September 17, 2010

It Takes A Week!

That is the mantra I need to remember after every chemo treatment.  It takes me a week to recover.  Not 3 days, not 5 days, a week!  So would you all please remind me of that at the end of September when I go for my next treatment.  I know it seems totally out of character, but I get frustrated and impatient that I am not feeling better earlier.

Right now, I feel terrific. Oh it’s been a week and 3 days!  Amazing!  

Just to be clear. Steve has the dark hair!!!!!

Steve and I took Ella to Denver last weekend for a Eliza Stein’s Bat Mitzvah.  Eliza is the daughter of Stefan, who Steve has known since Summer Associate days at Wyman Bautzer.  (There are so many crazy memories in that last sentence!!!) Anyway, we really wanted to go and support Eliza and Steve was loathe to leave me at home.  So we hung at the Ritz Carlton Denver.  I have to say if you are taking 4 hour naps, there is no better bed to be in than that extra puffy Ritz Carlton bed.  Ella perfected the art of delivering ginger ale and lattes from the Club room.  She probably made a lot of tips making lattes for all the hotel guests while she was at it.

I know you are all desperate to hear about and see the wig.  Well, it didn’t work out so well.  I think we may have started with a bum steer, as they say.  But it will become a nice tax deductible donation to the American Cancer Society.  I am sure there is a cancer patient with a 50s style sensibility who is looking for a pouffy wig just that totally unnatural color!  Steve keeps telling me I look great in a scarf and after discounting his good reasons for exaggerating at least a little, I am thinking the scarves look pretty good.  (OK, pretty good, could be an exaggeration)  I am including a photo from the Bat mitzvah.  You all can vote!  I should set up a text number and make a little money on the side!

On the cancer front, yesterday I went to the UCLA Multidisciplinary Clinic at the Revlon Breast Center.  It is a clinic set up specifically for second opinions.  You go for the whole afternoon with all your records and the team of experts comes in to see you.  At the end they all convene together, discuss your case, and your lead advisor comes back to report their thoughts.  I had the head of the Clinic, Helena Chung, for my lead adviser.  They concurred with everything that has been done so far and with the plan of treatment as it is laid out in the future.  The only suggestion relates to whether to sandwich the surgery in before the chemo is completed.  The thought is to give my body more time after surgery prior to radiation.  I will discuss with my oncologist and see.  Knowing me, I would rather blast on through but I am really working hard on the patience thing so you never know!!

We can’t thank you enough for you cards, letters, food, emails, prayers and positive thoughts.  The support that comes from you all often brings  tears to my eyes.  It is just overwhelming to know so many people have your back and are there for you and the entire family.  We have especially appreciated the friends who have checked in with my Mom and Dad.  That  really helps to extend the circle of love and prayer that surrounds us.  Special shout outs to my drivers, Laurie and Lisa, and our dinner bringers: Lorrie, Jill B (lite), Susan and Margot!