretty sure he realized then (if not before) that I was crazy! This time I looked at the date and thought 'next time I get my oil changed I will STILL be getting chemo.' That was depressing. But then I realized that date will be chemo 11 of 12, so I will be sooo close to being done. All in all it's not really that bad but I just wish it was over with already.

So here's to spring and my next oil change!

FAQ's by Sheri

I thought I would answer some questions that I have gotten from several people about my treatment and side effects, etc. I don't mind talking about any of it so if you have more questions, just let me know.

What is your chemo treatment like when you go to the clinic?

Every other Monday is my chemo day. I go to the clinic they take my weight, blood pressure, and temperature. Then they access my port (poking a needle into my port which is just to the side of my armpit) and they draw some blood. I then go meet with the doctor to ask any and all questions I have and for him to make sure my blood count is high enough to have treatment and make sure I am still doing ok. My doctor is so nice and will sit there and let me ask question after question until I can't think of any. Finally when I run out of questions, I go back to the 'treatment room' and they start up the IV. I get a bag of anti-nausea medication, then 4 different chemo's. This whole process from when I walk in the door to when I walk out takes just over 3 hours. The 'treatment room' is just like it sounds, a big room where everyone gets their chemo. They have about 15 recliners set up and a big nurses station and you pick a recliner and they hook you up. It's a big chemo party. Some people sleep, some bring portable DVD players and some have people there with them to sit and talk to. That is what I have usually done, brought someone with me to provide entertainment, it helps pass the time and it's fun to have someone there to support you. Some people are there all day and others are in and out. I found most people that are there when I get there, are still there when I leave, sad. By the time I get home I have about an hour before I start feeling sick. Although that time seems to be getting shorter at each treatment.

What side effects do you get and how bad are they?

It's easiest to just write out my schedule since after 3 treatments, my side effects have started and stopped at almost the exact same time. At least I know what to expect now! Although the day of chemo now seems less and less desirable because I know what's coming!

Monday - By the night of my treatment, I am feeling nauseous. I don't feel hungry one bit but I have learned that if I eat a little bit it helps me feel better. So I do a lot of snacking the rest of the day. I have anti-nausea medication but have only had to take it once. The nausea seems pretty manageable, nothing great but could be a lot worse! Last treatment I didn't sleep Monday night (which they say is normal) so for the next treatment I will be taking an anti-nausea pill which will make me drowsy and help me sleep.

Tuesday – I still feel nauseous throughout the entire day and continue to snack and eat little meals. Tuesday morning I get my Neulasta shot which helps my white blood cell count stay high enough to continue treatment. The side effect of this shot is achiness. So by Tuesday night I feel VERY achy, like every bone in my body hurts to touch. Top that achiness and nausea with being really tired and it's not a fun Tuesday night for me.

Wednesday – Still pretty tired, the nausea is gone today...yeah. The achiness is gone, but I still feel really stiff and sore from the Neulasta. By Wednesday night I think I might survive and then the mouth sores hit. The mouth sores have decreased in severity with each treatment and the doctor thinks that my body might just adjust to it and I won't get mouth sores every single time. This would be the one side effect I would LOVE to get rid of.

Thursday – Mouth sores are still there but the achiness/soreness from Neulasta is mostly gone.

Saturday – The mouth sores are mostly better

Sunday – My lower back starts to ache. The doctor says this is from my bone marrow re-building. This lasts until Tuesday-ish. The rest of that week I am feeling pretty good and just have to stay healthy. My fatigue seems to come and go throughout the 2 weeks and I just have to watch myself that I don't overdo it and get rest. Sometimes I don't realize it until it's too late and I am so tired I can barely function. It's all a learning process still.

How is your hair? and...when do we get to see your cute wig?

Most of you know that I have REALLY thick hair. So thick in fact that when I used to get it cut, my hair dresser thins it for me (my favorite part of getting it cut!) So when I started losing my hair, although traumatic, wasn't too bad because I had a lot to lose. It slowed down for a little bit and has recently started falling out more. I still have my hair but the time will come in the near future when I will have to shave it. For now, I have enjoyed knowing what it feels like to have naturally thin hair.

When my hair comes out, although I am trying to prepare myself, it will still be a very hard day. I have a cute wig and lots of bandanas and we'll just have to wait and see how often I wear what. I don't picture myself wearing my wig everyday but will be nice to have from time to time. Don't worry, I'll have Brigitte post some pictures when it happens, so you can all be part of it!

Sorry for the long post, but there you have an update on life with Chemo.

Any other questions you've been wondering about?