P90X

Kind of a random, but we had a group workout with Tony Horton outside at work today. (No, not Tim Horton. Tony. This Tony would definitely not approve of Tim-bits). I didn't really know much about P90X until this morning, but thought I would give it a try. Surprisingly, I was able to keep up fairly well and didn't seem to be (any more) winded than the folks around me. That guy has a lot of energy, even at 8 in the morning. He's also 54 which is amazing because he doesn't look anywhere near that. I don't think I would want to do his program every day - it's a little too intense for me - but it was fun to challenge myself and see that my body is making a comeback!

The New Me

So, I'm three months post-chemo and things are starting to come back, but it's hard to say if my new normal will be transitory or enduring. My red blood cell count/hemoglobin isn't entirely back to normal range, but I'm no longer winded during simple physical activity and my runs are now up to 4 miles, though not as speedy as I would like. I lost about half the volume of my eyebrows and eyelashes and those are just starting to return as well. My fingernails are getting harder and are almost back to normal. I thought for sure I was going to lose a couple, but they hung in there. My hair is darker and a weird fuzzball texture that reminds me of moss. I've just this week started to go bare-headed in the neighbourhood, but I still wear my wig for work and venturing out in the company of others. I'll probably just have to bite the bullet and give it up entirely soon as I think my hair is going to start peeking out.

The pills (Tamoxifen) that I am on for five years are indeed giving me hot flashes. I don't break out in a sweat or anything, it's more what I describe as "hot-cold" syndrome where I can't seem to find a comfortable temperature. I take off the sweater, I put it on... I wonder if my body will eventually get used to the drug or if it will continue for all five years. As far as side effects go it's really not that big of a deal. After surviving chemo it seems almost trivial. There are times, however, when I feel like I still have "chemo brain", where I can't remember a name or feel like a word is just on the tip of my tongue. It's possible I'm just making excuses for my bad memory, but I swear it has happened more often than it did pre-cancer. Maybe I need to start doing brain exercises.

Surgery Setback

Well, I was supposed to have been in surgery this morning at 8am, but when I had my lab work done at treatment last week my white blood cell count was still too low. Normal range is between 4.2 and 10.2, and I am still in the 2's, and they don't want to risk the chance of infection. (This should be a fun cold and flu season with no immune system to speak of and two small children in two different daycare facilities)! Instead of rescheduling, my plastic surgeon just wants me to call him when I am back in the normal range and he will try to fit me in. Needless to say, I am a little bummed out by the setback. Not that I'm chafing at the bit to go under the knife again, but at this point I just want to get it over and done with. I only do labs every six weeks nowadays, so I'll let you know when the October 15th results are in. Boo!

Disney Debut

Yes, I know, it's been a while. Things have been a little crazy with vacation and back to school and work, kids activities, etc... We were in Orlando for the last week of August visiting John's aunt and uncle and or course Disney! I can manage wearing my wig for short periods of time outside, but it was just too hot to keep it on all day so I had to make my hair debut at Disney World. I would start out all ambitious in the morning:

But after a few hours, off she came! Here is one of me and Colin after riding the Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom:

And here we are somewhere in Hollywood Studios trying to escape Tropical Storm Isaac at an indoor venue:

To me it seems like it's coming in painfully slow, but I can see from looking back at pictures that I'm making some progress at least. Maybe it will be long enough to call "pixie" by Christmas...