I had the sweetest conversation with a nurse as she changed the dressing on my PICC line.

She said that last week she had a newly diagnosed patient in for his first chemotherapy and he was terrified. He asked her how he’s going to live and be himself and she immediately thought of me. She’s like I know patients who don’t let cancer define them. She told him one of her patients (me) lets them know when she doesn’t feel well and if she’s nauseous she tells them I tried this and that and it didn’t work so lets try something else until I feel better. And he was like how am I going to work? And she’s like well this patient is a rockstar and she’s still working. Plus she never is grumpy or angry even on her worst days. I was like its a decision you make. You’re steering the ship. Then she goes “so you are an inspiration to people you don’t even know”.

That made my day.

I am still working. The other day I threw up between zoom calls. I just make it werk (sassy snap snap snap).

This last chemo round was rough. LOTS of vomiting and nausea and horrible mouth sores and thrush. I had a sore in my throat that made it hard to even drink water. At one point I had to take a pain pill and chug as much water as I could while it didn’t feel like daggers of glass in my throat. I ate weird baby food and lost more weight. The fellow at my doctor asked me what was worse, nausea or mouth sores and I was like idk bruh it all sucks. I also had a hard lumbar puncture that left my back sore for weeks and a horrid headache for days. One day I went in for labs around noon. I sat in the waiting room an hour and a half after my appointment. My labs came back saying I needed a blood transfusion which takes 4 hours. My 3pm appointment came and went and they didn’t get me in to the clinic until 6pm. I was the last one there and finished close to 10pm. And of course I forgot my headphones. It was the longest day of my life.

I am starting my LAST ROUND OF CHEMO next week! I should be done by February. Then I’ll be on maintenance (chemo pills and a few lumbar punctures) for two years. But I’m just excited we’re nearing the end of the intense treatment phase. This next round looks gnarly with strong drugs so keep up the prayers and positive vibes because I need it.

My wig arrived this week so I’ll do another post soon with my new do.

Tata for now!